With Google Plus' launch of Communities, Kenneth R. Marks from TheAncestorHunt.com and I would like to introduce you to the 2 Google Plus Communities we created for genealogy and family history researchers.

Tech for Genealogy and Family History Researchers Google+ Community
The first one is the Tech for Genealogy and Family History Researchers Google Plus Community which is open to the public for discussions related to any type of technology that could possibly relate to family history research. Vendors and professionals are welcome and encouraged to participate in the discussions. However, guidelines are in place to discourage advertising and what I like to call spam-n-run links that have no engagement from the community whatsoever. We are trying to encourage discussions and learning. Additionally, we are planning a once-a-week Brown Bag Lunch Hangouts and some Gen-Tech Show-and-Tell Hangouts. {Yes, we're going to be hanging out a bit. So you'll need to get dressed for that if you plan to get on camera. If you don't want to get out of your jammies for that, you can still participate in the Hangouts with questions and such, just, you know, refrain from using your webcam. Please. *snort*}

Genealogy and Family History for Non-Professionals Google+ Community
The second Google Plus Community, Genealogy and Family History for Non-Professionals, is a private group for non-professional researchers in order to share their research, to ask research questions, to answer research questions, to motivate each other, and to collaborate with other researchers. We made it private to encourage everyone from all skill levels to participate. {That's right. You can ask that question you've been wanting to ask, but haven't because you didn't want to look silly.} Hangouts are planned for this community as well.

One More Thing
A while back I setup a Google Plus Page for 4YourFamilyStory.com. I'm now actually using it for all those fabulous Gen-Tech Links I find, for tech & research tips and hints, and for adding free How-To tech Hangouts. So. That means I have a Personal G+ account where I'll share general stuff on whatever tickles my fancy. And? The For Your Family Story Google+ Page is for all that's genealogy, especially tech stuff. 

So make sure you circle the For Your Family Story Google+ Page for all those genealogy & technology links and tips and then, of course, you don't want to miss those Hangouts with me either. And if you haven't already circled my personal G+ account and would like to, then go for it. {Very rarely - if ever - will there be cross-posting between the accounts 'cause that just doesn't make sense, right? ;) }

See ya' on Google Plus somewhere...I hope. ;)

~Caroline

You know how when you're looking at some information online and you think to yourself, "I really, really need to write down a few notes on that...reminders..."

But? What you're looking at is not paper. It's a website, and taking a pen or marker to your screen would probably not be the best thing to do. {Read: Do NOT do that.}

And you're out of ink or paper for the printer or both and you can't print it out to make those notes or reminders. Or perhaps you're really trying to save the environment. {I hardly ever print anything out anymore which is why I often forget that I'm out of ink or paper when I go to print out something.}

Or maybe you're taking a look at your crazy  2nd Great Aunt Bernice's death certificate. Online. Digitally. And you are on your iPad and before you save it and send it to your preferred storage cloud in the sky, you'd like to jot down some info that will help you with making your citation later. Or maybe you'd like to put the complete citation on it before digitally filing it.

I've shown you before how to do screenshots and annotations similar to these when on your Windows desktop or laptop. But? Perhaps you've acquired an iPad recently, and you're now addicted to being comfy on the couch or in bed perusing online genealogical records, randomly Googling your ancestors, and the like.

And that wonderful phenomenon known as Genealogy Serendipity strikes you and you find something that you want to follow up on later when you're not lazing around on the couch or in bed. And you could just go to the native Reminders App and type in some reminders. And if you're like me and don't have a photographic memory, you'll go back and forth between apps many times making sure you got all the info that you needed.

Or? You could use an iPad app like DocAS, clip the webpage, mark it up with your notes, reminders, and citation info right on the screen, save it as a PDF, and upload it to your Dropbox, Box, GoogleDrive storage account {or fling it into your Evernote account}. All with some taps, swipes, and a little writing or typing. You can even setup your DocAS app to automatically sync with Dropbox. {Bonus!}

Among its many features with the DocAS app you can:

• Convert PDFs
• Take a screenshot & convert to PDF
• Read documents and manage files
• Access your documents from any source including Mac, PC, and many more.
• Annotate files including signing documents
• Create notes
• Record audio
• And more!

The DocAS app is very easy to use. It also includes pre-loaded into the app PDFs with easy-to-follow instructions. And? It's affordable. Many of the PDF and annotation apps for the iPAD run $9.99 on up. which isn't expensive, but who can pass up 6.99? {I couldn't. Obviously.} 

DocAS for the iPad can be found in the iPad App Store or in iTunes. And below are screenshots of me using it for annotating some notes on a screenshot. Click on each image for a larger version.

Note: I purchased the DocAS app on my own, and I was not asked by anyone to review it.

~Caroline

It's not just about the family lore.

I know. This is directly opposite to what I last posted, It's not always about the facts. But? Both statements are true.

You see, the family lore, rumors, and stories can lead to the facts via supporting documentation. And I say, "can" because sometimes finding details about our ancestors can lead to facts and sometimes they can't. For example, via a Facebook connection with a cousin which led to a connection with an estranged aunt via phone and letter, I recently found out that my grandfather liked to walk around his house in his underwear - no matter who was home at the time, which, according to my aunt, irritated and appalled his mother-in-law, my great-grandmother.

Now, can I verify this with any sort of primary documentation? I dunno. I currently have a lead on some more, um, revealing information {Sorry. Couldn't help myself.} on my grandfather via some documentation of an arson investigation which involved my grandfather that occurred less than a year before my grandfather committed suicide. And I'm not sure why he was investigated, but if for some reason the San Antonio arson investigators interviewed my great grandmother about my grandfather, it's entirely possible that she told them he walked around in his underwear at home in front of whomever was home at the time. And, of course, her version of events are definitely tainted. Why? Because she really didn't like him. {And don't think for a minute that I'm not gonna run this lead down at the City of San Antonio Archives.} 

Now, I say this in jest. Sort of. The point, really, is that you should look and keep looking for more information about your ancestors.

And look everywhere...online and offline...using whatever tools and technology you can - phones, smartphones, tablets, social media networks, blogging, Googling, archives, courthouses, longhand letters {Remember those?}, microfilm, etc.

You just never know what might be revealed in those boring staid documents.

You just never know when a rumor or family lore will be disproved or proven.

Or somewhere in between.

You just never know what tool or piece of technology is going to make a difference.

The family lore and rumors are interesting and essential.

The facts and documents that reveal that your it's-been-said-that-I-love-to-prance-around-in-my-underwear-at-home grandfather committed suicide and was investigated for arson are even better. {And I mean no disrespect to him. He was definitely troubled, and my heart goes out to him. However, from a researcher's perspective, he's left some nice paper trails.}

And? Then think of that family story you can write about.

Family lore can lead to Facts which in turn lead to Family Stories.

It's all fun and games until someone says, "Your grandfather liked to walk around his house in just his underwear no matter who was home at the time."

And then we're all business, my friends. All business.

~Caroline