Jul 2017
Making the Most of an Index
An index is an index—or is it? Indexes can range from printed lists of alphabetized names to computer databases that allow users to pick and choose from several searchable fields. In her 2006 National Genealogical Society Quarterly article, “Job1 Davidson, Cooper in Baltimore, Maryland, and His Long Lost Descendants in Ohio and Indiana: Using Occupation and […]
Jul 2017
What? Write About Genealogy?
Yes! All genealogists can and should write about their work. Writing is part of everyday life. All of us make lists of things to remember and to do. Some keep journals about experiences and emotions. We communicate with others in emails, letters, cards, tweets, and posts on social media, and we complete forms and surveys. […]
Jun 2017
Stepping Toward a Solution
Beginners struggle with the task of planning and conducting efficient research, and the ready availability of online records and databases can actually add to the confusion. Would-be genealogists have easy access to information that may or may not relate to their own families. Many newcomers to genealogy spend hours at the computer gathering whatever scraps […]
Jun 2017
Calculating Dates and Date Ranges
Precision—genealogists know all about the importance of precision when it comes to citing sources, recording details, and interpreting records. But many genealogists are less particular when it comes to calculating and expressing estimated dates. Avoiding fuzzy computations could mean the difference between solving a research problem and facing a roadblock. Many records report age, usually […]
May 2017
Beyond Names, Dates, and Places
The bare essentials that a genealogist must know before starting a research project are name, place, and time period. While those basics may be enough to start searching, they are rarely enough to be able to separate relevant from irrelevant records or to allow genealogists to make sense of the findings. In general, the more […]
May 2017
Do You Read the Q?
Earlier this month, attendees at the National Genealogical Society’s annual conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, took to social media to proudly display ribbons proclaiming “#IReadtheQ”—that is, to say that they read the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Reading the Q and other peer-reviewed journals is one of the best ways genealogists can learn about sources and […]
Apr 2017
Proof is Possible
In her 2008 National Genealogical Society Quarterly article called “The Myth of Impossible Proof: Modern Genealogy Methods and a Holocaust Fraud,” author Sharon E. Sergeant wrote “Researchers always fail when they believe proof is impossible or when difficulties stop them from persisting.”[1] Every genealogical research problem comes with a set of complications. Sources may not […]
Apr 2017
Are You Researching Through a Peephole?
We’ve probably all used peepholes to peek out and see who is knocking at the door. The tiny opening gives a glimpse, but it isn’t large enough to provide the full picture. If the visitor is too close, off to the side, or looking down, there’s a good chance we won’t be able to see much. […]
Mar 2017
Writing Family Narratives
Exceptionally well-written family narratives inspire others to try to bring their own ancestors to life in the same way. It sometimes seems, however, that talented writers are born with a gift—that either a person has or doesn’t have talent. Having talent certainly helps, but everyone can improve their writing ability. Just as genealogists spend time […]
Mar 2017
Second Looks, Second Chances
People often say to themselves, “If I only knew then what I know now.” They look wistfully at past experiences thinking that if they had another chance they might do things differently. In most cases, people can’t redo yesterday. But in genealogical research, we sometimes can—and should—do just that. Second looks are often needed before […]