The FamilySearch Research Wiki and Your Genealogy Society

FamilySearch Research Wiki

This is the last week of Family History Month, so we thought we'd tell you about a valuable tool that not only can be used for your personal research, but also for your society to use. Lise Embley of FamilySearch covers how the FamilySearch Research Wiki works and how it can be used to benefit your genealogy society and its members.

Learn the finer points of what a wiki is, how it works, and how everyone can get involved and help to make the FamilySearch Research Wiki an even more powerful research tool than it already is!

In case you're wondering, here's the FGS wiki page.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "The FamilySearch Research Wiki and Your GenealogySociety" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

Societies: Preserving Your Genealogy Society

Family History Month has really uncovered just how many great things are happening in the genealogical community. Which means there’s lots for FGS Member Societies, and even those that aren’t members yet (cough, cough), of which to be proud.

As Family History Month is winding down, I’d like to take a moment to talk about preservation: the preservation and long-term health of your society. One of the more challenging aspects of running a genealogical society is acknowledging it takes a village. There are quite a few groups that are run by tightly-knit nuclear groups of individuals who want to run things in ways that make them comfortable. The challenge with that is that a society cannot be run, long-term, by just one person or even several people. It takes a changing and growing team of individuals, with diverse skills, to form an effective and resilient society.

As an archivist, I’ve seen a number of collections of now-defunct historical societies. There’s nothing sadder than knowing that a group of people came together to collect and preserve their history, only to have it all come apart because they didn’t plan for the long-term operation of their group. And I’ve seen, and heard, lots of stories of genealogy societies that fall in this rut. Even some larger Societies still have the same people at the helm as they did 10, 15, or even 20 years ago. But what’s going to happen when those people are no longer around?

Remnants of Elburn Historical Society before archival processing
(c) 2010 Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana

If your Society has enough members and is a vital part of your larger community, congratulations. But, if you are seeing dwindling membership and are finding it difficult to get people to your events, as challenging as it may be, it may well be an issue of not being willing to take a little short-term pain for the longer-term gain. Please know that FGS is here to help you preserve the thing that you’ve worked so hard to build. There are tools and resources available to help you create a long-term plan for your society, while working in the present to engage new members. Let’s use Family History Month 2014 as a springboard for a great new year of genealogy, family history, the history of our communities, and for the human family we’re all a part of. I hope to see you all here again next year for Family History Month, 2015.

Oh, and if you want to get a giant leap ahead to start 2015 off right, don’t forget to register for FGS2015 in Salt Lake City!­ Take a look at all the helpful Societies Day presentations designed specifically to help societies strengthen and grow for the long term.

Family History Month: Isn't It Every Month?

Family History Month is not over just yet; there’s still a week to go and some great things going on. If you’ve been hesitant to get involved with a local genealogical society, now’s your chance to dip your toe in the water!

I thought I’d take a moment to let you know what it’s been like being a member of a local genealogical society. I’ve been a member of a number of regional and state genealogical societies in the locations where my roots are: Ohio, NEHGS, Southern California, and St. Louis. There are others too, but my budget is tight so I have to be selective and choose those that provide the most resources to those of us researching from afar.

I hesitated for a long time, however, to be a part of a local Genealogical Society mainly because I don’t have local roots and didn’t believe I had the time to invest in participating as a member. But, as I heard more and more stories about societies folding and their resources and materials being scattered among other groups or, in an extreme case, lost forever, I decided I had to take a position of leading by example.

I live in an area (the western suburbs of Chicago) where we have lots of genealogical societies. I was fortunate to find the group that I believed I could gain the most from and to whom I could give the most in return: the Fox Valley Genealogical Society. At the first meeting I attended, in which Paul Milner was speaking about Irish roots, they asked for volunteers for their free monthly research days at a local library. What possessed me to raise my hand is beyond me, but nearly two years later, I still look forward to the second Tuesday in the month. I’ve met some wonderful family historians working on genealogy problems small and large, local and international. 

Courtesy Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana

I’ve gained so much from helping others work through their genealogical challenges, and find that I look at my own research differently. Had I not gone to that meeting, I wouldn’t have the benefit of looking at genealogical problems from a different perspective. Plus, I’ve met some really great people.

Genealogical and historical Societies have the goal of preserving family and cultural history. These two things go hand-in-hand, but can’t be accomplished without a wide variety of people with an even wider variety of skills. Please think about sharing your knowledge with a local society. ­

Records Preservation and Access Committee and Your Genealogy Society

October is National Family History Month and National Archives Month. In the spirit of giving both equal attention, let's talk about the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC).

RPAC's mission is to advise the genealogical community on ways to support "strong records preservation policies and practices" [archives] and ensure "proper access to historical records of genealogical value" [family history].

Teri Flack, Chair of FGS member society Texas State Genealogical Society's RPAC and the state liaison to the national RPAC, discusses the work that RPAC does, and how you and your society can help RPAC's mission on local, regional, and national levels.

If you're interested in getting involved individually or as a society, check out the downloadable publications for more information on ways to help. There are still many states that do not have liaisons, and it's a safe bet that existing state liaisons could use an extra hand or two.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Records Preservation and Access Committee" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

Societies: Here's a Great Program Idea

Briscoe Center for American History (Credit: Caroline M. Pointer)

While compiling information on what's happening this month, I was struck by two things: 1) American Archives Month was set up to teach the public about the importance of maintaining historical records and 2) Many of the announcements regarding Family History Month events are posted online only a day before or, in many cases, the same day as the event.

The reason I mention the purpose of American Archives Month, is that it clearly shows the communication disconnect between the resource repositories we use as researchers and us. You don't have to go very far to find a campaign that shows just how generous family historians and genealogists are when they are called to preserve history: The Preserve the Pensions campaign exploded during what was to be a simple event at FGS2014 and turned into an enormous, and dare I say incredibly entertaining, success. Just read what Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, said about her experience; you can't help but smile about the effort and the outcome. While money is very important, there are so very many aspects that play into the success of a repository.

The professional archives world is working to educate us and there's plenty of education to have. There are lots of Archives that run programs for the public to help us understand what it takes to be the stewards of the materials we use. The communication disconnect happens when we don't take advantage of those programs and the repositories, or those who oversee the repositories, believe that there's no interest in the educational process or the materials.

The irony in this situation is that many genealogy societies struggle to get people to attend their meetings and/or educational sessions. It's a battle between getting people to join the Society, getting them to invest their time in being active members and finding ways to keep the members you have engaged, right?

Why not kill two birds with one stone? Contact a local repository and ask about bringing your group to see the collection that they have. This provides the opportunity for the local repository to do something they want to do (educate the public), allows your Society to do something you want to do (engage your members) and does something that many researchers would like to do (see an archives and understand what value it has for them and their research). Additionally, you could ask the archivist at the repository if they would be willing to come to your meeting to present to your group. Both of these options help to open the communication between those who care for the primary materials we need and us.

Family History Month continues with lots of programs going on across the United States. But, those programs may not have the attendance you'd like if the notices aren't posted with enough advance notice for people to get there. Why not try posting your event, with appropriate permissions of course, to local Facebook and Google+ groups? If you are a FGS Member Society, enter your event on our Upcoming Event Calendar. Announce them on Twitter with the hashtag for your location, or out on listservs for other groups, like history, historic preservation, etc. Don't forget the home schooling groups; they're a great way to get the next generation interested in joining your society!

Home is Where Family Begins

Where did your ancestors live? Not just geographically, but literally? Do you know?

While looking for interesting events happening during Family History Month, I came across the website of The National Register of Historic Places.  They're celebrating Family History Month by sharing resources that can help you uncover where your ancestors may have lived; highlighting buildings on the Register and sharing resources for putting a location on the Register.

(c) 2011 Laura C. Lorenzana

Wouldn't this be a great way to honor your ancestors? As your research for who your ancestors are progresses, often times locating land and tax records becomes a focus to ensure you've done your reasonably exhaustive search. This site has lots of great resources to help you move your research to the next level. You might even find that home your great grandparents lived in!

(c) 2011 Laura C. Lorenzana

Remember, also, genealogical societies have many of the same type of resources that can help you ramp up your research. The value in joining a society comes in the information that they have; the collective knowledge acquired from years of research. Tap into that knowledge base by exploring a local society today to see what they have to offer.

Promoting Genealogy to a Larger Audience

Promoting Genealogy to a Larger Audience

October is Family History Month in the United States.  Are you looking for ways to celebrate this month?

FGS Radio - My Society guest Angie Rodesky talks about her appearance on How the States Got Their Shapes and discusses some of the ways she has been promoting genealogical research to others.

From educational opportunities for children and adults to television shows and church programs, learn how you can effectively get others involved in researching their own family history.  You never know when you might find a long-lost cousin!

You can find even more resources in our Reach Out Series, created to help member societies to engage with the community at large.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Promoting Genealogy to a Larger Audience" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

Societies: Taking Action for Collaboration

Last week, I wrote about the fact that Family History Month is also American Archives Month and, how through the process of stepping out of our comfort zones, Societies can begin to collaborate with those who care for the records the members of our Societies need to fulfill their research needs.

Also, last week, the results of an important preservation survey were published with the help of the Institute of Museum and Library Services which show the critical need for support to small repositories and institutions which care for primary materials. Remember, primary materials are those one-of-a-kind, unique records that don’t exist anywhere else. Please take a few moments to look through this report, as it directly speaks to those records which all of us, at one time or another as genealogists, will need to tell our ancestors' stories. And preservation, whose main purpose is to protect the information that materials hold, is not being adequately funded at many repositories.

(c) 2012 Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana 

Why would this be important to Genealogy Societies? Because this is the other side of the collaboration equation: the ability to understand the needs of those we rely on in order to serve our own needs. By reaching out to local repositories and letting them know that our members care about the records that they maintain and that they want to stay in touch with the stewards of those materials to ensure that the materials are not at risk. And, even more importantly, for us to have the ability to take action when the records are at risk because of the communication between the groups.

Genealogy Societies have the ability to educate their members about the importance of Archives and the materials they hold. Conversely, repositories can help support local genealogy societies by providing information about what societies can do to support researchers. It’s a win-win. But, it does take stepping out of that comfort zone and calling your members to action. This is the perfect month to start down that path.

A Call to Action for Family History Month

We’re a week into Family History/American Archives Month and I thought it would be a good idea to share the extraordinary story of how Family History Month came into existence. Or, rather, how a single event nearly prevented it from coming into existence.

Senate Resolution 160 has in its beginning, “…within our Nation's libraries and archives lie the  treasured records that detail the history of our Nation, our  States, our communities, and our citizens…”, includes, “…interest in our personal family history transcends all cultural and religious affiliations…” and ends with,  “…the involvement of National, State, and local officials in promoting genealogy and in facilitating access to family history records in archives and libraries are important factors in the successful perception of nationwide camaraderie, support, and participation…”

I don’t know about you, but I had NO idea how moving this Resolution is. But, there is something far more interesting about when this Resolution passed in the Senate. Look closely at the transcript of the day the Resolution was passed:

Senate Resolution 160

That’s right. Our Senators set aside time on one of the most important days in this Nation’s history — September 12, 2001 — to ensure that our personal histories would be saved. That’s quite a feat. And, as a Citizen, I feel even more strongly that it’s our responsibility to do whatever we can to preserve the materials in which we find the stories of our ancestors, and tell those stories. Again, get the help and support you will need by joining a local genealogical society. ­­Or two. Because we live in this great Nation and we have the freedom to do that.

Visit Society Hall today.

Scan It and Share It: Digitization Projects for Your Society

Scan It & Share It: Digitization Projects for Your Society

October is American Archives Month and Family History Month. In keeping with these themes, here is one way your society can celebrate!

Digitizing isn't only being done by the "big" societies, and it doesn't take a huge financial commitment.

Gary Ward, President of the Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society, an FGS Member Society, shares how his small society became a beta tester for the Ancestry digitization project. But you don't have to be part of the project to get your society's collections digitized and indexed.

All you really need: a laptop, a digital camera with a tripod (or a scanner), some volunteers, and material that has some genealogical or historical value.

Not every digitized collection needs to be large, either. Your society may hold the key to breaking down someone's brick wall in its tiny collection! There may be school records, town council records, or other local records in danger of destruction (either by man-made or natural forces) that are just begging to be digitized.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Scan It and Share It: Digitization Projects for Your Society" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

Societies: Collaboration Starts in October!

Not only is this month Family History Month (in the U.S.), it’s American Archives Month as well. I hope that throughout the month, your Society has an event planned that will embrace the heart of Senate Resolution 160 from September, 2001, which proclaimed this month as Family History Month. Please take a moment to read the Resolution, keeping in mind the important date it was passed: September 12, 2001.

It is equally important that we celebrate American Archives Month. The reality is that, without Archives, many of us would not have source material with which to research our ancestors. Think about that. And, without patrons to go to the Archives, the Archives cease to be relevant. We depend on one another, just like a family.

Photo courtesy Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana (c) 2014

What makes this year so extraordinary is that the current President of the Society of American Archivists, Kathleen Roe, has committed to getting Archivists out of their comfort zone and into outreach mode. You can read about her “Year of Living Dangerously for Archives” on the Off The Record blog. The most exciting part is many Genealogy Societies are attempting to do the same thing. The changes in research resources and techniques opens up so many challenges to those running societies, and yet, there are even more opportunities as greater numbers of people want to leverage the information available to them digitally, but don’t know how. That’s where Genealogy Societies can step up to fill a large need.

I look at this as one of the most energizing possibilities in a long time: for Archives and Genealogy Societies to work together to support each other’s goals. Strong, viable repositories of our most precious documents, photographs and ephemera being used by strong, viable genealogy societies, all of whom support the family historians, genealogists, and researchers who are anxious to build the stories of our ancestors lives in a collaborative way.

So, how are you making the most of Family History Month/American Archives month? We'd love to hear what you're doing, or even what you'd like to do, to make this month really special.

Family History Month Starts with You

It is Family History Month! But, did you know it’s also American Archives Month? That’s right. And although I don’t think that it was completely intentional, I do believe that the two should most definitely be celebrated together. Why? Because, you can’t have one without the other.

Yes, the advent of online genealogical research has made access to a lot of information much, much easier. What’s better than sitting at home, at your computer, in your jammies with a hot cup of something good searching for your ancestors?  But the reality is that you can only get so far and then you have to ramp up your skills and look at real records.

(c) 2013 Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana

The place that holds and cares for those real records is an Archives. Unlike a Library, an Archives maintains original records that are unique, or one of a kind. There are all types of Archives; local, regional and national. Each one has a different collection policy and they all have policies for use.  Many of them have family historians as their main users, and without family historians coming in to look at their materials, they might not be able to stay open.

The best thing that you can do this Family History Month? Take that next step and go to a local Archives.  You don’t have to travel out of State; go to a local repository.  The more we know our local repositories, the less likely they are to be at risk without us knowing about it. 

And, if you’re not already a member of your local genealogy society, now’s the time to step up. Your local genealogy society folks probably know the ins and outs of the local repositories and can provide you with much needed information to make your trip smoother. (Not sure how to find a local Society? Check out FGS’s Society Hall!) There’s also the impact on your research of being able to tap into the collective knowledge in the group. Your local genealogy society is there to share information and support the efforts of family history researchers.

After all, we are all part of the human family. Happy Family History Month! And, don’t forget to hug an Archivist!

Extreme Genealogy (Or Why You Should Belong To At Least One Genealogy Society)

Genealogical Societies can take your research to extreme heights.

I tend to do things to the extreme. Just ask my friends. I never cook just a small dinner when having guests over because I might not have enough side dishes and desserts to go around. So it ends up looking like a buffet restaurant.

I don’t put new flooring in just one room (or one room at a time). Oh no. I have to do the whole house -- all at once. So it’s really no surprise at all that I belong to six genealogy societies, and I will probably join more. I'm extreme like that.

You’re probably wondering why I belong to even one, much less six, genealogical societies. Once upon a time I was like you. Overworked and underpaid, I had no time for what I thought of as socializing at the local genealogical society. Besides, I thought those folks were probably all old fogies who sat around talking about their aches and pains and boring everybody with stories about their family. They weren’t talking about my family so what good were they to me?

Then I needed a record from my grandmother’s place of birth from a burned county, which meant – at the time – I would need to write away for the birth certificate, which I did only to find that the courthouse with all the records burned down 80 years ago. What to do? “Well,” I thought to myself, “Maybe there was a birth announcement in the newspaper.” But my problem was that I was in California and the newspaper that may have contained the birth announcement was in a little bitty town in Nebraska. And I didn’t belong to any “network of genealogists.” 

Then I had a brilliant idea. Maybe the local genealogical society would do a look up for me. And that’s what got me hooked. (By the way, many newspapers are still not digitized. So this is a problem for family history researchers today that many genealogical societies can still help you out with.)

I don’t know if you know this or not, but many genealogical societies have someone in their membership who is in charge of doing (or doling out) look-up requests. This is just one of the many benefits of a society. I also found that by belonging to the societies, I get their newsletter, which sometimes is more like a magazine filled with things like pedigrees, stories about historical events and people, local culture, and more. Once, I actually stumbled upon a story written by a cousin about my family!

Since I have no family in the area I live in, my local society was the last one I joined. “After all,” I thought, “they weren’t going to help me find my ancestors.” But I soon found out how wrong I was. Not only have I learned better research techniques, have gained valuable hints and tips, and have been guided by those who have searched before me, but I have actually found books about my research area on sale at their annual book sale.

In addition, I have attended many “how to” technology classes like, “How To Use Evernote to Aid Your Research” and “Database Programs To Help Organize Your Research.” You know, all that techie stuff I can’t figure out why I need it, but everyone keeps telling me I do.

Did I say I belonged to six societies? Let me correct that. I belong to seven. How could I have forgotten the Southern California Genealogical Society?

California, right? They probably have nothing to help me with researching my Louisiana roots, right?

Well, that's what I thought too. But I was wrong again. SCGS has one of the best libraries on Cajun research, and as a member I can research there to my heart’s content, or ask a fellow society member to do a look-up for me when I can’t get there myself.

There are many reasons for joining a genealogy society, but October being Family History Month seems like a perfect time to try one or two out. Search the FGS Society Hall to find them, and you may discover they take your research to whole new heights -- extreme heights. And you’ll probably make a bunch of new friends who understand your obsession with dead people too. Like I did.

Kim von Aspern-Parker

Celebrating October as Family History Month in Virginia

Both Robert F. McDonnell, Governor of Virginia, and Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, have proclaimed October as Family History Month. Many thanks are due to Harold McClendon and the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society in Fairfax County for their extraordinary efforts to issue the proclamations and publicize October as Family History Month. Both Proclamations may be seen on the MVGS website, www.mvgenealogy.org. The Governor’s Proclamation is also posted at the Governor’s official website, www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2010/FamilyHistory.cfm . The proclamations are also on the Fairfax Genealogical Society’s website at www.fxgs.org/Virginia_Certificate.pdf and www.fxgs.org/Family_History_Proc.pdf. Both the Mount Vernon and Fairfax Societies are members of FGS.

Has your society done something special to celebrate October as Family History Month? Do you know the history or background for designating October as Family History Month? Let the FGS Voice know!

Gordon L. Erickson
Director, FGS