From the Archives - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. What sort of genealogist am I?

Ten years ago on this day in 2011 I penned the following post which I am resahring here. I don't think I have changed much. 

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Randy Seaver's latest edition of Saturday Night Fun reminded me of a post that I wanted to go back and read. Because I forgot to star it in my RSS reader I had trouble finding it. Thanks to Randy for directing me to The Stardust and Roots Blog where I found  "Sears Catalog of Genealogists".

In this humourous post Bart Brenner categorises genealogists. I had a few chuckles as I read through the post and worked out where I and my GeniMates belonged. I encourage other genies to read, enjoy and reflect on this post.

The categories Bart listed were:

1)  Albert Einstein model (the academician)
2)  Marian the Librarian model (the archivist)
3)  Indiana Jones model (the archaeologist)
4)  Margaret Mead model (the cultural anthropologist)
5)  Frank Buck model (the hunter and tamer)
6)  Amelia Earhart model (the test pilot)
7)  Ambrose Monk model (the hoarder)
8)  Cinderella model (the fairy princess)
9)  Steve Jobs model (the technogeek)

I imagine that others would share the difficulty I had in filing myself neatly into one of Bart's boxes. I am affected by the environment and my moods so my approach on a particular day will vary according to these influences.

I am significantly a Steve Jobs model with a big touch of Margaret Mead. My messy overcrowded house indicates I have a strong dose of Ambrose Monk in my makeup.

How about you?

Monday Geneapourri

So I started this post on Monday and here it is Friday!

I borrowed the Geneapourri theme from Randy Seaver a,s on Monday, I had a geneaday where I devoted myself to geneatasks but, by the time I got to writing this post, I was tired and ready to take to my bed with Ernest Hemingway.

When Mr GeniAus asks me how I fill in my days I sometimes struggle to find an answer so, on Monday, I took a few notes.

As is my daily practice I started with a cup of coffee and read through emails and social media on my smartphone prior to rising. I responded, commented on and shared some posts to my new GeniAus page on Facebook. Because I prefer to do most tasks on my computer I had to leave my bed and get myself comfortable in an upright position at my desk.

With my GeneabloggersTRIBE admin hat on I sent out some welcome to the Tribe emails and wrote a couple of welcome blog posts like this one.

As I have a busy few weeks ahead I wrote and scheduled some posts for the Geneadictionary. While that blog doesn't have a huge readership it has created quite a bit of interest in the geneacommunity. I regularly get suggestions for inclusion via social media from genimates.

I need to be equipped for Rootstech and Congress two geneaevants that I am attending so I did a spot of shopping at Vistaprint. My new contact cards and bag are already on their way to me.

I shouldn't lose this bag

Someone who had found my online tree via a Google search had emailed me with a correction so I noted this in my tree and responded. I must remember to upload the corrections to my website.

On Sunday evening I had a run through with Martyn Killion (President), Heather Garnsey (Exec Officer) and Danielle Lautrec (Education Officer) of the webinar I was giving for SAG on Thursday. I had taken lots of notes so, as a result,  I spent quite some time modifying my powerpoint slides for the gig. All through the day I monitored the Genimates at Congress 2018 Facebook page that I administer, I try to respond to comments/questions there in a timely fashion.

Webinar Powerpoint

I am the administrator of a Facebook page for a family history group so I answered two local questions that came via that platform. All one required to find a comprehensive answer was a simple Google search using a person's name!

Realising that I hadn't been keeping the Presentations page on my GeniAus blog up to date I tried to fill in some gaps. As I am speaking on Beaut blogs at Congress I need to tart mine up!
As a Rootstech Ambassador I like to promote that event and I am taking particular interest in their mobile app. What amazes me is that there are many folk spruiking the benefits of the app but only a handful who are making their profiles public and using the collaborative features of the app. So every so often I took a look at my phone to see who else had shared their profiles. Not many - go figure!

Whenever I want to pat myself on my back for completing my geneatasks I let myself indulge in a bit of  Tangential Genealogy. My wanderings took me to my Ancestry DNA matches and four new 4th-6th cousin matches. I was able to work out where two fitted in but the others are in my mystery pile. Fingers crossed that they respond to my messages. It has taken me ages to get to 52 confirmed matches on Ancestry, passing 50 this week was quite a milestone. My lowest confirmed match, an adoptee,  shares just 7.5 centimorgans shared across 1 DNA segments with me.  By the time I came up for a breather my day was done.

Today, Friday, I have another Geneaday all to myself. I'm sure that it will be different from Monday. Do your days resemble mine?

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 12 February 2017

I have been too busy having fun at Rootstech to catch up with blog reading this week.

I am therefore directing you to Randy Seaver's compilation of Rootstech blog posts so you can see why that is the case. Each year Randy compiles a list of all the geneabloog post with Rootstech content. Take a look and see what you are missing out on (and why I return to Salt Lake CIty for this event each year.

See Randy's compilation here: http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/02/rootstech-2017-blog-compendium.html

The Daily Grind

Sometimes Mr GeniAus asks me what I have done during the day so I thought I'd take a leaf out of the Geneaholic's book and keep a note of my activity on Tuesday. Here's how my geneaday went.

With my mate The Geneaholic, Randy Seaver, at Rootstech 

While enjoying breakfast in bed I checked social media and emails, commented on posts and shared a few bits and pieces.

Attended to the dishwasher and washing machine and pegged out the washing.

Promoted my weekend's blog posts on social media.

Ordered a .pdf copy of a Death Certificate from the GRO.

Searched Trove for ideas for Trove Tuesday post and did a few text correcions while I was at it..

Published a Trove Tuesday post on GeniAus.

Added new book purchases to Librarything account.

Downloaded photos taken on weekend from camera and phone to hard drive. Organised and tagged them. Sorted ones taken from resources at National Library into Family History folders.

Extracted info from some of the resources gathered on the library visit.

Ordered a .pdf copy of a birth from the GRO. (That's 12GBP spent on my hobby today.)

Had a break for lunch and brought the clean washing in off the line.

Went off on a tangent doing research and discovered another branch of Mr GeniAus' family had emigrated from England to Australia. Hoping we can track down some Fielding cousins in Australia.

Had a break for two hours to prepare and eat dinner, watch the news and chat with Mr GeniAus.

Back in the geneacave I wrote and scheduled another two blog posts.

Spent half an hour on the CurryAus Surname study.

Of course I dipped in and out of social media all day.

What is a typical geneaday for you?

Win a Rootstech Registration

All of the Official Ambassadors for the Rootstech 2017 Conference have been given a Free Rootstech Pass to give away to one of their readers/followers/groupies. If they all Ambassadors participate there will be a lot of free passes on offer up to the cutoff  on November 30.

I must put my thinking cap on and devise a game of skill or chance so that I can also give my prize away. In the meantime I am noticing that several of my Genimates have posted details of thier competitions.

Ruby Baird has put details of her giveaway on her Instagram Account : her Instagram handle is @genealogyrambler. Her blog can be found here:  genealogyrambler.blogspot.com

Randy Seaver has his on his blog at http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/10/win-free-rootstech-2017-february-8-11.html

Lara Diamond has also shared details of her giveaway on her blog here: https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/rootstech-free-admission-contest.html

As I see more competitions appear I will try to share them on social media.

My Top 10 Genealogy Tools

Back in August before I went other the surgeon’s knife I promised myself that I would respond to a post from Pauleen Cass in which she listed her Top 10 Genealogy Gateways.

Pauleen referred to previous posts by US bloggers James Tanner and Randy Seaver and wondered what other Australians would include on such a top ten list. So that I can answer without being swayed by Pauleen's choices I have chosen not to reread her list yet.

James and Pauleen took a broader view of the topic by listing both genealogy and nongenealogy tools. I noticed that a nitpicker criticised James for including applications that were not really programs. Randy put forward a broad definition of program that I will use " James used the word "programs" to mean applications that perform a specific task on the computer".

I am making two lists of five : Productivity Tools and Research Tools. I have a large suite of tools that I use regularly but these are the most heavily sed.

Productivity Tools

Blogging Platforms - Blogger and Wordpress. I use one of these each day these to maintain my personal blogs and two blogs plus a website for genealogy organisations.

Evernote - I don't use this tool for research notes but  to manage posts for the Geneadictionary and Geniaus' Gems, details of Genimates, for reminders and to store my lists of links.

Family Historian - The genealogy database program that is my workhorse. Here I store all my genealogical data plus lists, research logs, photos and documents. I share selected info online  from here using the brilliant TNG at http://www.geniaus.net.

Google Products - I'm a Google Girl so I use Chrome, Gmail, Google Docs and Google Drive on a daily basis for browsing, communicating, recording, sharing and making spreadsheets. I love that I can access this stuff from a variety of locations.

Inoreader - My choice of RSS tools Inoreader curates my feeds and keeps me in touch with what's happening in the blogisphere.

Research Tools

As a New South Welshman whose ancestors arrived in the colony from 1813 and didn't stray far beyond the State I use New South Wales and Australian resources most days. 


Ancestry Although I have subs to several online databases I find that I use Ancestry more often than  others especially now that I am finding DNA connections there. 

NSW Historical BDM Indexes 

State Records NSW

The Ryerson Index

Trove

As all the above  research tools are continually updated I need to revisit them on a regular basis. 
And now this is done I'm off to compare with Pauleen's post. 

What does your Top Ten look like?

Spurred on by Randy

As I sat in bed this morning thinking about how I would spend my precious day at home I thought about doing some photo organising, writing some Tripadvisor reviews, researching my next holiday with Mr GeniAus or working on my Irish lines (a priority).

Then as I was savouring my morning coffee I came across this post from Randy Seaver, RootsTech Conference and the Family History Library - a Win-Win-Win-Win For Me, and I got a wakeup call. I realised that I wasn't as organised for my forthcoming visit to Salt Lake City as I could should be. Perhaps I am becoming blase about visiting Salt Lake City and forgetting what geneatreasure it has at The Family History Library for the organised genealogist. There is the temptation when at the Family History Library to indulge in a bit of  Tangential Genealogy so I need a plan.

Here I am, closeted in my geneacave, with the aircon on cool and a bottle of icy water beside me. My first task is to go to the "To Do" list I have compiled for the Family History Library. I use the Named List Function in my Family Historian database for this purpose.

My Named  Lists in Family Historian

I use these named lists for all sorts of tasks, one being to create "to do" lists for various repositories and resources I wish to consult. In the highlighted FHL SLC list I presently have 19 tasks each of which is connected to an individual. In the middle pane at left one can see GOWANS, Catherine highlighted and in the bottom pane  I have notes or details for the task associated with Catherine. My first job this morning is to go over these 19 tasks and make sure that I have clearly referenced the resources I wish to consult. For this I am checking The Familysearch Catalog.

Once I completed this task I turned to Mr GeniAus' Gowans cousins in the United States. I am hoping to find some more info on them and would love to track down some living descendants of his ancestors from Scotland in the US. Revisiting Familysearch, Ancestry, Findmypast and the California Digital Newspaper Collection has allowed me to update my records for the US Gowans. I have added several new tasks to my FHL SLC list to further research on that line.

I'm going to upload a revised tree to my family site, www.geniaus.net, that reflects my new finds and then, as I've spent eight hours at the keyboard, I'm going to move on to some more active pursuits.

Before I head to Salt Lake City I'll  see if the library catalog has anything new on the towns and villages where my ancestors lived. I will add those that look promising to my named lists too.

What sort of genealogist am I?

Thomas MacEntee wrote quite some time ago about Careers in Genealogy.  My mate, Randy Seaver examined his genealogy career according to the categories outlined by Thomas in his post and suggested another category of Genealogy Evangelist.

I am taking a leaf out of Randy's book and conducting a self-examination with Thomas's categories.

• Researcher: The most traditional of genealogy careers. Yes I am a researcher on a personal level and have been one since 1988 when I started delving into my family history. I find that I am often called on to give advice to friends and friends of friends.

• Author: Someone who writes about various aspects of genealogy and family history, from magazine articles to books. As a blogger for myself and two societies I am an author, I have also penned several articles for Inside History and other magazines, I write a regular column for The Surname Society.

• Educator: With almost any industry or field, people who are new will want to learn how to perform certain tasks. As a former teacher I love going back into teacher mode at genealogy events and online in Google hangouts. I enjoy giving on on one help to friends and fellow family history group members.

• Curator: Last year I spoke of the power of the “curator” and the concept of a curator seems to have gained traction.  I don't think this label fits me.

• Archivist: Many repositories have staff with a genealogy background who work to preserve artifacts, documents and the like so that researchers can better understand them and have access to them. I am the family archivist.

• Librarian: There are quite a few genealogists with their library science degrees and backgrounds who work for genealogical libraries as well as other types of libraries. I had a long career as a librarian and apply my skills and experience to my genealogy practices.

• Analyst: With any growing industry (the genealogy industry in my opinion is growing), there is a need for people to analyze various data points including demographics, buying habits, etc. 

• Marketer: Another growth area in the genealogy industry especially when it comes to social media. I've no need to get into marketing.

• Retailer: Just look at any genealogy conference or expo and you’ll see booksellers, craftspeople selling their handmade goods related to family history, and more. Family History is a hobby - I've nothing to sell but lots to share.

I hope that I am a Genealogy Evangelist like Randy. I love spreading the good words about genealogy.

What sort of genealogist are you?

SNGF - Not bad for a Foreigner

I don't often take part in Randy Seaver's "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun" activity becaause my weekends are usually filled with activities with my living family.

Randy's challenge this week is (in part):

For this week's mission (should you decide to accept it), I challenge you to:

1)  What states in the USA and what provinces in Canada have you visited or lived in?  

2)  Either list, or make a map of them (at the http://www.defocus.net/visitedstates/us-canada.html website) and indicate the following:

*  red for states/provinces where you've not spent much time or seen very much.
*  amber for states/provinces  where you've at least slept and seen some sights.
*  blue for states/provinces  you've spent a lot of time in or seen a fair amount of.
*  green for states/provinces  you've spent a great deal of time in on multiple visits.

GeniAus' North America Travel Map

I have ignored parts 3 and 4 of Randy's challenge as my ancestors came from other countries.

I think I have done pretty well for an Aussie. The map is useful to us as Mr GeniAus and I  are planning a road trip after Rootstech 2016. I just wonder which white parts will be warm enough for touring in February! 

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Randy Seaver has challenged us to provide answers to the following questions in his Saturday Night Genealogy Fun Exercisse this week.

I can't resist a Geneameme and this activity looks like one.

On the grounds that some answers may incriminate me (does Mr GeniAus really need to know how much time I spend each week on genealogy realted pursuits?) I may not be able to provide answers to all of the questions. So here goes:

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Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!): 

1) Answer these questions in my survey about genealogy resources and usage:

a)  Which genealogy software programs for your computer do you use (e.g., Family Tree Maker, Reunion, GRAMPS, etc.)?

Family Historian and, for publishing to my family site, TNG. 
b)  Which online family trees have information submitted by you - in either a separate online tree (e.g., Ancestry Member Tree) or a universal (collaborative) online tree (e.g., WikiTree)?

I host my own tree online at www.geniaus.net and have a partial private tree on Ancestry.
c)  For which subscription genealogy record providers (e.g., Ancestry) do you have a subscription?

Ancestry.co.uk and Familysearch.com
d)  Which FREE genealogy record providers (e.g., FamilySearch) do you use regularly?

How long is a piece of string? Familysearch is the main FREE genealogy record provider but I use a long list of other non-genealogy sites like archives and other databases for genealogy. I use any site that lists names or places.

e)  How much time do you spend each week doing actual genealogy research online?  [Note:  not reading, or social networking, but actual searching in a record provider].  Estimate an average number of hours per week.

Not enough
f)  How much time do you spend each week doing actual genealogy research in a repository (e.g., library, archive, courthouse, etc.)?  Estimate an average number of hours per month over, say, a one year period.

This comes in fits and spurts. Last week I spent a day in the NSW State Archives, when I visit Canberra our National Capital a coule of times per year I will spend two or three days in repositories there, when I go to England (twice this year) I will spend up to a week in various repositories and when I go to Rootstech I allow two or three days for research in the Family History Library.
g)  How much time do you spend each week adding information to your genealogy software program (either on your computer or online)?  Estimate an average number of hours per week over, say, a one month period.

Maybe 8 hours a month - my database needs a lot more attention
h)  How much time do you spend each month at a genealogical society meeting, program or event (not a seminar or conference)?  Estimate an average number of hours per month over, say, a one year period.

Around 10 hours a month
i)  How much time do you spend each month on genealogy education (e.g., reading books and periodicals, attending seminars, conferences, workshops, webinars, etc.)?   Estimate an average number of hours per month over, say, a one year period.

Lots - As well as reading books and blog posts I listening to podcasts, tune into webinars and join Google Hangouts. I also go on the odd Unlock the Past Genealogy Cruise.
j)  How much time do you spend each week reading, writing and commenting on genealogy blogs, websites, and social media?   Estimate an average number of hours per week over, say, a one month period.

Maybe 40 hours per month.

No wonder I don't get too many other books read.

How sweet it is....

Each week American family historan and geneablogger, Jana Iverson Last, publishes as a Follow Friday activity a list of Fab Finds consisting of blog posts she sees as worthy of mention. Randy Seaver, a genealogist and geneablogger from San Diego publishes a similar list, Best of the Genea-Blogs.

While liists such as these are subjective they are most valuable in directing those interested in reading and learning about family history to interesting and topical posts.

To be recognised by one's peers in such a list is always an honour, I get such a buzz when one of my posts is selected. While I don't blg for accolades I am trilled to be recognised.  Added advantagesare that new readers are directed to my blog and Australian geneablogging exposed to the world as a result of these shoutouts.

Yesterday Jana left this comment on one of my blog posts:

Jill,

I want to let you know that two of your blog posts are listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-june-27-2014.html

Needless to say that I was overwhelmed to find that two of my posts, Thinking of 9/11 AND In Praise of Indexes, were included in this weeks Fab Finds from Jana.

Thank you Jana for this honour and thank you for all the time and effort you put into your Fab Finds posts.

Spreading the Word

Randy Seaver reminded us in his recent post that many genealogists are blissfully unaware of the geneablogging phenomenon.  In writing about his recent genealogy cruise Randy states
"Apparently, very few of the 170 or so genealogists and Legacy Family Tree software users have heard of Genea-Musings or of genealogy blogging in general.  This didn't really surprise me...I see it at genealogy society meetings and seminars too.  Many genealogists that use the Internet and use genealogy software do not read genealogy blogs." I share Randy's experience when I mingle in genealogy circles.

Of course this got me thinking. We geneablogging disciples love our blogs and we consistently share the reasons why in numerous blog posts on other social media but, if we wish to capture the interest of the genealogy community at large, we need to publish in the media that they read.

Randy Seaver and I meet up in The Family History Library pre Rootstech 2012

How long is it since you penned an article for a genealogy journal or a society newsletter expounding the virtues of geneablogging? Let's make a concerted effort to write something about geneablogging in some sort of print medium. We could make an offer in these articles
to talk to interested groups about geneablogging. I feel that I have done well if, after I give a talk to a group of 30-60 people, a few decide to follow some blogs and just one becomes a blogger.

As Randy says many people are interested to know what a blog is and why it would help them in their ancestor hunting. When I was teaching I believed in making use of the teachable moment, that is at the moment when someone expresses an interest. Let's make an effort to use those teachable moments when someone says "What is a blog?" to ask if they've got a few minutes and sit down and give a short demonstration and explanation on the spot.

How are you going to share the joys of geneablogging?

Alone in the Wilderness

As a Geneablogger I realise that I am in a minority in the larger Geneasphere. As I sit at the kitchen table, in my study or in the car and interact with my online pals I feel I belong to a supportive and friendly community. However, when I attend a face-to-face meeting at a genealogy society, a presentation in a local library or a genealogy show I realise that I am different.

I find that most other genealogists do not share my enthusiasm for blogging or social media; some of them do not even care about or want to know what blogs and social media are. I want to spread the word about the benefits of social media, blogging and collaboration to others in the world of genealogy but opportunities for this are limited especially in Australia.

There are only about two dozen active Geneabloggers in Australia, the rest of my blogging pals are from overseas. These are mainly from the United States with a few from the United Kingdom and a couple from Canada and Europe. Distance and country of residence do not affect the quality of relationships I have these blogging pals.

Nearly half of my readers come from the United States, around 40% come from Australia, about 5% come from the United Kingdom and the remainder from other countries. It is pleasing to see that some Australians read my posts.

This morning when I woke I found links to two thoughtful blog posts from my mates James Tanner and Randy Seaver in my RSS feed. In the first post "No Big Deal" James spoke about this topic; Randy followed up with "Are we Strangers in Genealogy Land? These posts generated many comments and thoughtful discussions. I suggest that you read the posts. In case you do not have time for this I am pasting the comments I made below.

James, 


You are a star in the blogging firmament. Just keep on doing what you do so well and eventually people will find and follow your light.


Interesting points, everyone, but I disagree that blogging is on the decline YET but newer and more exciting platforms will replace blogging in the future. 


Certainly people in the genealogy mainstream are not aware of the benefits of blogging and social media but are these the people we want to embrace? What about the younger people out there who are just dipping their toes into genealogical waters. What do they do? They put an ancestor's name into Google, find some links and then land and are hooked by the 'cousin bait' on our blogs. I find this happening on a regular basis.


I remember Curt Witcher's inspirational presentation at Rootstech 2011. He suggested we need to look to the future and think about genealogists of the future - they will not be turning up to local halls for face to face genealogy meetings and trotting down to the local library to use Ancestry etc. on the library's computers but using the tools they are comfortable with on their personal portable devices to interact with the genealogy community and its resources aywhere, anytime. If we keep collaborating through blogging and other social media tools we will be there to welcome them.


Randy, 


You and each of the people who have commented on this post have demonstrated the benefits of collaboration and the richness of dialogue that blogs can initiate and the warm relationships that can develop through them.


When I met Randy and James for the first time at Rootstech this year and Helen at the Australian Congress it was like catching up with old friends. I knew them already via social media. Yes, Diane, my relationships with fellow bloggers are richer than those with the people I see each month at genealogy meetings.


So what if we differ from the mainstream? We have chosen to go down a collaborative path while others are happy to do it their way. If we convert a few along the way then that is a bonus.


Let's keep on blogging and baiting cousins and enjoying the rich relationships we build up along the way.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Where do you fit?

Randy's challenge for this week follows:

"It's Saturday Night again -- and time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  Use the Population Counter on the BBC News website to determine your place in the current world population, and your place in all of history (of course, these are estimates...see the website for how they calculated this).  Enter your birth date into the fields and click on "Go."

2)  Tell us about your results in your own blog post, as a Comment on this blog post, or as a status line in Facebook or a Stream post on Google Plus.  For extra credit, show us the image from the website with your information on it."


I followed  Randy's suggestions and input my birthdate. The world's population has trebled since my birth - I must be pretty old!

Australia's growth rate is 1.7% per annum.

Randy indicated that "Average life expectancy in the USA is 78 years, with Females at 80.5 years and males at 75.4 years" and lamented that he hasn't a lot of time left to compltete his family history research.  I was interested and pleased to see that those of us who live in Australia have a longer life expectancy than our friends in the US, so I have more time to spend on family history!