Free public domain CC0 image, courtesy RawPixel Crack the Nut, or First Things First What is your  greatest challenge when writing up your research work? For me, it was always writing citations . Key step for me to resolving this was to change my habits and make writing the citation the first thing I do, right in the planning stage. Lead with a Citation How does that make sense, when I've not even found the source I'm looking for? One of the first steps in a research project is planning; narrowing the topic (research question), gathering the context (history and locality), then ranking the possible sources of the needed information by ease of access, reliability, accessibility, cost, and chance of success in answering the question. In the planning stage, we have identified the databases or record groups we want to consult, so this is the right time to craft a citation. All the information we need, except for the specific records you will find is available, so Just Do It Now. A...

 In a recent email conversation with a new member, I was reminded of the wealth of information and assistance that is available to genealogists of all levels of experience; if we only knew where to look.  And, with the usual websites constantly adding new material, even the most veteran researcher may miss some information. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter help spread new discoveries as well respected leaders post information.  Blogs and newsletters are a great source as well.   This weekly newsletter arrives in my inbox every Saturday morning.  Among its regular features are updates from their favorite bloggers and "What's New at the Big 4", a review of Ancestry, My Heritage, FamilySearch and Find My Past.   This is just one example of what is available.   My Heritage Recently I received an email from the MyHeritage Knowledge Base suggesting a video I might watch, " How to Use the 4 Family Tree Views on MyHeritage".  Inter...

Is Routine Boring? Routine,  boring, humdrum. Or, habits which free you from confusion and endless decisions! Routine helps you get to work quickly and move through a process efficiently. Do you have research routines and templates for your genealogy? Lately I've been trying to develop research routines and templates, and recently saw a video that snapped into focus what I was trying to do. Call it the power of three .  Connie Knox's Genealogy TV episode  Ancestry and FamilySearch, FindMyPast or MyHeritage: Family Tree Trifecta Strategy  describes her professional routine for each person: work three sites with three search strategies each (3x3x3) with the goal of 27 new facts and sources. Complete this cycle for each person you are reviewing, each new place, and each new FAN club member as they come into view. The power of three can keep you focused and successful.  Become a Fan of FANs FANs are F amily, A ssociates and N eighbors . Sometimes we race right pa...

What Will Happen To My Research?   What Can I Do Now? Nearly every day I see a post on social media asking for advice on what to do with the results of many years of genealogical research. “No one in my family is interested. I am afraid that they will just throw it all in the dumpster.” The topic is of interest within SKCGS as well. Dorothy Pretare presented on the subject at a General Meeting and wrote a blog post on the topic. [1] A great place to start is the FamilySearch Wiki article “What to do with the genealogy and family history I collected”. [2] Often people who have not had to deal with a collection suggest a local historical society. Unless the collection deals with local pioneers or persons of historical importance to the community, it is doubtful that they will be able to accept Aunt Ida’s papers. I have heard stories of people dumping grocery bags full of loose papers at the local library. What do you think is going to happen to those papers?  Enjoy Y...

A research plan can help you break through brick walls and keep  you from chasing the proverbial BSO ( B right S hiny O bject) down  a rabbit hole. That is what happens when you suddenly realize it is 1:30 am and you have not found the obituary that you sat down to look for at 7:00 pm. A research plan helps you organize your research. It may show you what records are most likely to answer your research question so you can search those first. If you need to travel to a repository, you can have a list of sources to be searched and their call numbers or other identifying information. You may even be able to email the repository before your visit and have your research sources pulled and ready for you. I emailed the University of Kentucky Special Collections Library a week or so before I planned to be there and when I signed in, the items I needed were waiting for me on a cart. Additionally, I learned that I would not have been able to just walk in, an appointment was requir...