Category Archives: Resources

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

The debut challenge for 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy is The Local Public Library. Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.

As a member of the DAR, I’ve had access to these databases, but now they are available to the public.  I actually work on two of the projects: Descendants (entering DAR application data) and GRC (indexing all names in DAR genealogy books). You can access the databases using the following link:  http://www.dar.org/library/online_research.cfm For detailed information about the databases, refer to Miriam Robbins Midkiff’s post DAR Databases Now Available Online.

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time over the last few weeks exploring the city directories available at Footnote, now Fold3.  The first few days I was frustrated as my searches weren’t turning up anything.  But then I realized why, and have been able to effectively search the directories.  This post will explain how the directories work on Footnote, and how to effectively find the people for whom you are searching.

Prompt:  Highlight the good work of others. List your favorite posts of the week/month/year. This is an easy way to give some blog love and write an easy post. You can use this idea as little or as much as you want. I’ve been spending most of the day catching up on the 5,000+ genealogy blog posts in my reader.  What a perfect time for this prompt to come up!

Prompt:  Update older posts. If you find more information related to a previous post, create an update post. Link to the older posts to refresh readers’ memories, then give us the details on new discoveries. Back in February I posted an obituary for Byron WEBSTER (first cousin four times removed).  The obit was clipped and there was no way of knowing when it was published and therefore, no idea when he died.