Author Archive
20 Aug 2019
Chronologizing As a Research Tool
By Aaron Goodwin On 20 August 2019 In Uncategorized
When I started in genealogy, I thought I was being organized and mindful if I saved a record I discovered to the appropriate folder with an appropriately descriptive file name. But I didn’t abstract those records as
18 Jul 2019
Some Resources (and a New Roadblock) in African American Research
By Aaron Goodwin On 18 July 2019 In Uncategorized
On 19 June 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his regiment landed at Galveston, Texas, to announce that the war had ended and the previously enslaved were free. “Wait,” you might think. “Wasn’t that 2½ years after
17 Jul 2019
In Defense of the Curious Meander
By Aaron Goodwin On 17 July 2019 In Uncategorized
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) —Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself,” 51 In May’s issue, I wrote about the importance of starting your research plan with a
31 May 2019
What’s Your Problem?
By Aaron Goodwin On 31 May 2019 In Uncategorized
In the first “Editors’ Corner” for their first issue as editors of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Nancy Peters and Allen Peterson give some fundamental research advice to their readers: Start with a plan. More pointedly, start
31 Mar 2019
Getting to the Source of a Family Record
By Aaron Goodwin On 31 March 2019 In Uncategorized
I’ve mentioned this record before. It’s the family record my great-grandmother Anna created and distributed in 1979 that identified the children, siblings, parents, and grandparents of her and her recently deceased husband. Being twelve years old and
31 Mar 2019
What DNA Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Research
By Aaron Goodwin On 31 March 2019 In Uncategorized
by Meryl Schumacker, CG In a toolbox, each tool serves a specific purpose. If you venture beyond a tool’s purpose—try to drive a screw into a piece of wood with only a tape measure—it’s not going to
21 Feb 2019
Living Family Interview Questions
By Aaron Goodwin On 21 February 2019 In Uncategorized
Sometimes the exigencies of life preempt the most well-laid plans, and genealogical plans are no exception. I had planned out what I wanted to accomplish in 2019 for my own (non-client) family history. But then my Uncle
21 Feb 2019
Self-Publishing: Books, E-Books, and PDFs
By Aaron Goodwin On 21 February 2019 In Uncategorized
by Meryl Schumacker, CG In the September, October, and November 2018 editions of NGS Monthly, Aaron Goodwin offered his suggestions for how to begin writing your family history. I have been following his series with enthusiasm, and
27 Nov 2018
How to Start Writing: the Word File
By Aaron Goodwin On 27 November 2018 In Uncategorized
For most of us, we’ve already gathered some information and records before we decide that we want to write. Once we make that decision, though, the amount of data, paper, and electronic images in front of us
27 Nov 2018
Family Secrets, Privacy, and Responsibility
By Aaron Goodwin On 27 November 2018 In Uncategorized
For the July–September 2018 issue of NGS Magazine (volume 44, number 3), editor Deb Cyprych shaped an issue focused mainly on discovering family secrets and how to conduct research to find out more. Six of the magazine’s articles