Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com. WHAT DO I HAVE? When I attend a genealogy conference, I never pass up the book vendors in the exhibit hall. I am always fascinated by their offerings. As well, a presenter has probably mentioned a book “you must have”. There are books on my shelves that I use daily;  Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills is open near my right hand as I am writing this. Mastering Genealogical Documentation by Thomas Jones and Professional Genealogy edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills probably tie for second-most used books. They are where I can reach them without moving from my computer chair. There are other genealogy books that I refer to only occasionally when I need a specific piece of information. Understanding Colonial Handwriting by Harriet Stryker-Rodda is one of those. HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE? I do not want to purchase a duplicate. I could use a spreadsheet, but sometimes that gets messy. When Marilyn Schunke took over responsibility

  I am grateful for many things. In the genealogical research sector of my life, I am especially grateful to be the the recipient of so much wonderful (and much of it FREE) on-line research material! After only availing myself of all of that information for a long while, I began to feel the need to give back to the entities that had given me so much. I have scratched that itch in the past and tried a few different projects, all different, and all quite satisfying. Now that we are staying home more than ever, I have had more time to think about where I would like to contribute my time and talent. Since I can’t currently visit my favorite physical archives right now, maybe I can assist in beefing up some digital ones that would make an impact for myself, my society and my fellow genealogists, after all, what I contributed before was all pre-COVID19. It’s time for me to get going again. Part of SKCGS’s Mission Statement states that we should be “Locating, preserving, and indexing public

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 past the names of

Experienced researchers often urge us to use timelines but why are they worth the time and labor? Lisa Lisson says :  from https://lisalisson.com/organize-your-genealogy-using-a-timeline/ This post is based on my own experience and advice from more experienced researchers such as Lisa Lisson, Kimberly Powell, Diane Haddad, Gena Philibert-Ortega, Melissa Corn Finlay, Caleb Lee and the authors of the FamilySearch Wiki.  Timeline: Chronological Time and Place A basic timeline for your person will often yield insights before you add any extra information. You can also use maps old and new to find out about how they got from one place to another, and why they might have left the home place and moved elsewhere. Sometimes thinking about the travel will yield more clues, such as immigration documents, train or bus routes, or historic trails. Sometimes you will realize that the records you have found cannot possibly be for *your* person, but most be for another person with the same name. It'

  Find the Needed Evidence The first element of the Genealogical Proof Standard is reasonably exhaustive research. [1] I have been pondering this statement since I realized that genealogy is more than a hobby; it is a discipline.  The Genealogy Standards Manual does not provide much help.  It simply says, “emphasizing original records providing participants’ information—for all evidence that might answer a genealogist’s question about identity, relationship, event, or situation.” [2] The Glossary in the Standards Manual does provide more guidance: “. . .research thorough enough to meet five criteria: (a) yield at least two sources of independent information items agreeing directly or indirectly on a research question’s answer, (b) cover sources competent genealogists would examine to answer the same research question, (c) provide at least some primary information and direct, indirect, or negative evidence from at least one original record, (d) replace, where possible, rele

  Woodville Cemetery, Deerfield, Waushara, Wisconsin; photo courtesy Steve and Fay Bray, 2020 Inspiration Recently I wrote about Anna Wood Dyer, my great-great-grandmother and inspiration.  I told about receiving pictures of Isaac and Betsey Fuller Wood that confirmed their relationship to Anna and helped me find their parents. Isaac and his family settled in Deerfield, Waushara County, Wisconsin, in about 1855.  I've looked for records in all the usual places including Find A Grave where I found several Wood memorials in the Woodville Cemetery.  Unfortunately, not all the family is listed and at one time Find A Grave stated that there were some unnamed graves. I still need to find death dates for Isaac and Betsey and for Isaac's father, Billa. After writing the article about gggrandmother Anna, I went back to Find a Grave and learned that contributor Janet Marie #480008518, had posted a picture of a stone that was no longer legible and noted that it might be a double stone. My

  Image courtesy Clipartix.com General Meeting Saturday, September 19 (Virtual) 9:30 am Social time; 10 am General Membership Meeting .    Click or paste the link to join:     https://meet.google.com/qeq-hytd-jii?hs=122&authuser=0 or call: (‪US‬) ‪+1 510-939-0384‬ PIN: ‪268 689 236#‬     E lection of officers: Valorie Zimmerman has been nominated for the office of Vice President and agreed to serve if elected. Linda Blais has been nominated for the office of Secretary and agreed to serve if elected.  There will be an opportunity for additional nominations at the meeting.  Should there be additional candidates, members will be instructed how to vote by email during the meeting. Our Speaker: Mary Kircher Roddy     presents   Trails West: Crossing the Continent, 1840-1869 .   Image courtesy Clipartlook.com   Welcome New Members; Welcome New Faces! If you've participated in special interest and chat groups this summer, you have probably already met some of our new members. Tina La