I had a wonderful time Saturday at the Escondido (CA) Genealogical Society meeting at the Escondido Public Library. I got there about five minutes before opening, and was greeted by the Program Chair, Ray Raser. We went up to the meeting room, and I got the projector and laptop set up on a table - just the right distance from the large screen. There were about 25 in attendance.
After a short business meeting, I was introduced by Ray and presented my "Genealogy is Fun! Seriously!" talk. This presentation is basically a humor talk, but there are lessons to be learned in the examples - for instance, the 1880 census is the only one with the occupations indexed as keywords on Ancestry.com. It covers names, epitaphs, wills, obituaries, place names, census records, occupations, database oddities, cartoons, some of The Genealogue's Top 10 lists, and the I'm My Own Grandpa video, followed by my homemade relationship chart for the song. I ended with some wisdom and comments about what is fun for me. The audience laughed in all the right places, and seemed to enjoy it.
I provided a handout with "fun" genealogy web sites (humor, videos, merchandise, etc) on one side and some of my favorite research sites on the other (indexes, databases, links, lists, boards, etc.).
After the talk, I met Peggy and Vince Rossi (Peggy is a professional genealogist in the area, and both of them are writers), and with Ray and his wife, we walked over to a nearby deli for a sandwich and conversation (thank you for lunch, Ray!). This was a lot of fun - getting to know other genealogists is fun for me.
After lunch, we went back to the Pioneer Room, which is a local history repository that is part of the Escondido Library. It is open 16 hours a week, and I got a chance to check out the holdings, and talk to the archivist. They have a good collection of San Diego records - probably the second or third best in the county.
I had a great genealogy Saturday - so much fun and excitement that I came home and took a nap to recover!
My thanks to Ray and the Escondido Genealogical Society for inviting me and sharing some fun.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday Night Fun - Tell me a Genealogy Joke
I am such a bad joke teller. I have to write them down and read them in order to remember them. It's not the joke's fault - I don't learn well by hearing things.
I told three genealogy jokes today at my presentation in Escondido today. People laughed, but they knew that they weren't my own material. It's obvious that I need more material. And maybe I can memorize them if they are short enough.
In order to help me prepare for any future "Genealogy is Fun! Seriously!" presentation, your Saturday Night Fun assignment, should you choose to accept it (please, please, please me!), is to tell me (and the readers) a genealogy joke. Not a tag line, not a funny name or an epitaph, a real genealogy joke. From whatever source you may find. Or make one up yourself.
I, and my future audiences, will appreciate it!
I told three genealogy jokes today at my presentation in Escondido today. People laughed, but they knew that they weren't my own material. It's obvious that I need more material. And maybe I can memorize them if they are short enough.
In order to help me prepare for any future "Genealogy is Fun! Seriously!" presentation, your Saturday Night Fun assignment, should you choose to accept it (please, please, please me!), is to tell me (and the readers) a genealogy joke. Not a tag line, not a funny name or an epitaph, a real genealogy joke. From whatever source you may find. Or make one up yourself.
I, and my future audiences, will appreciate it!
The Wholly Genes (Land) Cruise in 2009
I received this email from Bob Velke, the creator and owner of The Master Genealogist program, announcing that the Wholly Genes conference will be held on August 26-30 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, not aboard a cruise ship:
We've had a lot of inquiries about when and where Wholly Genes will be hosting our 5th Annual Genealogy Conference and Cruise so I thought that I'd give you a little advanced notice...
Due to the state of the economy and other discouraging circumstances in the cruise industry, we will not be hosting a cruise this year. However, because of its popularity, we intend to continue the practice of an annual conference.
So this year we are planning a "land cruise" – a genealogy conference in our normal tradition but that happens to be on land. Come 2010 and the prospect of an improved economy, we may resume our past practice of conducting the conference on a cruise ship.
Although this year's Wholly Genes conference is expected, as in the past, to far exceed the attendance of other genealogy "cruises," it will be somewhat scaled-back from our usual annual event, with fewer speakers and spanning just four days to accommodate people's busy schedules. The objective is to continue to provide an unparalleled educational opportunity but at a cost-effectiveness that will astound you.
As always, our focus is on providing first-class genealogical speakers on topics that will interest all researchers. This year's speakers will include:
- John Philip Colletta, Ph.D. - a popular speaker, prolific author, and expert on research at the Library of Congress, among many other topics.
- Marie Varrelman Melchiori, CG, CGL - a full-time researcher for 30 years, an expert on the National Archives, military records, and other topics.
- Patricia O'Brien Shawker, CG - the Director of the National Institute on Genealogical Research, author, and an expert on research at the DAR Library and National Archives, among other topics.
- Craig Roberts Scott, CG - publisher, professional researcher for more than 23 years, and an expert on a wide variety of record types and resources, including colonial, Civil War, federal records, migration,military, Quaker, and government publications.
We'll also have many presentations related to The Master Genealogist (TMG), of course, as well as some surprises.
Our 2009 Genealogy Conference and "Land Cruise" will be held Aug 26-30 in a grand 19th-century hotel in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. There will be a day and a half of lectures about methodology, repositories, records, and finding aids in D.C. (including NARA, the Library of Congress, and the DAR), followed by a full-day research trip to the nation's capital (the "land cruise" part), and then another day and a half of presentations, among other activities.
The best part? All of this will be less than $400 a person (double occupancy), including all meals and conference events! That's less than half the price of the cruises and there's even free wireless internet and free parking.
Please watch our newsletter or www.WhollyGenes.com for a press release and full details...
I think that this is a really, really smart move by Bob and his company. Nobody knows how bad the recession will be. The conference and land cruise are focused and sound like a lot of fun, held in a beautiful part of the country, with the extra bonus of researching in Washington DC. It will be the week before the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, which may affect the Wholly Genes turnout.
What I really want to know is: if John Titford from England isn't coming to the conference, who will lead the singing of "I'm My Own Grandpa" at the closing cocktail party?
We've had a lot of inquiries about when and where Wholly Genes will be hosting our 5th Annual Genealogy Conference and Cruise so I thought that I'd give you a little advanced notice...
Due to the state of the economy and other discouraging circumstances in the cruise industry, we will not be hosting a cruise this year. However, because of its popularity, we intend to continue the practice of an annual conference.
So this year we are planning a "land cruise" – a genealogy conference in our normal tradition but that happens to be on land. Come 2010 and the prospect of an improved economy, we may resume our past practice of conducting the conference on a cruise ship.
Although this year's Wholly Genes conference is expected, as in the past, to far exceed the attendance of other genealogy "cruises," it will be somewhat scaled-back from our usual annual event, with fewer speakers and spanning just four days to accommodate people's busy schedules. The objective is to continue to provide an unparalleled educational opportunity but at a cost-effectiveness that will astound you.
As always, our focus is on providing first-class genealogical speakers on topics that will interest all researchers. This year's speakers will include:
- John Philip Colletta, Ph.D. - a popular speaker, prolific author, and expert on research at the Library of Congress, among many other topics.
- Marie Varrelman Melchiori, CG, CGL - a full-time researcher for 30 years, an expert on the National Archives, military records, and other topics.
- Patricia O'Brien Shawker, CG - the Director of the National Institute on Genealogical Research, author, and an expert on research at the DAR Library and National Archives, among other topics.
- Craig Roberts Scott, CG - publisher, professional researcher for more than 23 years, and an expert on a wide variety of record types and resources, including colonial, Civil War, federal records, migration,military, Quaker, and government publications.
We'll also have many presentations related to The Master Genealogist (TMG), of course, as well as some surprises.
Our 2009 Genealogy Conference and "Land Cruise" will be held Aug 26-30 in a grand 19th-century hotel in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. There will be a day and a half of lectures about methodology, repositories, records, and finding aids in D.C. (including NARA, the Library of Congress, and the DAR), followed by a full-day research trip to the nation's capital (the "land cruise" part), and then another day and a half of presentations, among other activities.
The best part? All of this will be less than $400 a person (double occupancy), including all meals and conference events! That's less than half the price of the cruises and there's even free wireless internet and free parking.
Please watch our newsletter or www.WhollyGenes.com for a press release and full details...
I think that this is a really, really smart move by Bob and his company. Nobody knows how bad the recession will be. The conference and land cruise are focused and sound like a lot of fun, held in a beautiful part of the country, with the extra bonus of researching in Washington DC. It will be the week before the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, which may affect the Wholly Genes turnout.
What I really want to know is: if John Titford from England isn't coming to the conference, who will lead the singing of "I'm My Own Grandpa" at the closing cocktail party?
Market Research on Genealogy
One of the interesting (to me, at least!) conversations on the Transitional Genealogists Forum (TGF) mailing list this month has been about Marketing - how big is the genealogy market, who are the potential customers, and how can companies (software, database, publications, professionals, etc.) serve that market? The specific discussion started in a thread with Christy Fillerup's post titled "Market Research (was the Long Distance Genealogist)" here, and a separate thread titled "Market Research Refined - Identifying the Client" starts here on the TGF list.
In a post yesterday to the latter thread, Marian Pierre-Louis provided a link to Family Tree Magazine's 46 page 2009 Media Kit, which includes some genealogy marketing information. There are two pages of information about genealogy enthusiasts, including these facts:
* 1,900 people visit the Family History Library in Salt Lake City every day.
* 1 million+ people visit the National Archives annually.
* The National Archives and its regional research facilities receive 1.1 million
written research requests a year.
* 500,000 active genealogists belong to more than 500 Federation of
Genealogical Societies member groups.
* 651,500 people have taken a genetic genealogy test.
There is also information about Family Tree Magazine's circulation:
* 70,000 paid print circulation
* 60,000 opt-in subscribers to weekly e-mail newsletter
* 60,000 unique monthly Web visitors
I encourage those interested to go read the entire media kit. You get an excellent overview of the genealogy marketplace, Family Tree Magazine's marketing focus, and some insight into what the magazine will offer in 2009. I appreciate the magazines sharing of this information.
Thanks to Marian for the great lead! I know that the TGF list readers interested in this topic appreciate the input.
In a post yesterday to the latter thread, Marian Pierre-Louis provided a link to Family Tree Magazine's 46 page 2009 Media Kit, which includes some genealogy marketing information. There are two pages of information about genealogy enthusiasts, including these facts:
* 1,900 people visit the Family History Library in Salt Lake City every day.
* 1 million+ people visit the National Archives annually.
* The National Archives and its regional research facilities receive 1.1 million
written research requests a year.
* 500,000 active genealogists belong to more than 500 Federation of
Genealogical Societies member groups.
* 651,500 people have taken a genetic genealogy test.
There is also information about Family Tree Magazine's circulation:
* 70,000 paid print circulation
* 60,000 opt-in subscribers to weekly e-mail newsletter
* 60,000 unique monthly Web visitors
I encourage those interested to go read the entire media kit. You get an excellent overview of the genealogy marketplace, Family Tree Magazine's marketing focus, and some insight into what the magazine will offer in 2009. I appreciate the magazines sharing of this information.
Thanks to Marian for the great lead! I know that the TGF list readers interested in this topic appreciate the input.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Legacy Charts with Picture Backgrounds
I've been experimenting with Legacy Family Tree 7 and Legacy Charting for some time now. I do this mainly in hopes of finding an absolutely beautiful and wonderful combination of information and background that I can get made into a wall poster by Generation Maps at some time (see, Janet, I haven't forgotten you!).
Today, the Legacy News blog (I'm assuming Geoff Rasmussen) showed a sample chart that pulled one of his kids photos in as a background - see his post Legacy Charting Tip - a mug shot for a background. I thought it looked very neat. I hadn't tried that before - it looked easy and it was.
I made four-generation charts for my father and my mother, using their photographs as a background (with about 40% transparency). Here's what they look like:
The user can control the sizes of the boxes, the spacing between the boxes, the color and weight of the boxes and the connecting lines, and the format of the items inside each box. To make the background in Legacy Charting, you click on Appearance>Backgrounds>Select Image and find the picture you want to use as the background. You can then set the Transparency level. It is really easy.
Today, the Legacy News blog (I'm assuming Geoff Rasmussen) showed a sample chart that pulled one of his kids photos in as a background - see his post Legacy Charting Tip - a mug shot for a background. I thought it looked very neat. I hadn't tried that before - it looked easy and it was.
I made four-generation charts for my father and my mother, using their photographs as a background (with about 40% transparency). Here's what they look like:
The user can control the sizes of the boxes, the spacing between the boxes, the color and weight of the boxes and the connecting lines, and the format of the items inside each box. To make the background in Legacy Charting, you click on Appearance>Backgrounds>Select Image and find the picture you want to use as the background. You can then set the Transparency level. It is really easy.
My problem with all of the charts is keeping the number of pages down to a manageable number. I wanted a four-generation chart with the name, birth date/location, marriage date/location and death date/location on my chart, but that resulted in a two page chart with the picture stretched vertically. So I eliminated the locations and got the chart above. I can get a five-generation chart with all of the information I want and an unskewed picture, but it's on four pages.
I noticed that Geoff got a five-generation chart on one page, but included only the name and birth-death years, which is probably good enough for most recipients of such a chart. I'll have to experiment more.
What do you want in a search engine?
Every researcher complains about them, but I haven't seen many lists of what people want in a genealogy database search engine.
I've been using Ancestry.com, HeritageQuestOnline, WorldVitalRecords, Footnote, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, WeRelate and many other web sites - some for months and some for years. I've gotten to "know" their search engines intimately. I would like each of them to improve their capability.
Which web site has the absolute "best" search engine, in your opinion? And why do you think it is the best?
What capabilities do you want to see in a search engine?
Here are some of my search capabilities that might be considered:
* Exact search on as many fields as possible
* Fuzzy search on fields, with ranges for dates and ages
* Fuzzy searches should include alternative spellings for names (not necessarily soundex or metaphone).
* Ability to choose between exact and fuzzy search on each field
* Ability to use wild card symbols for names and localities
* Ability to use the ? symbol for one letter in a name
* Ability to use father's first name and birthplace, mother's first name and birthplace
* Ability to use spouse's name and birthplace
* Ability to use sibling's name and birthplace
* Define proximity to a name in a keyword (i.e., page, paragraph, line, next to, etc)
* Ability to search a specific database, not the entire collection
* Put editable current search box on current results page to minimize clicks and page changes.
Those are my "wants" for a search engine just from my mental checklist. What do you want? Tell me! I'll create a master list. If you want to blog your own list, please do so, but please tell me where you've written it.
Frankly, when I'm searching I want to minimize my clicks and have maximum flexibility to choose search terms and ranges. The quicker I can find a result the happier I am.
Please note that this list should not consider what you want in an index - only what you want in a search engine. The index problem is a whole different mountain to climb!
In the next several weeks, I am going to write a series of posts that demonstrate what each site uses from the so-called "master list" so that my readers understand the differences and can use each database effectively.
I've been using Ancestry.com, HeritageQuestOnline, WorldVitalRecords, Footnote, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, WeRelate and many other web sites - some for months and some for years. I've gotten to "know" their search engines intimately. I would like each of them to improve their capability.
Which web site has the absolute "best" search engine, in your opinion? And why do you think it is the best?
What capabilities do you want to see in a search engine?
Here are some of my search capabilities that might be considered:
* Exact search on as many fields as possible
* Fuzzy search on fields, with ranges for dates and ages
* Fuzzy searches should include alternative spellings for names (not necessarily soundex or metaphone).
* Ability to choose between exact and fuzzy search on each field
* Ability to use wild card symbols for names and localities
* Ability to use the ? symbol for one letter in a name
* Ability to use father's first name and birthplace, mother's first name and birthplace
* Ability to use spouse's name and birthplace
* Ability to use sibling's name and birthplace
* Define proximity to a name in a keyword (i.e., page, paragraph, line, next to, etc)
* Ability to search a specific database, not the entire collection
* Put editable current search box on current results page to minimize clicks and page changes.
Those are my "wants" for a search engine just from my mental checklist. What do you want? Tell me! I'll create a master list. If you want to blog your own list, please do so, but please tell me where you've written it.
Frankly, when I'm searching I want to minimize my clicks and have maximum flexibility to choose search terms and ranges. The quicker I can find a result the happier I am.
Please note that this list should not consider what you want in an index - only what you want in a search engine. The index problem is a whole different mountain to climb!
In the next several weeks, I am going to write a series of posts that demonstrate what each site uses from the so-called "master list" so that my readers understand the differences and can use each database effectively.
Recent Content at Ancestry.com
I try to check the recently added and updated content to Ancestry.com several times a week. The Recent Genealogy Databases page is at http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/recent.aspx.
I'm always on the lookout for new databases that will help me, and my colleagues and clients, in my research.
In recent months, most of the new content has been for Canada, with some UK, German, Swedish and other countries. I have a US Deluxe subscription, so this has frustrated me no end, because I seem to thrive on new content.
There are several recently added databases that show promise:
* U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (World Archives Project) - this database currently has only images for 20 states, with no name or keyword search. Added on 1/9/09.
* U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 - this database currently has images for only one state (South Carolina). There is no name search, no county search, no keyword search, etc. at this time. Added on 1/9/09.
The user can find his way around the Naturalization Indexes by putting random page numbers in the Page box and narrow the search to a name using many clicks.
I had hoped, of course, that these databases would be complete and name searchable. We will have to wait until the indexers finish their work, I guess.
Is this "partial release" a new policy of Ancestry's? Footnote does it all of the time, but releases indexes as the images are released. FamilySearch Record Search releases images in groups, and then adds indexes in groups.
The problem with this "partial release" action is that unsuspecting researchers will assume that there are no matches in the databases if they don't read the details on the database description pages.
The lesson here for all of us is "vigilance" - we need to keep track of the databases involved and the searches we make in those databases.
I'm always on the lookout for new databases that will help me, and my colleagues and clients, in my research.
In recent months, most of the new content has been for Canada, with some UK, German, Swedish and other countries. I have a US Deluxe subscription, so this has frustrated me no end, because I seem to thrive on new content.
There are several recently added databases that show promise:
* U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (World Archives Project) - this database currently has only images for 20 states, with no name or keyword search. Added on 1/9/09.
* U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 - this database currently has images for only one state (South Carolina). There is no name search, no county search, no keyword search, etc. at this time. Added on 1/9/09.
The user can find his way around the Naturalization Indexes by putting random page numbers in the Page box and narrow the search to a name using many clicks.
I had hoped, of course, that these databases would be complete and name searchable. We will have to wait until the indexers finish their work, I guess.
Is this "partial release" a new policy of Ancestry's? Footnote does it all of the time, but releases indexes as the images are released. FamilySearch Record Search releases images in groups, and then adds indexes in groups.
The problem with this "partial release" action is that unsuspecting researchers will assume that there are no matches in the databases if they don't read the details on the database description pages.
The lesson here for all of us is "vigilance" - we need to keep track of the databases involved and the searches we make in those databases.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"Connecticut Nutmegger" online at NEHGS Site
The New England Historical and Genealogical Society web site at www.NewEnglandAncestors.org has added The Connecticut Nutmegger quarterly periodical to their online holdings. You can read the full press release at Dick Eastman's blog here.
The complete run of the periodical is not available online yet - they have only the first six volumes, for 1968-1973. I searched for some of my known CT ancestors, and the surname Seaver, and did not get any matches. I tried WHITE and there were 17 matches and 213 SMITH matches. I put several town names in the Keyword search box and got matches for some of them (obviously, the first six volumes don't have every surname or every town). Counties, authors, titles, years, record types, etc. all seem to be indexed as keywords.
This database will be most useful when the complete database is available. Note that you have to be a member of NEHGS in order to access this database, and the other NEHGS databases also.
I'm ecstatic to see periodical indexes being digitized and periodical pages imaged and linked - they often contain unique content that can solve elusive ancestor research problems.
The complete run of the periodical is not available online yet - they have only the first six volumes, for 1968-1973. I searched for some of my known CT ancestors, and the surname Seaver, and did not get any matches. I tried WHITE and there were 17 matches and 213 SMITH matches. I put several town names in the Keyword search box and got matches for some of them (obviously, the first six volumes don't have every surname or every town). Counties, authors, titles, years, record types, etc. all seem to be indexed as keywords.
This database will be most useful when the complete database is available. Note that you have to be a member of NEHGS in order to access this database, and the other NEHGS databases also.
I'm ecstatic to see periodical indexes being digitized and periodical pages imaged and linked - they often contain unique content that can solve elusive ancestor research problems.
"Genealogy is Fun! Seriously!" Program in Escondido on Saturday, 24 January
Your humble Genea-Musings scribe is the presenter at the Escondido Genealogical Society meeting on Saturday, 24 January 2009. The meeting is at 10:15 a.m. in the Turrentine Room on the second floor of the Escondido Public Library, 239 South Kalmia Street in Escondido (phone 760-839-4684).
The topic of the presentation is "Genealogy Is Fun! Seriously!" and covers names, places, records and events that are, um, funny or strange, at least in the semi-twisted mind of the presenter. The presentation reviews some of the choicest web pages that deal with genealogy humor, and may include the Genea-Man cartoon and a song or two.
Randy Seaver is a native San Diegan, a retired aerospace engineer, father and grandfather. He has been pursuing his elusive ancestors for 21 years, has self-published two family history books, and is the proud owner of several large GEDCOMs. He is the Past-President of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society, is currently the CVGS Research Chairman, and enjoys meeting people at genealogy conferences and cruises. He is a member of a number of several august local and national genealogical societies, including the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG), and is eligible to be a member of the Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of England (the Royal Bastards) if nominated and accepted. Randy publishes several genealogy blogs, including Genea-Musings, The Geneaholic, the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe, and the South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit. He is a fervent believer that genealogy research is fun, and yearns to share the news.
If you have some free time on Saturday, come by the Escondido Public Library and laugh along with Randy and the EGS members.
The topic of the presentation is "Genealogy Is Fun! Seriously!" and covers names, places, records and events that are, um, funny or strange, at least in the semi-twisted mind of the presenter. The presentation reviews some of the choicest web pages that deal with genealogy humor, and may include the Genea-Man cartoon and a song or two.
Randy Seaver is a native San Diegan, a retired aerospace engineer, father and grandfather. He has been pursuing his elusive ancestors for 21 years, has self-published two family history books, and is the proud owner of several large GEDCOMs. He is the Past-President of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society, is currently the CVGS Research Chairman, and enjoys meeting people at genealogy conferences and cruises. He is a member of a number of several august local and national genealogical societies, including the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG), and is eligible to be a member of the Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of England (the Royal Bastards) if nominated and accepted. Randy publishes several genealogy blogs, including Genea-Musings, The Geneaholic, the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe, and the South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit. He is a fervent believer that genealogy research is fun, and yearns to share the news.
If you have some free time on Saturday, come by the Escondido Public Library and laugh along with Randy and the EGS members.
Read about "The Great Nepotism Experiment"
Take a small group of people working on a project. Add a genealogist to the mix who asks "are you related to each other?" Shake well, share much, your results may vary, and surprise you!
They certainly did for three teams in the article The Great Nepotism Experiment by Ceil Wendt Jensen, Jana Sloan Broglin and Jana Lloyd published recently in Ancestry Magazine.
This article was fascinating on two levels - the resources used by the genealogists and the results found. One group had no connections at all, one group had only two connections, but the third group had several ancestral connections to each other.
The genealogists used the person's home sources and family stories, the person's family tree data, online resources and databases, and published books.
This is a great idea for a local business, service group or society to do as a team-building exercise. It's also a way that genealogy societies can attract and enthuse potential new members from the local community - for instance, have an "Ancestor Search" or "Ancestry Road Show" day at the library during Family History Month.
They certainly did for three teams in the article The Great Nepotism Experiment by Ceil Wendt Jensen, Jana Sloan Broglin and Jana Lloyd published recently in Ancestry Magazine.
This article was fascinating on two levels - the resources used by the genealogists and the results found. One group had no connections at all, one group had only two connections, but the third group had several ancestral connections to each other.
The genealogists used the person's home sources and family stories, the person's family tree data, online resources and databases, and published books.
This is a great idea for a local business, service group or society to do as a team-building exercise. It's also a way that genealogy societies can attract and enthuse potential new members from the local community - for instance, have an "Ancestor Search" or "Ancestry Road Show" day at the library during Family History Month.
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