A  handy genealogy research tip used to be [and still is if we're at the library] is to not pick up a book at the library and immediately go to the index in the back of the book to look up our ancestor's name without looking at anything else in the book. We need to understand why and how the book was created. In other words, we need to understand the context of the book and its information.

And this is a great tip when using Google Books, too. Except the book isn't on a shelf. And we're searching it not by its index but by a search box [usually]. And sometimes we don't have access to the whole book, but we do have a book description. [So the same. But not. But similar. Sorta.]

While researching for someone else, I came across a snippet from Google Books that indicated the persons of interest [of whom I had some interest ;) ] were married in Tennessee in 1829 which is before marriages were recorded in Franklin County; a county whose boundaries have changed no less than 13 times since 1807. [1] [Both of which make a researcher's head spin so fast it gives us whiplash, no?]

Taking a quick look at the information about the book and its contents, gives me another clue. It tells me a lot of good stuff about the information found in the newspapers included in the book. In particular, these newspapers are on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. And, at times, the info found in the newspapers, not just what was published in the book, included the bride's and groom's fathers' names as well as their places of residence. [2] [Hot. Diggity.]

Then a quick look at the Tennessee State Library and Archives website and their online Newspaper Index tells me they, indeed, have this newspaper and issue on microfilm. [Ohmigosh. The book's introduction did not lie.] However, they only loan these films out via Inter Library Loan to Tennessee libraries. [Bummer 'cause I'm in Texas.] But, alas! With some key information provided they do provide a search and copy service for a nominal fee which is even more nominal for those in Tennessee. [And by nominal, I mean just a couple of fancy schmancy coffees or if you're in Tennessee, maybe just one.]

So, I ordered it. And, like magic, there was more information about Joseph H. Bradford and Maria Christina Spyker in the 1829 newspaper. It doesn't tell me who his father was [Perhaps, he had already passed? Maybe? Possibly?], but it does place Joseph's residence in Winchester and reveals Maria's father was Jonathan Spyker and she was Jonathan's "eldest daughter." 3 lines in the book expanded to 4 in the newspaper and brimming with more possibilities and clues to pursue. And an identification of a father to work with. [3] [Perhaps, a probate record exists for Jonathan and he listed Maria in his will? That would be nice for corroboration.]

But the point is don't give up.

Go further, go longer.

Happy Researching!
~Caroline
© Copyright 2013 4YourFamilyStory.com -- All Rights Reserved.

Sources

1. Sharon DeBartolo Carmack and Erin Nevius, editors, The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogists: The Essential Guide to American County and Town Sources (Cincinnati: Family Tree Books, 2004), 639.
2. Lucas, Silas Emmett, "Marriages from Early Tennessee Papers, 1794-1851." (2005): 49; online archives Google Books ( http://books.google.com/books?id=6A4UAAAAYAAJ&q=maria+catherine+spyker++tennessee&dq=maria+catherine+spyker++tennessee&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hMGUUuCTBePhyQHv74CYAQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA : accessed 26 Nov 2013).
3. "Joseph H. Bradford marriage to Maria Catherine Spyker," marriage, National Banner, 5 Dec 1829, p. 3, col. 4.; photocopy; citing microfilm publication [awaiting descriptive number from archives] (Nashville, TN: Tennessee State Library and Archives, [awaiting year from archives]), roll [awaiting roll number] for 5 Dec 1829.
   

I had an awesome time last Saturday presenting "Digging Up Family Stories on Findagrave.com" to the Chaparral Genealogical Society and Library in Tomball, Texas. 

One of the things we concentrated on was the fact that people from all over the world use it for various reasons and that we have to consider why someone is putting the information on there in the first place. Knowing that helps to understand what we're looking at as family history researchers.

For example, there are some people who only do Findagrave.com photo uploads, some who only post obituaries or transcriptions, and then there are those who are linking memorials to each other because, for them, that is their family tree {of sorts}. And many aren't even doing genealogy and this might be their form of "family history" or they might not be doing family history at all. Maybe they're just "gravers."

Which reminds me of a roommate I had in college who liked to read obituaries in the Sunday newspaper and guess how the person died based on the clues revealed in the obituaries. She said her mom and her used to do it together and so my roommate got me addicted to doing it as well. {Genealogist-in-training and I didn't even realize it.} And I've always liked reading the wedding and engagements announcements and pondering if their lives were as perfect as they seemed in the announcements. {And now I have the skills and resources to follow up on those ponderings, but I digress.}

At Saturday's presentation we also went over carefully analyzing uploaders' profiles to not only understand why they might be uploading and creating memorials but also see if we're related to them based on their statistics and other memorials listed on their profile. And we went over some examples with some live searching since we had WiFi at the meeting. {That was very nice because it can be really boring and tedious presenting a search-based website with screenshots. It's much, much better for the audience to see searching done live.}

I also shared some personal researching and family stories that I have uncovered with the help from generous contributors on Findagrave.com including a sad family story that was uncovered due to me connecting with a 4th cousin via Findagrave.com and using its collaboration features. Who knew adding an image of my grandmother's brother to an existing memorial would lead to connecting with a cousin who had known him before and after the fire that killed my grandmother's brother and his 4 kids? He knew the town rumors and the family secrets surrounding their murders in that small, small town in Johnson County, Illinois. {And it turns out a member in the Chaparral Society has kinfolk from Johnson County, Illinois. So we'll be trading notes later.}

This is why Findagrave.com is such a wonderful collaboration tool. It facilitates contacting a possible relation, and while there are some in the community who don't play well with others, that's true of any community, unfortunately. But in this case the many things a researcher can do and learn on a free resource like Findagrave.com far, far outweighs the bad, in my opinion. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It takes a village to make a family history. And Findagrave.com is an awesome tool that helps us do just that.

So. For those who have been using Findagrave.com share some of your "finds" in comments below to help encourage people to use this resource to its fullest capacity. What have you found there? Have you connected and collaborated with a distant cousin? Have you broken through a research brick wall? What have you done or found on Findagrave.com that has profoundly affected your research and led to unearthing a family story? Let everyone know in comments below. And if you're not using Findagrave.com, why not?

Happy Researching!
~Caroline

Last month I had the privilege of speaking to the Walker County Genealogical Society. What a warm group they were! And inquisitive, too, which is a very good trait for us family history researchers, right?

We talked about how to use online catalogs for libraries and archives. I didn't have to tell this research-savvy group that not everything is online. Nope. They already knew that.

What I was able to share with them is how to use the Internet and its vast resources to narrow down where the information is if it's not online. I mean, how badly do you want to solve your genealogy research problem? And I like to ask that question a lot because it's a not-so-subtle reminder of why we spend countless amounts of money, time, and brain-power on researching our dead kinfolk.

And if you haven't caught on yet, I like to solve research problems so I can gather family stories and secrets like a kid gathers candy on Halloween night. Hence, why I try to find more and more resources and tools to help me out. And apparently the members of the Walker County Genealogical Society like to solve their research problems too. {Thank goodness. It can be *clears throat* very challenging to listen to someone go on and on about their research brick wall like they're married to it and then they act like I'm trying to break up their marriage when I suggest online and offline resources they haven't checked yet -- some of them free, mind you. My brain just doesn't compute that attitude.}

So I shared with this group tricks and tips {but no candy} on searching online catalogs and one of the tips was to suggest an efficient process for online researching by looking for repositories in the location your ancestor might have done anything in their lives. The easiest way to do this is to check out your pedigree chart or perhaps your family group sheet, or maybe your online tree and look at your target person {the one you're researching} and notate their last known and proved-to-you {or rumored} location. Then you take that location and look for the following types of places that house documents, records of any type, and/or books that just might contain some type of evidence of your ancestor's life:

• Your local library especially if it has a genealogy department or room. You just never know what's been acquired by the library or what has been donated to them and by whom. {Perhaps your local genealogy librarian has personal research interests in Virginia. You don't think they'll try to acquire books about Virginia genealogy research? Please.} And here's an extra tip: Inquire at the reference desk for a genealogy research finding aid. One of the librarians might be a genealogist too and might have created a genealogy research finding aid for their library even though they don't have a genealogy department or room.
  
• Libraries near the location your ancestor {or someone your ancestor knew; a member of their FAN club - Friends, Associates, and Neighbors.} was or purported to be at some point in their lives. {I know. That narrows it down for you, right? I'm helpful like that. ;) }.
  
• Your nearby college library or archives as well as any college libraries or archives near where your ancestor or a member of their FAN Club  lived, worked, or did something that may have produced a record of some kind.
  
• Your nearby genealogical and historical societies as well as ones near where your ancestor or a member of their FAN Club lived, worked, or did something that may have produced a record of some kind.
  
• Your nearby archives {remember these could be city, county, regional, state, private, occupational-related, etc.} as well as archives near where your ancestor or a member of their FAN Club lived, worked, or did something that may have produced a record of some kind.
  
• If you're lucky enough to live near a genealogy-specific library, then ohmigosh get to it now! If you don't live near one, then spend a weekend {Yes, a weekend.} learning their website in and out, backwards and forwards and see if they'll do look-ups of some kind. Or ask someone in your social networks if they live near there and can do a look-up for you. Maybe you can do one for them as well.
  
• Then spend another weekend {or two} playing with Worldcat.org and its "sister site" ArchiveGrid.

We went over a bunch of other stuff, too, like where/how to look for these libraries and archives, what to look for, search examples, search strategies for Worldcat.org, and then we went over a search process {specific to them} on the library and archives websites that would help them get prepared to visit Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research because that's our local genealogy-specific library in Houston. {And by local I mean for them an hour and a half to two-hour drive and for me a 35-minute drive.}

All-in-all, I had a blast there and I even got a personal tour from the the society's librarian of their beautiful new genealogy room within the Huntsville Public Library. Everything the society has in that genealogy room is cataloged online via the Huntsville Public Library's website except for their microfilm drawers. Most of their microfilm is for Texas and much of it was for Walker County, but there are other Texas counties represented {And some not very close by. We do have 254 counties here in Texas. We're a big state, y'all.}. And a lot of this isn't online either, but some of it is listed on their website. Good thing I looked and took pics.

You just never know what you're gonna find and when or how you're gonna need what you have found. And libraries and archives just might have that clue or answer to help solve your research problem. You won't know until you look. I mean, how badly do you want to solve your genealogy research problem?

Happy Researching! 
~Caroline
© Copyright 2013 4YourFamilyStory.com -- All Rights Reserved.

The Lone Star State is a big state with 254 counties, and it has a ton of resources that are available to the family history researcher. However, there are some I come back to again and again while researching ancestors who lived in Texas. And while I love and use Ancestry.com all the time for Texas research, it just doesn't have everything I need. Also? Not everyone can afford to have an Ancestry.com subscription. So, I thought listing some free places to look online and offline for your Texas ancestors might be helpful to everyone. The following are 5 free-to-access Texas family history research resources with some comments and specific links to more information about each one:

1. Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research ~ Located in Houston, Texas, and named as "...one of the top genealogy research libraries in the United States," by Family Tree Magazine, Clayton's holdings are vast with way more than just Texas research resources. Take some time to explore this site fully. However, I can recommend taking a look online at their list of Collections, searching their Microprint Collection, searching their Periodical Collection, and then, since Clayton Library is a part of the Houston Public Library System, doing some advanced searching of their Online Catalog.
2. Texas State Library and Archives ~ Located in Austin, Texas, is a site for many -- not just genealogy and family history researchers. You'll want to explore the site fully, but I'd like to point out their Genealogy Page, theirindex for county records on microfilm available for free via Inter-Library Loan within Texas from their regional depositories, a listing of those regional depositories and the counties they serve, and information about their Archives & Manuscripts.
3. Texas General Land Office ~ The Texas General Land Office is a very busy state agency as they scan 5000 Texas document pages per week. (James Harkins, 17th Annual Angelina College Genealogy Conference) Again, this is a website that was not created for just the family history researcher, and while I love what they make available online for us, it's not the easiest website to navigate. So? Along with exploring their site fully, here are direct links to the portions of their site that are the most useful for us: read information about their Collections, read information about doing genealogy research at the GLO, search the Texas Land Grant Database, search their Online Map Database, search their online Surname Index, search all Archival Collections located at the GLO, learn how to use their GISweb Mapping Viewer, then play with their GISweb Mapping Viewer and you might want to purchase one of their research guides.
4. Texas Archival Resources Online [TARO] ~ An online database of descriptions of archival materials, manuscripts, and museum collections held in repositories across the state. It's a must-consult when trying to perform an exhaustive search of possible resources for that clue or piece of evidence that just might give you the answer you're seeking about your Texas ancestor. You'll want to search these online finding aids before doing onsite research. You can browse the finding aids by repository, perform a basic search, or perform an advanced search.
5. FamilySearch.org ~ I'm always surprised to find out at my local presentations how many people have never heard of FamilySearch.org, much less used it for their research. It's a free family history website sponsored by the LDS Church with many Texas research resources. Here are links to the ones that are the most useful for us researching our Texas ancestors: General Search of all their online collections, Texas-based online collections, Online Catalog to find microfilmed records to rent,instructions on how to use the Online Catalog, instructions for ordering microfilm, how to locate a Family History Center near you, their online Research Wiki, and their research wiki page for doing Texas-based research.

Want more Texas research resources?
Visit my Texas Genealogy Resources page.

Happy Researching!
~Caroline
© Copyright 2013 4YourFamilyStory.com -- All Rights Reserved.

Other related articles that might interest you...

• 5 Tips to Get You Unstuck on Ancestry.com
• 10 Steps to Fix That Online Family Tree You Started
• 3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections

For more research and technology tips subscribe to the {monthly} Genea-Tech Newsletter.

I get asked by people all the time about how to fix the family tree they've started on Ancestry.com. And that's a very good question. I think creating your tree on Ancestry.com is a very good start for a lot of people.

You are more likely to have some success at finding some records and information that pertains to your ancestors just because of the size of their databases. In fact, when people ask me which online database they should subscribe to I always reply, "The one that has your answers. And 9 times out of 10, Ancestry.com has the answers to help you solve some of your family history mysteries. Their databases are that big. Further, they have great weekly tutorials on how to search, make it very easy to add stuff you find there to your tree, and they have a great and responsive support system. They deliver value that when compared to traveling to places where documents are stored and preserved, make me ecstatic they exist.

But as I mentioned in my post about how to get unstuck on Ancestry.com, you have to step away from your family tree that you have created on Ancestry.com and evaluate things.

I see and evaluate a lot of Ancestry.com trees for my potential clients and those who become my clients. And 9 times out of 10, they've only performed research on Ancestry.com, and that is very easy to do. It can be addictive to get caught up in a digital chase for our ancestors. And it happens all the time. That's why one of my suggestions last week was to stop and take a breather and evaluate what you have before continuing your search on Ancestry.com as well as other online databases.

And taking that breather and evaluating is even more important if you've never done it before. Here are 10 important steps you need to do before continuing your search and to fix that online family tree you started:

1. Did you input into your tree the information you already knew?
   
2. How accurate was that information? Do you have the documents and evidence to back up what you thought you knew? 
   
3. If you haven't gathered the documents, certificates, photos, memorabilia, etc. that back up what you've entered, then you need to do that now.  And here are some resources to help you out with that.
   
4. Did you talk to relatives that might know some of your family's history and stories? Make a list and ask to visit with them. If you did that already, did you evaluate what they remembered the facts to be? How credible is it? Why or why not?
   
5. Keep notes somewhere of everything you do, what is said, and your thoughts about everything. Take notes with pencil and paper or digitally -- whatever you're more comfortable with. {If you're more digitally-inclined and already use Evernote, here's a video tutorial that will show you how to digitally organize your genealogy and family history notes.}
   
6. Make a pedigree chart. Put down what you know, evaluate it, and look at what you don't know. Highlight locations. Most records are in libraries, courthouses, archives, and online databases are organized by location. Here is more information about pedigree charts.
   
7. Make a list of documents that can help to prove what you haven't proven yet on your pedigree chart. Many times getting that birth certificate of someone you knew {and thought you really didn't need their birth certificate because, duh, you knew them} can give you information you need for other parts of your family tree. So start ordering documents if they cannot be found online already. {Remember: not everything is online.} If it means giving up your fancy schmancy coffee for a while to save up the money for a document, so be it. Buy some Folgers for a while and tough it out. {Personally, I get coffee somewhere in between Folgers and Fancy Schmancy.} And here is a blog post and a freebie check list of documents and paperwork you should keep an eye out for.
   
8. When you start to get the documents in the mail, start looking at them. I mean really looking at them. Look for obvious errors and evaluate every piece of information on the documents. Official documents can have mistakes on them, so be aware of that. Did the documents contain more information than what you thought they might? Or less? Who provided the information on the document? How did they know the information? Do you think they are credible?
   
9. Notate where you get each piece of information. The more you research, the more important this is.
   
10. Form a plan of attack. Narrowing down your focus to a specific question or set of questions can lead to research success and less frustration. I've previously written about how to do just that.

These steps are often skipped while working with an online tree, but they're important. I'm not saying you shouldn't start out online at all. It's fun and it can give you a good quick taste of success to keep you coming back for more. However, stopping, filling in some bare spots, finding proof in your house, getting info from your family members, and evaluating everything can lead you to even more success so you don't get frustrated and stop.

After all, you might be the family member who has information I need to keep me working on my own family tree research, and I definitely don't want you to get frustrated and stop. Ever.

For those who have been researching for a while, what would you add to this list? What do you wish you knew then that you know now?  Please share positive hints and tips in comments below!

Remember: It takes a village to make a family's history and to discover family stories. {And you know what that means, right? We're Village People, y'all. With a Village Goat.}

Happy Researching!
~Caroline
© Copyright 2013 4YourFamilyStory.com -- All Rights Reserved.

You did it.

And it was that commercial's fault.

It teased you.

"Your story is here," it suggested.

"Find out who you are."

"Sign up. Right now."

So you did. And, sure, you found some stuff, but you still don't know who the hell you are. Or who your family is, what everyone's story is, and you've got leaves shaking at you all over the place.

You're stuck out on your great grandmother's branch staring at those shaky leaves. How many Mary Smith's can there be in this freakin' world, right? With a sister named Martha?

No worries. Here are 5 tips to get you un-stuck while working on your family history mysteries on Ancestry.com:

1. Use your noggin'. While the shaky leaves are meant to be helpful, they're just automated hints. And some are completely wrong and some are completely right. And some are in between so you need to know what you're doing before accepting those hints as if they are the truth and nothing but. Sure, look at them, but don't take them as gospel. Evaluate those automated hints. If the shaky leaf suggests your great grandmother is George Smith who was 78 years old when she had her first child, something is amiss. Tell that leaf, "You don't own me. And you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Duh." So? Look at the automated hint given and evaluate it before adding it to your tree.  And then move on to the next clue.
   
2. Get away from your tree to search. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and it also makes for a healthier family tree. Sure, go through those automated-hints-shaky-leaves. And then do some searches using the search function in your family tree. But then totally get out of your family tree and go to the Search tab. Enter some information manually -- like first name, surname, and place of death. See what comes up. Look at it. Evaluate it. Do another search with slightly different information. See what comes up. Look at that. Evaluate that. Rinse and repeat. {Do the hokey pokey. Shake it all about even.} Sometimes the information you've entered into your tree is wrong and it affects your search results. Or? There's too much information and it's confusing all those Ancestry.com elves inside trying to figure out what you're looking for. So? Do some searching outside of your Ancestry.com tree. {I'm just kidding about the elves. It's really algorithms trying to read your mind, but I'm allergic to math and elves seem friendlier, no?}
3. Step back! Get away from that main search box on the Search Page. Give those elves a rest and tell them where what you're looking for just might be. Once you've narrowed your search down to a location, look in that location's records on Ancestry.com. Here, let me rock your world. Go to the Search Page, and scroll down. See that U.S. map? It's totally clickable. Click on the state you think your great grandmother was born in, perhaps lived in, or died in. Or did just about anything {that would have caused a document to be created or warrant a shout out in the newspaper or something}. Remember, when it comes to finding stuff about your family {and their many secrets}, it's usually organized by location. So? Stop sticking stuff in that main search page, hitting that enter button, and hoping for the best for the 1000th time. Stop the insanity and start searching for records based on location. {Location, location, location.}
4. Guess what? Not everything you need to solve your family history mysteries is on Ancestry.com. In fact -- are you sitting down? Not everything you need to prove your Great Aunt Bernice ran away with that carny is even online. Shocking, I know. But there it is. So the next step after exhausting Ancestry.com elves and leaves is to look elsewhere online. And my number one place to go after Ancestry.com is FamilySearch.org which is another online database that has record indexes and record images. And the best part? Totally free. And? After registering for free, you can even see digitized records {like death certificates} and print them out {or save them to your hard drive or whatever}. And, over there, follow these steps again. Over and over. 'Cause it's funny that on their search page you have to scroll down for the map too. However, it's not clickable. You choose a country and then state from the menu on the left to start your location-based searching. So? Get off Ancestry.com and search elsewhere for elves to help you out. Oops. I mean search elsewhere for stuff to help you document your family history.
5. So then you're probably thinking, "Where do I go after I exhaust those elves, I mean, those two places?" Don't worry. I've got you covered on my Research Resources Page where you'll find links to both free and subscription-based sites that have a range of indexes, records, and resources to help you solve your family history mysteries. {So? More elves to exhaust.}

~Caroline

Not a whole lot was added or updated to the following online databases this past week. However, the amount doesn't matter.

What matters is if something you've needed for your research was added to or updated. You won't know, though, until look.

So check out this past week's additions and updates.

Ancestry.com {All updated collections. No new collections added.}

• Middlesex County Records - Calendar of the Sessions Books 1690 – 1709 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Lübeck, Germany, Marriage Banns, 1871-1875 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Lübeck, Germany, Census, 1845 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Lübeck, Germany, Census, 1857 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Lübeck, Germany, Census, 1851 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Lübeck, Germany, Census, 1862 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}

• Texas, Divorce Index, 1968-2011 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• Texas, Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 {Updated 25 Jul 2013}
  
• New York, Naturalization Records, 1882-1944 {Updated 22 Jul 2013}
  

FamilySearch.org {New & updated collections.}

• Belgium, Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1608-1912 {Added or Updated 23 Jul 2013}Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 {Added or updated 23 Jul 2013}
  
• Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Catholic Church Records, 1616-1980 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1829-2012 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• Brazil, Santa Catarina, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1977 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• France, Quimper et Léon Diocese, Catholic Parish Records, 1772-1910 {Added or updated 23 Jul 2013}
  
• Nicaragua, Civil Registration, 1809-2011 {Added or updated 23 Jul 2013}
  
• Spain, Province of Málaga, Municipal Records, 1842-1925 {Added or updated 23 Jul 2013}
  

• Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 {Added or updated 22 July 2013}
  
• North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  
• North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979 {Added or updated 23 Jul 2013}
  
• United States, National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel Files, 1954-1970 {Added or updated 22 Jul 2013}
  

findmypast.com {US}

findmypast.com has recently added quite a few Canadian collections to it database site. There is no easy way to see a listing of all the Canadian collections on the findmypast.com website as of yet, but upon discovering the addition, John D. Reid created a listing of all of the collections titles on his blog, Anglo-Celtic Connections. So, if you're interested, have a look-see.

findmypast.com.au {Australia}

Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1920

~Caroline
© Copyright 2013 4YourFamilyStory.com

Similar posts you might be interested in:

• New and Updated Collections for Week Ending 12 Jul 2013
  
• New and Updated Collections for Week Ending 20 Jul 2013
  

I get asked a lot what apps people should get for their iPad. You know, for genealogy and "stuff." It's a tough one to answer because it just depends. It depends on your interests, preferences, and, you know, stuff.

But that usually doesn't help folks out. So I thought I'd list what apps I have on my iPad. Some I have used and some I'm either been playing with or have just started playing with. {And some of the apps I used on my iPhone back before I bought my Android Smartphone and before I had an iPad.} However, the list is long. So I broke it down into several blog posts. And I've started out with some pretty obvious ones, I think. Then, I'll branch out into some other obvious apps and not-so-obvious apps that I use for some aspect of genealogy research -- both personally and professionally.

And if you like this series of blog posts for genealogy and family history apps that I use on my iPad, just wait until you see the series of blog posts listing the Android apps I use on my Samsung Note 2. 'Cuz that's next after this series. Bam.

1. Ancestry ~ This is how I access my private work-in-progress family tree when I'm on the go. While I prefer to access Ancestry via my browser on my iPad for researching, I do like the convenience of accessing my tree while I'm at the library or courthouse for quick reference.
   
2. Rootsmagic ~ While I use FamilyTreeMaker 2012 software because it syncs to my Ancestry tree {which is my private research work-in-progress tree} very nicely, I also use Rootsmagic 6. And I'm finding I use it more because of it's research features, new alerts {which are really awesome and a huge time saver}, developer responsiveness, etc., but most of all I like how I can publish a family tree website that includes only things I've proven {to my satisfaction} and that can be found by anyone including family members via Google. Now, getting it on my iPad via Dropbox and the Rootsmagic app is not my favorite because it ties me to having Dropbox storage for this, but their desktop software rocks.
   
3. MyHeritage ~ Admittedly, I don't keep my tree updated there, I do like having a version of my tree there for cousin bait, networking, the alerts, etc., and it's nice to have it on the go on my iPad for quick researching. {And, no, I don't recommend people have 3 different databases going if you don't want to. It's not necessary at all.}
   
4. LiveHistory ~ I've been playing with this app, and I have a full review coming up on it. Suffice it to say that I think this app has lots of research and analysis potential. {Disclosure: I've received an app from the developer for me to review.}
   
5. Billiongraves Camera App ~ While I research on FindAGrave.com as well as Billiongraves.com and elsewhere, this app makes capturing my own ancestors' tombstones and information very handy.
   
6. StoryPress ~ I'll be using this app for an upcoming interview with a 2nd cousin of mine. {Disclosure: I not only promoted their Kickstarter Project, I helped to fund it as well and received some cloud storage for donating to their project. I like this app that much.}
   
7. WhoDoYouThinkYouAre? Magazine {UK} {Disclosure:I wrote an article for them.}
   
8. Wolfram Genealogy & Family History Research Assistant App {More specialized for genealogy than the Wolfram Alpha App}
   
9. Wolfram Travel Assistant App ~ Again, more specialized and handy for planning any type of trips, including research trips.}
   
10. Paper of Record ~ Not an abundance of collections, but? How will it get bigger if we don't support it? And maybe other developers will take a hint a develop more of these apps. Cuz, duh. This is brilliant.
    
11. Metes and Bounds Basic ~ While I've used the web-based version, I just found this iPad app. It doesn't look as powerful as their desktop application, but I think this could be pretty handy when dealing with metes and bounds when I'm on the go. Or relaxing on the couch.
12. Houston Public Library ~ This app is super duper handy for checking what Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research has in their online catalog when I'm on the go. {At home, I use Clayton's website for full researching.}
    
13. Mid-Continent Public Library ~ While I also use Worldcat.org {which their app is no longer available but you can use the site in your favorite iPad browser}, I like having access to a library's website via my iPad app for special collections, events, etc.
    
14. Timeline Builder ~ I've just started playing with this one. I'll let you know what I think of it in the near future. So stay tuned.
    
15. ThingLink ~ This one is SO cool and I did a review of it already.

Also remember to stay tuned for more iPad apps. I've got lot of them that I use for not only genealogy but other, um, "stuff." And then a series of blog posts of Android apps that I use will be after that.

~Caroline

When searching a database collection online, don't just jump right in and start searching or browsing. You need to know exactly what you are looking at before searching a record collection.

For example, is it complete? 'Cause, hello?!?

If it's not complete and you start searching in it and you don't find what you are looking for even though you're pretty sure it should be there, then you might incorrectly conclude something you should not. Something erroneous. Like such-n-such database doesn't have it or maybe it doesn't even exist. A good example of this is when looking at a particular state's county marriages. If they aren't complete and don't include the county you need but others, that's not going to be real helpful to you and might even make you think, "Well, I've already looked for it in such-n-such database and I guess it doesn't exist." And that would not be true. It -- for whatever reason -- isn't in that database at the time you looked. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist and/or that it won't be there later.

Online databases usually {Read: They should.} include information about a particular collection that they have. And? They also tend to give you tips about how to look at the particular collection. 

Remember: Stop and read about the collection before searching it for your genealogy. You need to know what you are looking at before you look. Click. Scroll. Read.

The below screenshot thumbnails show you how to find information about a collection on Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org, and findmypast.com. Just click on the thumbnails to view a larger image. {Like magic.}

Ancestry.com 

Familysearch.org

findmypast.com

~Caroline

New collections are being added to online databases and/or they're being updated all the time, and it's important to check back with these genealogy databases as you research. So here is a listing of what's been added from 13 Jul 2013 through 20 Jul 2013. And included are also links to any significant news updates that concerned collections on these online database sites.

Has something been added to these online genealogy database collections that you have needed for your research? Find out.

Ancestry.com {Both US and non-US but nothing is new for non-US collections this week.}

New

•  Kansas, Cemetery Records, 1812-1981 {Added 18 Jul 2013}
  
•  U.S., American Red Cross Nurse Files, 1916-1959 {added 17 Jul 2013}
  
• New York, Naturalization Petitions, 1794-1906 {added 15 Jul 2013}
  
• Tarrant County,Texas, Probate Index, 1800-2012 {added 15 Jul 2013}
  
• Washington D.C., Habeas Corpus Case Records, 1820-1863 {added 15 Jul 2013}

Updated

• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 {updated 17 Jul 2013}
  
• Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953 {updated 15 Jul 2013}

News for Ancestry.com's Collections

• Free access to Ancestry.com's New England Record Collections ends 21 July 2013.

FamilySearch.org {Both US & non-US}

Brazil, Mato Grosso, Civil Registration, 1848-2012 {added or updated 17 Jul 2013}
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Miscellaneous Records, 1748-1985 {added or updated 17 Jul 2013}
China, Collection of Genealogies, 1239-2011 {added or updated 17 Jul 2013}
Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Miscellaneous Records, 1549-1955 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Italy, Ascoli Piceno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1740-1880, 1915-1919 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Italy, Messina, Mistretta, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Ivory Coast, Civil Registration, 1920-2012 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Marriages, 1845-1955 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Spain, Province of Cádiz, Municipal Records, 1784-1942 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Spain, Province of Sevilla, Municipal Records, 1293-1966 {added or updated 15 Jul 2013}
Utah, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1847-1868 {added or updated 18 Jul 2013}

findmypast.com {US version of their collections and includes US and World collections.}

News for findmypast.com's Collections

• PERSI Finds New Home on findmypast
  

findmypast.co.uk {UK version of their collections and includes several types of subscriptions. Available collections can be different than the US World Collections on findmypast.com. Confusing, but important to note.}

News for findmypast.co.uk's Collections

• Searching for living relatives now included
  

~Caroline

Similar post you might be interested in:

• New and Updated Collections on Genealogy Sites {for week ending 12 Jul 2013}