Since today is the last day of Polish American Heritage Month and I have been busy working on my personal research this month, I thought I should take a moment to recommend a learning resource.
FamilySearch's Learning Center includes several videos on Polish research. Cecile Wendt Jensen recorded two videos: Introduction to Polish Research and Advanced Polish Research, which are excellent companions to her book Sto Lat: A Modern Guide to Polish Genealogy.
While you are watching the videos, you will want to take notes. There are many websites she recommends, including those for archives in Poland with options to view the content in English. She also dispels some of the myths surrounding genealogical research in Poland and provides sound research advice for records in the United States, as well.
Below are links to the offerings at Family Search, as well as the Jensen's site, Michigan Polonia.
Family Search Learning Center: Poland
Cecile Wendt Jensen's Michigan Polonia
31 October 2011
04 October 2011
Tech Tuesday: Genealogy with Kindle
Last Christmas, my husband surprised me with a Kindle, which I have been in love with ever since. I have read articles on how useful iPads and other devices can be helpful with genealogy and decided to do a search for using my Kindle for genealogy. I stumbled upon the Long Lost Relatives blog post "Kindle for Genealogy" by Susan Peterson. In the post, she explains how she, too, has a soft spot for her Kindle and has transformed hers into a portable research notebook.
Here are a few of the items I added to my Kindle:
Here are a few of the items I added to my Kindle:
- Genealogical society newsletters
- Research reports
- Pedigree charts
- Cheat sheets
- Current to-do-list
27 September 2011
Tuesday's Tip: Conflicting Age & Dates
This weekend I was looking at a World War I Draft Registration Card and recording all the information it contained. I noticed some conflicting information with regard to the age, date of birth, and date the form was signed.
The date on the form is September 12, 1918. The form states that the individual's age is 37 and the date of birth is October 15, 1873.
If the individual was born on October 15, 1873, then on September 12, 1918, he would have been 44 years old (a few weeks away from his 45th birthday), not 37. He would have turned 37 in the year 1910. However, if he really was 37 on September 12, 1918, he would have been born in the year 1880.
With about 24 million cards completed in a two-year span, I wonder if this type of error is common. I wish the Registrar would have caught the error in the math. This serves as a reminder to me of why it is so important to analyze each piece of information contained in a document and take nothing for granted.
The date on the form is September 12, 1918. The form states that the individual's age is 37 and the date of birth is October 15, 1873.
If the individual was born on October 15, 1873, then on September 12, 1918, he would have been 44 years old (a few weeks away from his 45th birthday), not 37. He would have turned 37 in the year 1910. However, if he really was 37 on September 12, 1918, he would have been born in the year 1880.
With about 24 million cards completed in a two-year span, I wonder if this type of error is common. I wish the Registrar would have caught the error in the math. This serves as a reminder to me of why it is so important to analyze each piece of information contained in a document and take nothing for granted.
30 August 2011
Tech Tuesday: Ancestry Free Access Week
If your to do list includes researching immigration records available at Ancestry.com, but you do not have a paid subscription, you are in luck this week. August 29 - September 5 is Free Access Week to immigration and travel records on Ancestry. This includes U.S. records plus international immigration records from a handful of other countries, including Germany.
One new record set that might be of particular interest to Polish-American researchers are Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956. Many Polish immigrants in Canada eventually emigrated to the United States.
The link below will take you directly to the free search page:
http://www.ancestry.com/s48771/t23428/ancestry.com/immigration_travel
One new record set that might be of particular interest to Polish-American researchers are Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956. Many Polish immigrants in Canada eventually emigrated to the United States.
The link below will take you directly to the free search page:
http://www.ancestry.com/s48771/t23428/ancestry.com/immigration_travel
23 August 2011
Tech Tuesday: Research Tools in RootsMagic
Last week, I attended the webinar "Research Tools in RootsMagic." I have been using the RootsMagic genealogy software for about two years and, although I knew there were probably features I was not familiar with in the software, I contemplated whether an hour-long webinar would be beneficial to me. Before long I said out loud "they did not charge me enough for this software!" Here are a few of the features I learned more about.
http://www.rootsmagic.com/Webinars/
- Fact List: This allows you to run a query for certain fact criteria, such as facts without sources, facts of a certain quality, or missing facts. This is a useful tool in helping to determine what research needs to be done or where should focus your research time and efforts.
- To Do List: This is a feature I was under-utilizing. I was deleting items after I completed them instead of marking them as complete. By marking them complete, I can keep track of negative results (or research that did not yield a result), which should eliminate duplicating my research.
- Web Search: With the click of a button, you can search numerous sites, such as Ancestry, Find A Grave, Family Search, or Google, for a highlighted individual using the information you have already entered. RootsMagic will even remember your passwords for subscription sites.
- GenSmarts: They saved this for last, and quickly had me sold on the $24.95 add-on program. GenSmarts can be run with a single click on any person in your database. It analyzes that person's information and makes suggestions on specific resources to research and why, as well as where the resource can be found. You can even load the suggestions into your To Do List for the future, making that feature even more powerful.
http://www.rootsmagic.com/Webinars/
08 August 2011
Motivation Monday: Generations Project
Looking through my TV channels recently, I discovered BYUtv and a show called The Generations Project. Although it appears this show has been on the air for a number of years, until that moment, I did not know BYUtv existed. I programmed my DVR to record all episodes of this show and have been catching up on new and old episodes alike.
I describe The Generations Project as Who Do You Think You Are minus the celebrities. It is motivating to me to watch each person ask questions and discover the answers throughout their journey. However, the most recent episode I watched was a little different. Instead of following an individual through their story, the topic was how to do your own Generations Project.
At first, it seemed pretty simple--I did not see much of a difference between what the subject of the show was doing and what I do (except they have a team of researchers, a camera crew, and the ability to travel around the world in search of their answers). As I watched, though, I understood why what they do is more interesting to a larger audience than what I do.
The Generations Project encourages going a step beyond this and walking in your ancestors' shoes. This has inspired me to think of ways I can put together my research and its historical context with a way to experience a part of that ancestor's life. Perhaps I can make a recipe that they would have made, or I can try a tradition they may have had, or I could visit a historical site that would provide context to their life.
I encourage you to watch the program at the link below and try to think of ways to make your research significant to non-genealogists, or even to live a small part of it yourself. As genealogists, we already feel a connection with people we have never met...imagine forming a greater bond by experiencing part of their lives firsthand.
BYUtv - The Generations Project
I describe The Generations Project as Who Do You Think You Are minus the celebrities. It is motivating to me to watch each person ask questions and discover the answers throughout their journey. However, the most recent episode I watched was a little different. Instead of following an individual through their story, the topic was how to do your own Generations Project.
At first, it seemed pretty simple--I did not see much of a difference between what the subject of the show was doing and what I do (except they have a team of researchers, a camera crew, and the ability to travel around the world in search of their answers). As I watched, though, I understood why what they do is more interesting to a larger audience than what I do.
The Generations Project encourages going a step beyond this and walking in your ancestors' shoes. This has inspired me to think of ways I can put together my research and its historical context with a way to experience a part of that ancestor's life. Perhaps I can make a recipe that they would have made, or I can try a tradition they may have had, or I could visit a historical site that would provide context to their life.
I encourage you to watch the program at the link below and try to think of ways to make your research significant to non-genealogists, or even to live a small part of it yourself. As genealogists, we already feel a connection with people we have never met...imagine forming a greater bond by experiencing part of their lives firsthand.
BYUtv - The Generations Project
21 June 2011
Tombstone Tuesday: Porcelain Photo
I have read about porcelain photographs of the deceased being added to their headstones, but never imagined any of my ancestors would have had the money to do so. On my recent research trip, I accidentally found the headstone of my great-grandmother's brother, who died in World War I. It was between his father's headstone and the headstone the woman I hypothesize to be his mother.
Two things stood out to me immediately. First, his name is listed as Antoni, rather than Andrew, as I found in the census and an index for his military record. Not unusual, as his other family members' headstones are written entirely in Polish as well.
Second was a photograph of him in his military uniform. I was ecstatic! I have precious few photographs of this part of my family and I would have never expected to find one of this young man, who died at age eighteen. I have since ordered his National Guard records from the Maryland Archives.
You never know what genealogical finds await you...even ones you did not know you were looking for.
Two things stood out to me immediately. First, his name is listed as Antoni, rather than Andrew, as I found in the census and an index for his military record. Not unusual, as his other family members' headstones are written entirely in Polish as well.
Second was a photograph of him in his military uniform. I was ecstatic! I have precious few photographs of this part of my family and I would have never expected to find one of this young man, who died at age eighteen. I have since ordered his National Guard records from the Maryland Archives.
You never know what genealogical finds await you...even ones you did not know you were looking for.
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