Genealogy Leftovers

Memoirs of a WWII Airman and Prisoner of War

2013-03-30T12:36:00.000+10:00

If someone in your family served in the RAF, RAAF or RCAF during World War 2, you may want to read Of Stirlings and Stalags: an air-gunner's tale, a first-hand account of a young man's wartime experience. William 'Bill' GOODMAN's memoirs include references to airmen from Australia, Canada, South Africa and Britain.

Bill describes his service with 7 Squadron at Oakington; the terrifying events of the night their Stirling was shot down over Holland; his subsequent incarceration at Stalag Luft 3 (of 'Great Escape' fame); periods in other camps; and the long, debilitating march back home. With fascinating commentary, vivid description and the intimacy of his experience, Bill writes about his fellow airmen and POWs, the man who shot down their Stirling on that eventful night, the heroes of the Dutch resistance and, surprisingly, a kindly and caring guard in Stalag Luft 3!

Of Stirlings and Stalags: an air-gunner's tale is available as an e-book from Amazon or in paperback from Lulu.

The book's editor is Gill Chesney-Green, Bill's daughter, who is a member of the 'Genealogists for Families' project.

In Memory of Joan Miller

2013-01-07T14:32:00.001+10:00

Joan Miller

The genealogy world is mourning the loss of Joan Miller (respected Canadian family historian and geneablogger, and my 'Genealogists for Families' co-captain). Joan passed away peacefully on January 4th after a year-long battle with cancer. I am sad that I never met Joan in person because we were on opposite sides of the world, but I treasured our on-line friendship. My heart goes out to her family.

Joan's daughter Heather has asked that commemorative loans or donations in memory of her mother should be made through Kiva and the 'Genealogists for Families' project. You can either:

(1) Make an ordinary Kiva loan (our team calls it a 'commemorative loan'), with repayments going to you so that you can re-lend the money over and over again as it is repaid.

or

(2) Make what Kiva calls a 'dedicated loan'. During the checkout process, in 'My Basket', select the option 'Dedicate this loan'. With a Dedicated Loan, repayments will be donated to Kiva instead of being returned to you.

In her 'Meet the Team' profile, Joan said that she chose field partners with at least a 3-star rating and a low delinquency rate. Several of her loans were to women in the Philippines. For my commemorative loan I therefore followed Joan's example by choosing Luna in the Philippines, who supports her family by making crafts with shells.

Please join me in supporting this non-profit organisation about which Joan was so passionate. She will be missed, but her legacy will live on.
~ ~ ~

Update on my family's DNA Testing

2013-01-05T20:51:00.001+10:00

Last month I wrote about my plans to use DNA testing as a genealogy tool. Kerry Farmer subsequently reminded me of two important points that I forgot to mention (see Postscript no.1 on 'DNA Testing for My Family History').

My uncle's autosomal DNA ('Family Finder') test results have arrived! He already has six matches in the '2nd-4th cousin' predicted range and ten in '3rd-5th cousin'. I am hoping for closer matches in the future when more genealogists with known English and Scottish ancestry do tests through FamilyTreeDNA. I am also hoping that some of my second-cousins will agree be tested.

The best match so far is 'shared cM 49.22, longest block 32.05'... but I have not yet learned how to interpret all this. I was not expecting the test results until mid-January, so I got caught short and hadn't done my homework!

I have already started contacting people who match my uncle's autosomal DNA. I soon realised that I need to send them a list of all names (except living people), not just a pedigree chart - because the name they might recognise won't necessarily be my direct ancestor. As Gedmatch points out, "siblings (and descendants of siblings) of one family often turn up as 'spouses' (with no recorded ancestors) in another family." There is a diagram that illustrates this clearly.

If you have advice to share with DNA newbies like myself, please add a comment below. It will be very welcome.

'Accentuate the Positive' 2012 Geneameme

2013-01-03T17:21:00.000+10:00

Glenelg jetty at sunset

With the 'Accentuate the Positive' 2012 Geneameme, Jill (Geniaus) encourages us to focus on our recent genealogical achievements, not the things that are still on our To-Do list. If you want to join in, Jill's blog has the full list of 20 questions. Some were not relevant to me, so my list is shorter.

An elusive ancestor I found was Mary PEACOCK (nee HUGILL, born c.1813 Hull, Yorkshire, England) whom I finally found in the 1881 British census... incorrectly listed as UPRIGHT, her son-in-law's surname!

An important vital record I found was the 1841 death certificate of my gr-gr-gr-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Harley WEBSTER nee PORTER (widow of William WEBSTER, a dyer). She died at 5 Lawson Street, Great Dover Road (St Mary Newington, Surrey, England). The informant was Cecelia RUSHWORTH of Lambeth.

A geneasurprise I received was finding out (via FamilySearch) that Charles Peacock BOWSER (born in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England) died in Ontario, Canada. His mother Rebecca was a sister of my great-grandmother, Mary HUDSON nee PEACOCK.

My 2012 blog post that I was particularly proud of was... hmmm... either B is for Birth Place (a long list of sources that may mention an exact place of birth) or Year 1: Genealogy Benefits and Team Achievements (about the Genealogists for Families project).

My 2012 blog post that received a large number of hits was J is for Jurors and Justice Department (part of the Family History through the Alphabet series).

A social media tool I enjoyed using for genealogy was Twitter.

A genealogy conference/seminar/webinar from which I learnt something new... My top three for 2012 were the webinar Plan Your Way to Research Success by Marian Pierre-Louis; the Society of Australian Genealogists' 'Lost in England' seminar in Sydney; and the Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry in Adelaide.

I am proud of the presentation I gave to Coffs Harbour Family History Society (Nov 2012). It was the first time I'd done an all-day seminar on my own; and I was pleased to find that many of the sources and research strategies I described were new to my audience.

I taught a friend how to make the most of a one-day visit to Queensland State Archives.

A genealogy book that taught me something new was My Ancestor was a Bastard: A Family Historian's Guide to Sources for Illegitimacy in England and Wales (Ruth Paley, 2008).

A great repository I visited was Queensland State Archives - but I often go there, so 2012 was less exciting than 2011 when I made my first trip to the Borthwick Institute in York, England.

A new genealogy/history book I enjoyed was The New Findmypast.com.au: Gateway to the World Collection (Rosemary Kopittke, 2012).

It was exciting to finally meet many members of the 'Genealogists for Families' Kiva team. We held get-togethers for local and interstate members in Brisbane and Adelaide, and I also spent a very pleasant afternoon in Sydney with Julie Goucher before she flew home to the UK.

A geneadventure I enjoyed was a 'tourist day' after the Australasian Congress, when Sharn White, Helen Smith and I explored the historic town of Hahndorf near Adelaide. Afterwards Sharn and I caught a tram to Glenelg, arriving just in time to see a spectacular sunset. (My biggest genealogy adventure in a long time was in 2011, when I attended Yorksgen - something that I hope to do again in the future.)

Another positive I would like to share is that more than 16,000 names from three of my indexes to Archives sources will soon be included in the collection at FindMyPast.com.au.

DNA Testing for my Family History

2012-12-03T09:31:00.000+10:00

I am using a new tool for genealogy - DNA testing! It can show ethnic origins, confirm relationships (or prove that two people cannot be related), and put family historians in contact with others who share the same ancestry.

My 91-year-old uncle agreed to be tested, so I took advantage of the sale (to December 31st) at Family Tree DNA, an established, respected company recommended by genealogists who are experts in this field. Family Tree DNA will match my uncle's test results against their database (the largest of its kind in the world) and let me contact anyone whose results show that they are somehow related to us. The database is growing rapidly as more people are tested, and Family Tree DNA will notify me whenever they find another match.

I started by ordering the FamilyFinder test, which uses autosomal DNA inherited from mother, father, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, etc. This has the potential to identify descendants of any ancestral lines within about the last six generations. Those descendants may have vital information, or photographs or letters from my direct ancestors.

Part of a document held by Joe Hudson

I am a great believer in researching all siblings. Some of my most exciting discoveries were a direct result of contacting distant cousins. The image above shows part of a family document held by Joe HUDSON. It confirmed that a baptism I'd found was for the right William HUDSON. (The baptism register for Bossall, North Yorkshire, gave a birth date and named the child's maternal grandparents!) Joe also sent me a copy of a letter written in 1879 by my great-great-grandfather.

The FamilyFinder autosomal DNA test is available to men and women, so I could have been tested myself. However it made more sense to test my uncle (my late father's only surviving sibling) because I am currently more interested in my father's ancestors than my mother's. The autosomal test may help me to confirm and expand the paper trail for various families including BUTLER, CAMPBELL, GIBLETT, HARLEY, NICHOLSON, PORTER and SHEPPARD (on the WEBSTER side) and AGAR, ASHTON, BARBER, BIRKS, CLARK, HUGILL, MATTHEW and PEACOCK (on the HUDSON side).

Our FamilyFinder test results ~~are due in January~~ arrived just before Christmas. My budget for genealogy is limited, so I am hoping that interested relatives will contribute a small sum towards the cost of ordering two additional tests. A mitochondrial DNA test could get us back beyond Mary PEACOCK nee HUGILL (born about 1813); and a Y-DNA test might help to confirm the story that our WEBSTER family in Surrey and Middlesex originally came from Aberdeen in Scotland.

If you want to know more about using DNA for genealogy, I recommend the series of four easy-to-read articles by CeCe Moore. The summary in part 4 explains how to decide which DNA test is right for you.

Postscript no.1: Kerry Farmer has just reminded me of two important points that I forgot (thanks, Kerry!) "Another good reason for testing your uncle's DNA is that it gets you a generation further back to looking for ancestors in common. And Family Tree DNA will hold DNA samples for 25 years, so your uncle's DNA will still be available for testing should a subsequent test become available in the future."

Postscript no.2: I have started contacting people who match with autosomal DNA, and I send them a list of all names (except living people), not just a pedigree chart - because the name they will recognise may not be my direct ancestor. As Gedmatch points out, "siblings (and descendants of siblings) of one family often turn up as 'spouses' (with no recorded ancestors) in another family." There is a diagram that illustrates this clearly.

J is for Java

2012-07-13T20:26:00.001+10:00

This week's 'Family History Through the Alphabet' challenge focuses on the letter 'J'.

J is for... Java

Monumental Inscriptions from Selected European Graves in Burial Grounds in Java 1700-1939, by Rhonda Kerr, has inscriptions in European languages other than Dutch. Dutch inscriptions are included only if the person was born outside Java or Holland.

This information is from my book Specialist Indexes in Australia: a Genealogist's Guide.

There is another 'J is for...' post in my Queensland Genealogy blog. More tips for family history are in my other articles in this A-Z series. If the information and advice is useful, have a look at this page.

F is for Fires

2012-07-04T07:54:00.000+10:00

Here is my contribution to 'F' in the 'Family History Through the Alphabet' series.

F is for... Fires.

Fires are usually reported in newspapers. For Australia, start by checking the National Library's digitised newspapers on Trove. Similar sites exist for other countries. Some of the overseas pay-to-view sites can be used free of charge at State Libraries, local Council libraries or family history society libraries.

A fire often resulted in financial difficulty for the business or individuals involved. There may be references to insolvency in newspapers or Government Gazettes, but the best information for family history purposes would be in insolvency files held by State Government archives.

The Australasian Insurance and Banking Record Fire Index 1886-1921 (at the John Oxley Library, Brisbane, Queensland) gives town, year, brief details of the fire, and the volume, year and page reference for the Australasian Insurance and Banking Record.

State Archives in Queensland, and presumably elsewhere, hold files for 'fire inquests', which are indexed by the name of the town. These files are about enquiries into fires that caused damage to a home, business, woolshed, barn, haystack etc. Hotels seem to have been particularly at risk. Fire inquest files usually give the place, date and supposed cause of the fire; details of damage (and injuries, if any); names of any suspected persons; and witness statements about the circumstances of the fire. Perhaps your ancestor was a neighbour or bystander who gave evidence at the enquiry!

The book Brisbane on Fire: a History of Firefighting 1860-1925 is a hardcover publication of 239 pages, with an index, bibliography, photographs and appendices. At a Lifeline Bookfest I bought a copy signed by the author (Ken Capell). I no longer need it, so I am willing to sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.

You will find more tips for family history in my other articles in this series. If the information and advice is useful, have a look at this page.

B is for Birth Place

2012-07-01T17:03:00.000+10:00

Continuing with the Family History Through the Alphabet challenge...

B is for Birth Place.

Sources from which I have discovered an exact place of birth (a town or parish) include:

census records
names of family houses or farms
death certificates
marriage certificates in Queensland, NSW or Victoria
birth certificates of the subject's children born in Queensland, NSW or Victoria
hospital admission registers
benevolent asylum records
mental asylum records (insanity files)
military service records
inquest files
documents in Supreme Court probate files
newspaper notices (marriage, death, obituary etc.)
newsletters / magazines published by clubs, churches, societies or occupational groups
headstones
memorial plaques in churches
cemetery burial records
church registers of baptism, marriage and burial
Police Gazettes
Police Station and Police Department records
naturalisation records
registers of teachers
police staff files
files on dentists who had difficulty being recognised by the Board
immigration records (especially 20th century)
personal family papers, diaries, letters, bibles etc
any of the above records for the subject's brothers or sisters.

These are just the sources that I can think of right now. A few such sources are becoming available online at (for example) FindMyPast (Australia) and FindMyPast (UK).

Where else have you found a reference to the exact town or parish in which a person was born?

You will find more tips for family history in my other articles in this series. If the information and advice is useful, have a look at this page.

A is for Asylums, Arndell Index and Ashton

2012-07-01T14:40:00.001+10:00

I'm sure Alona will forgive me for being late in joining the Family History Through the Alphabet challenge.

A is for...

Asylums. If someone in your family tree 'vanished', look in mental asylum records. Causes of depression and other forms of mental illness included childbirth, epilepsy, head injury, alcohol, syphilis, congenital defect, jealousy, bereavement and 'domestic troubles'. Many patients (and their relatives) had been in asylums in other States and/or other countries. My Web site lists thousands of names from my indexes to mental asylum records. Start by reading the article about asylum case books.

Arndell Index. Originally on 48,000 cards, this index was compiled mainly from early parish registers for the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales, Australia. It is thought to contain complete indexes (1811-1971) for St. Matthew's, Windsor; St. John's, Wilberforce; St. James's, Pitt Town; St. Peter's, Richmond; and the Presbyterian Church, Ebenezer. The index is held by the Society of Australian Genealogists. (This information is from the book Specialist Indexes in Australia: a Genealogist's Guide, which is described on my Web site.)

ASHTON. Catherine ('Kitty') ASHTON of Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, England, married Peter MATTHEW or MATHEW of Crambe, North Yorkshire, in 1803. Census records imply that Kitty was born about 1777 at Swinton, Yorkshire. Was she related to James ASHTON and Thomas ASHTON who witnessed marriages at Kirby Misperton 1804-1807? If you are researching ASHTON of Swinton or Kirby Misperton, please contact me.

You may find some useful tips in my other articles in this series.

Paid Online Genealogy Tools (52 weeks of Abundant Genealogy, Week 2)

2012-01-08T20:42:00.000+10:00

In 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, this year's series of weekly blogging prompts by Amy Coffin, we are invited to make others aware of genealogy resources, share our tips on their use, and show the providers that we appreciate them.

Week 2 - Paid Online Genealogy Tools. Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?

Last week's LostCousins newsletter referred to a 7-page article in which four family historians compared the four main subscription sites. Three of the four historians said that overall they preferred FindMyPast. I agree - partly because FindMyPast's transcriptions and indexes are the most accurate, and partly because my research is mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.

I suspect that many posts this week will be about the 'Big Four', so instead of dwelling on FindMyPast I want to highlight the smaller LostCousins. Its claim to fame is that it is the only web site that is virtually 100% accurate in identifying people who share the same ancestors. You do not waste time corresponding with people who are not related to you! The automated system also keeps your data hidden.

To use LostCousins you need to find your relatives in the census for England & Wales 1841, 1881 or 1911; Scotland 1881; United States 1880 (and USA 1940 has been added since I wrote this post); Canada 1881; or Ireland 1911. Then you enter the source/page details at LostCousins. Read the instructions carefully (see 'Information - Read this first') before gathering and entering data, as requirements for each census are different. If you prepare well, entering the data is a lot quicker. Be sure to include brothers and sisters of your direct ancestors, because it is their descendants who are the cousins you want to contact.

After entering your relatives' census references, click 'Search', and the system checks whether anyone else has already entered identical data. Remember to log in periodically, go to your 'My Ancestors' page and repeat the search.

I recommend subscribing to the free email newsletter, which is packed with useful information.

Although you can join LostCousins and enter data free of charge, I choose to pay a small annual subscription (currently just ten pounds) so that there are no delays in making contact when the system identifies my 'new relatives'.

UPDATE, 4 June 2012: Until midnight (London time) Wednesday 6th June 2012, LostCousins is totally free.

The more people who enter census data for direct ancestors and their siblings, the greater the chances of finding our 'lost cousins'. Maybe you are my distant relative! I'm waiting to find you - so please... start using LostCousins today!
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This is my contribution to 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 2. Each week's topic will be listed on Geneabloggers.

Blogs (52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, Week 1)

2012-01-08T12:56:00.000+10:00

In 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, this year's series of weekly blogging prompts by Amy Coffin, we are invited to make others aware of genealogy resources, share our tips on their use, and show the providers that we appreciate them.

Week 1 - Blogs. Blogging is a great way for genealogists to share information with family members, potential cousins and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? What is special about the blog and why should others read it?

For blogs, the word 'abundant' is an understatement. The Genealogy Blog Roll lists over 2,000 genealogy blogs, with more being added each week. In addition to genealogy blogs, I also look for those about the history of places, occupations, health, education, religion, clothing, food and so on. To understand our ancestors, we need to study them in the context of local, national and world history.

I follow many of the blogs recommended by others this week, but I want to highlight two that receive less attention than they deserve.

Sassy Jane Genealogy:

Practical advice from Nancy Loe, a family historian who is also a librarian and archivist. In particular, note the Tuesday's Tip and Wisdom Wednesday posts such as 'Five Simple Things You Can Do Today to Preserve Your Family Papers', 'Step Away from the Laminator!' and 'Planning a Genealogical Research Trip'. Nancy's e-book, Sassy Jane’s Guide to Organizing Your Genealogical Research Using Archival Principles, is also very helpful.

London Roots Research:

Rosemary Morgan shares information and tips on research in the Greater London area in England. My favourite posts in London Roots Research include 'London Parish Records Uncovered' (parts 1 & 2), 'A Place in the Sun - using Fire Insurance Records for London Genealogy Research', 'New FamilySearch - Some Tips for UK Genealogists' and 'Spotlight On: The Parish of St George The Martyr, Southwark'.

I learn so much by reading blogs, and I appreciate the time and effort that goes into writing them. On a personal note, I would also like to thank Pauleen Cass for mentioning my blogs in her post Blogs to Inspire.
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This is my contribution to 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 1. Each week's topic will be listed on Geneabloggers.

'Beyond the Internet' Geneameme

2011-10-27T11:49:00.002+10:00

My eyes lit up when I read Pauleen Cass's 'Beyond the Internet' Geneameme (and not just because of the reference to Tips for Queensland Research, for which I thank you, Pauleen!) - 'Beyond the Internet' is definitely my scene.

Copy the text below and paste it into your blog or into a note on Facebook. Substitute your annotations for mine, and change the font to show your answers. Overseas researchers may want to add to the list or replace items with ones relevant to their own research. Remember this is all about locating information from sources not on the internet (with a couple of small exceptions).

Things you have already done or found = bold face type
Things you would like to do or find = italicize (colour optional)
Things you haven't done or found and don't care to = plain type

You are encouraged to add extra comments in brackets after each item.

Looked at microfiche for BDM indexes which go beyond the online search dates.
Talked to elderly relatives about your family history.
Obtained old family photos from relatives.
Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-grandparent.
Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-great-grandparent. (Many were born before civil registration. For the UK I have some certificates and lots of parish registers. One parish marriage register gave details that were not on the certificate!)
Seen/held a baptism or marriage document in a church, church archive or microfilm.
Seen an ancestor's name in some other form of church record, eg kirk session, communion roll.
Used any microfilm from an LDS family history centre for your research.
Researched using a microfilm other than a parish register (LDS family history centre/other).
Used cemetery burial records to learn more about your relative's burial.
Used funeral director's registers to learn more about your relative's burial.
Visited all your great-grandparents' grave sites (some don't have headstones).
Visited all your great-great-grandparents' grave sites (some are in Germany / Poland).
Recorded the details on your ancestors’ gravestones and photographed them (including one that has since fallen face down - and the oldest headstone I've found is for gr-gr-gr-grandmother Mary AGAR, died 1794).
Obtained a great-grandparent’s will/probate documents.
Obtained a great-great grandparent’s will/probate documents (but the most useful was for my gr-gr-grandfather's *brother* - always research the siblings!)
Found a death certificate among will documents (lots of Queensland probate files have death certificates).
Followed up in the official records, something found on the internet.
Obtained a copy of your immigrant ancestors’ original shipping records.
Found an immigration nomination record for your immigrant ancestor (I wish! Mine seem to have been assisted or free, not nominated.)
Found old images of your ancestor’s place of origin (online or other).
Read all/part of a local history for your ancestor’s place of residence.
Read all/part of a local history for your ancestor’s place of origin.
Read your ancestor’s school admission records.
Researched the school history for your grandparents.
Read a court case involving an ancestor (online newspapers don’t count for this). (Actually it was my direct ancestor's brother.)
Read about an ancestor’s divorce case in the archives (none of mine were divorced).
Have seen an ancestor’s war medals.
Have an ancestor’s military record (not a digitised copy eg WWII).
Read a war diary or equivalent for an ancestor’s battle.
Seen an ancestor’s/relative’s war grave.
Read all/part of the history of an ancestor’s military unit (battalion/ship etc).
Seen your ancestor’s name on an original land map.
Found land selection documents for your immigrant ancestor/s.
Found other land documents for your ancestor (home/abroad).
Located land maps or equivalent for your ancestor’s place of origin.
Used contemporaneous gazetteers or directories to learn about your ancestors’ places.
Found your ancestor’s name in a Post Office directory of the time.
Used local government sewerage maps (yes, seriously!) for an ancestor’s street.
Read an inquest report for an ancestor/relative (online and/or archives) (inquests - including fire inquests re damage to property - are fabulous!)
Read an ancestor’s/relative’s hospital admission. (If only more hospital admission registers survived!)
Researched a company file if your family owned a business.
Looked up any of your ancestor’s local government rate books or valuation records.
Researched occupation records for your ancestor/s (railway, police, teacher etc).
Researched an ancestor’s adoption. (No adoptions in my direct line)
Researched an ancestor’s insolvency.
Found a convict ancestor’s passport or certificate of freedom. (No convicts in my tree)
Found a convict ancestor’s shipping record. (No convicts in my tree)
Found an ancestor’s gaol admission register. (My lot were too law-abiding to leave such interesting records. Sigh.)
Found a licencing record for an ancestor (brands, publican etc) (horse and cattle brands).
Found an ancestor’s mining lease/licence (I haven't found any miners in my family).
Found an ancestor’s name on a petition to government (petition about a railway) (I should look for other petitions - lots in Government publications and Colonial Secretary's correspondence.)
Read your ancestor’s citizenship document (naturalisation record at Qld State Archives).
Read about your ancestor in an undigitised regional newspaper.
Visited a local history library/museum relevant to your family (several - and I was stunned to find a portrait of my gr-gr-grandmother's brother, John Campbell, in Sale museum in Victoria).
Looked up your ancestor’s name in the Old Age Pension records (mine aren't listed, but I checked the index as I was creating it!)
Researched your ancestor or relative in Benevolent Asylum/Workhouse records (none of mine were there, but they are great records).
Researched an ancestor’s/relative’s mental health records (sister of my direct ancestor was in Goodna Asylum).
Looked for your family in a genealogical publication of any sort (but not online remember).
Contributed family information to a genealogical publication.

Please leave a comment on Pauleen's post, with a link to your response to her Geneameme.

Genealogists, Traditions and Kiva

2011-10-04T19:00:00.004+10:00

There have been exciting developments since last week, when I wrote about continuing my father's tradition of setting aside a small sum of money (we called it his 'Do Good Money') for short-term loans to those in need. Pamela said it would be lovely if this became a tradition for other families - and (to my delight) that has already begun!

My family, friends and colleagues (and their family, friends and colleagues) are following my father's example, but with a modern twist. It works like this:

From the Web site of the non-profit organisation Kiva, you choose a borrower whom you would like to help. You make a loan of just $25, using PayPal's secure service to pay by credit or debit card or from a bank account. When the loan is paid back, you can either withdraw your money or lend again. It's a simple and sustainable way of helping someone to support their family and overcome poverty.

Two of my friends have been doing this for years, so I know Kiva is reputable. It is also a lot of fun! I really enjoy the process of choosing a borrower. For each individual or group there is a photograph, some biographical data, an explanation of how the loan will be used, and information about the country. (This would be an interesting way for children to learn about other cultures, geography etc.)

To maximise the fun and motivation, people with a common interest often form a team (but you can remain anonymous if you wish). Our team is called 'Genealogists for Families', but everyone is welcome - genealogists, family and friends, and anyone who believes that our small loans can make a big difference to those who are less fortunate. Our motto is, 'We loan because we care about families (past, present and future).'

It's very easy:

Make a loan. If you do not have a spare $25 yet, join now and when you do make a loan it will be automatically linked to the team's efforts.

To publicise your Web site or online family tree, enter its address in 'My Website' on your Kiva Lender Page.

As I write this, our 'Genealogists for Families' team page shows that we are currently helping sixteen small businesses in low income areas: farming in Peru; poultry in Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe; fishing and livestock (cattle, pigs etc) in Mongolia, the Philippines and Tajikistan; arts and crafts in El Salvador; food sales in Honduras; manufacturing in Nicaragua; sewing in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru and Tajikistan; tailoring in Tanzania; and an Internet cafe in Bolivia.

Join the 'Genealogists for Families' project and be part of the growing team of individuals who make a difference by helping families now and in the future!

Genealogists for Families: keeping the memory alive (Thankful Thursday)

2011-09-29T12:56:00.006+10:00

For as long as I can remember, my father set aside a small sum of money that he would periodically lend to a hard-working person in need of short-term help. We called it his 'Do Good Money'. Dad passed away last year at the age of ninety, and I want to honour his memory by continuing his tradition. I have just found an easy way to do so.

Carole recommended Kiva, a non-profit organisation that allows you to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income 'entrepreneur' across the globe. You choose who to lend to, and as they repay their loan, you get your money back. This is a simple and sustainable way to empower someone to support their family and lift themselves out of poverty. As your money is repaid you can either withdraw it or lend it again.

In the very unlikely event of a loan not being repaid, I can easily afford to think of the $25 as a donation. To me, $25 is a few takeaway lunches or coffees, which I would not miss. For the borrower, it may be equivalent to a fortnight's income. Micro-loans are also a good way of using money I earn from online surveys (which will be the subject of a future blog post).

The first four borrowers I chose to support were Janina in Peru (sewing), Leonora in the Philippines (rug-making), Roberto in El Salvador (food production/sales) and the 'Por un Futuro Mejor' (For a Better Future) communal bank (ten women involved in agriculture in Ecuador). By the time you read this, my sisters and I will have added to that list.

You are warmly invited to join the Kiva lending team named 'Genealogists for Families', whose slogan is 'We loan because... we care about families (past, present and future).'

Make a loan. If you do not have a spare $25 yet, join now and when you do make a loan it will be automatically linked to the team's efforts.

To publicise your Web site or online family tree, enter its address in 'My Website' on your Kiva Lender Page.

The fun part is choosing a borrower. Use the map, check boxes and advanced options to narrow down the field; look at each person's story and photograph; then choose one that feels special to you.

Checkout and payment are quick, easy and secure. (If you have not heard of Paypal, I can recommend them. I have used them for business and personal transactions for many years.)

If you enjoy your experience with Kiva, please invite others to join the team. Let's show the world that family historians can make a difference! I hope you will share your experiences and suggestions by leaving a comment below.

('Thankful Thursday' is a theme used by Geneabloggers to express gratitude for anything that has had a positive impact on our lives.)

Genealogy and Technology - my list for the meme

2011-09-22T17:06:00.000+10:00

If new technology will save me a significant amount of time or make me a better family historian, I am happy to use it. If it won't, or if it is beyond my budget, I make no apology for sticking to traditional methods.

After reading the responses to the original list by Geniaus and the expanded list by John Newmark, I am relieved to see that I am not the only one with a low 'tech savvy' score. My list (below) is annotated as follows:

* Things I have already done / found = bold type
* Things I would like to do / find = italics
* Things I haven't done / found and don't care = plain type
* My comments are in [square brackets].

Own an Android or Windows tablet or an iPad
Use a tablet or iPad for genealogy related purposes
Used Skype for genealogy purposes
Used a camera to capture images in a library/archives/ancestor's home
Use a genealogy software program on your computer to manage your family tree [The Master Genealogist]
Have a Twitter account [JudyQld, where I share genealogy tips, not trivia]
Tweet daily
Have a genealogy blog
Have more than one genealogy blog [Updated - now eight! Genealogy Leftovers; Updates Genie; Queensland Genealogy; UK/Australia Genealogy; Yorkshire Genealogy; Jottings, Journeys and Genealogy; Genealogists for Families; and Outback Story]
Have lectured/presented to a genealogy group on a technology topic [as a small segment in a talk on 'Who Else is Researching My Family?']
Currently an active member of Genealogy Wise
Have a Facebook Account [but I prefer to use email to contact friends, and I find Twitter more useful for keeping up to date with genealogy news]
Have connected with genealogists via Facebook
Maintain a genealogy related Facebook Page [Queensland Genealogy]
Maintain a blog or website for a genealogy society
Have submitted text corrections online to Ancestry, Trove or a similar site
Have registered a domain name [www.judywebster.com.au]
Post regularly to Google+
Have a blog listed on Geneabloggers [as per No.9 above]
Have transcribed/indexed records for FamilySearch or a similar project [but I've indexed 51,000 names from archives and other sources and listed the names on my Web site]
Own a Flip-Pal scanner
Can code a webpage in .html [using a text editor; I keep the code simple so pages load quickly, and I can update them whenever I wish]
Own a smartphone
Have a personal subscription to one or more paid genealogy databases [FindMyPast]
Use a digital voice recorder to record genealogy lectures
Have contributed to a genealogy blog carnival
Use Chrome as a Browser
Have participated in a genealogy webinar
Have taken a DNA test for genealogy purposes
Have a personal genealogy website [on my own site and on WorldConnect]
Have found mention of an ancestor in an online newspaper archive [Trove]
Have tweeted during a genealogy lecture
Have scanned your hardcopy genealogy files [most of them]
Use an RSS Reader to follow genealogy news and blogs [I've tried Google Reader and Thunderbird but I generally just use the reading list on Blogger's dashboard]
Have uploaded a GEDCOM file to a site like Geni, MyHeritage or Ancestry [to Rootsweb's WorldConnect, which, unlike Ancestry, is indexed by Google and allows anyone to contact me free of charge]
Own a netbook [Acer Happy - 1.2kg - great for travelling]
Use a computer/tablet/smartphone to take genealogy lecture notes
Have a profile on LinkedIn that mentions your genealogy habit [I created a profile as an experiment, but I don't often use LinkedIn]
Have developed a genealogy software program, app or widget
Have listened to a genealogy podcast online
Have downloaded genealogy podcasts for later listening [especially National Archives podcasts]
Backup your files to a portable hard drive
Have a copy of your genealogy files stored offsite [see Natural Disasters and Family History]
Know about Rootstech
Have listened to a Blogtalk radio session about genealogy
Use Dropbox, SugarSync or other service to save documents in the cloud [I use Evernote and save my most important notes online]
Schedule regular email backups [every time I download emails]
Have contributed to the FamilySearch Wiki
Have scanned and tagged your genealogy photographs [most of them]
Have published a genealogy book in an online/digital format.

I have only done four of John's extras:

Can code a webpage in .html using Notepad or any other text-only software [same as no.22 above]
Have a local library card that offers you home access to online databases, and you use that access [Brisbane City Council, State Library of Qld, National Library of Australia]
Brought a USB device to a microfilm repository so you could download instead of print
Started a Genealogy-related weekly blogging theme other geneabloggers participated in ['Thrifty Thursday']

Changing the subject slightly... One of John's items was 'Have used Photoshop or other editing software to clean up an old family photo'. Use caution if you do this. What if the position of a rip in a photo means that a facial scar is obliterated? 'Cleaning up' the photo may result in misleading information about that person's physical appearance.

More on Genealogy Conferences and Social Media Policy

2011-09-08T11:29:00.001+10:00

I had such an overwhelming response to yesterday's post, Genealogy Conferences and Social Media Policy, that a follow-up post seems justified. Many people with strong feelings on this topic have sent them via email, and I will share them here without mentioning names. In some cases I have added my personal response in italics, but the other comments do not necessarily reflect my own personal point of view, so please don't shoot the messenger!

All of your comments will be helpful to conference organisers, but only a few actually addressed the original question, Why can't it wait until the end of the presentation? Who truly benefits from tweeting 'live' rather than when the speaker has finished?

Most of us have to work, look after a family, etc, and we read tweets later in the day. How many people sit glued to their computer reading hashtag tweets 'live'? (If you do - Get A Life!) There is no need to tweet during the lecture. Doing it later is fine for your readers, and it is more courteous to the speaker. [Judy's response: Like you, I have to read the tweets later. That's actually an advantage, because hashtag tweets make more of an impression on me when I read them in a batch.]

Helen said, 'I tweet because I am usually too busy to tweet after the presentation' - but Helen always writes a descriptive blog post afterwards, which contradicts her claim that she needs to tweet live.

Every time I've given a talk at which people were using phones or computers, one of those people has put their hand up during Question Time and asked a question that I'd answered in my talk (while they weren't listening). It is demoralising and infuriating. [Judy's response: I totally agree. This has happened to me too.]

We recently paid for an employee to attend a conference. We decided never to waste the company's money that way again, because we discovered that he had been tweeting instead of paying attention.

I like the NGS social media policy except I would prefer to exclude the word 'summarise' as I think that gives a bit too much freedom.

The social media policy should be part of registration and include 'no photographing of people's overheads' and the fact that attendance at the conference may mean your photograph could be taken and uploaded to the web as part of a blog or used in publicity.

I use a phone because I think that is less distracting than using a computer. I also think that anyone who chooses to tweet etc should sit over to one side so less of a distraction. [Judy's response: As a speaker, I say 'Not in the front row, please!']

Using a phone while the presenter is talking is just plain RUDE. If this is what Twitter is about, count me out! Good manners will never go out of fashion.

I would prefer to be told to have my phone on silent and to be reminded that texting or tweeting during the conference is VERY bad manners.

Not many people can multitask well enough to concentrate on the speaker and look at a phone at the same time.

As a speaker, I hate it when the audience uses phones or computers. Am I boring them? Are their emails more interesting than my topic? They are not looking at my slides, so why did I bother?

What do you think? This is your chance to help shape the policies of future genealogy conferences. If you do not want to comment publicly, select 'Anonymous' or email me privately at the address in the sidebar. But as I said... the comments above do not necessarily reflect my own personal point of view, so please don't shoot the messenger!

Genealogy Conferences and Social Media Policy

2011-09-07T13:31:00.001+10:00

I am speaking at a genealogy conference next week, and I asked the organisers about their social media policy. Apparently neither the host society nor the Association as a whole had an official policy (other than 'no recording of conference sessions except for personal note taking' and 'mobile phones must be turned off during presentations'). After hastily writing a more detailed policy, they have sent me a copy and asked for my opinion.

Before I reply, I would greatly value your thoughts on this. I need to address these questions in particular:

Can you explain exactly WHY people feel compelled to tweet while the speaker is speaking? Why can't it wait until the end of the presentation? Who truly benefits from tweeting 'live' rather than when the speaker has finished?

Obviously it's fine to tweet a 5-minute warning that a session is about to start, but it's what happens during the presentation that is really the issue in this case. All comments will be gratefully received!

99 Things - an Australian Genealogist's List

2011-09-05T15:45:00.003+10:00

The '99 Things Genealogy Meme' is a list of 99 genealogy-related things you can do or have happen to you in your lifetime. Jill (Geniaus) took the original list and 'dinkumised' it (which, for those of you who don't speak Strine, means 'gave it an Australian flavour'). If you would like to do something similar so your readers can get to know you better, copy the text below and paste it into your blog or into a note on Facebook. Substitute your annotations for mine, and change the font to show your answers, as follows:

Things you have already done or found - bold type
Things you would like to do or find - italics
Things you have not done or found and don't care to - plain type

Here is my contribution. Most links open in new windows.

Belong to a genealogical society.
Joined the Australian Genealogists group on Genealogy Wise.
Transcribed records.
Uploaded headstone pictures to Find-A-Grave or a similar site.
Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents).
Joined Facebook.
Cleaned up a run-down cemetery.
Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group.
Attended a genealogy conference. (Next big one is the Australasian Congress)
Lectured at a genealogy conference.
Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
Joined the Society of Australian Genealogists.
Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society. (Only served as a library assistant)
Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
Talked to dead ancestors.
Researched outside the state in which I live.
Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants. (My great-uncle did this to show me his childhood home)
Cold called a distant relative. (Via email, not phone)
Posted messages on a surname message board.
Uploaded a GEDCOM file to the internet. (To WorldConnect)
Googled my name.
Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
Have been paid to do genealogical research.
Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
Responded to messages on a message board.
Was injured while on a genealogy excursion. (The Stinging Nettle Incident probably doesn't count)
Participated in a genealogy meme.
Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks etc.)
Performed a record lookup.
Took a genealogy seminar cruise. (Unlock the Past's cruise)
Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
Found a disturbing family secret. (Not always a bad thing - a secret may mean interesting records exist)
Told others about a disturbing family secret.
Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person.
Taught someone else how to find their roots.
Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure. (I only made that mistake once.)
Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
Disproved a family myth through research. (No, but I proved one that nobody expected to be true!)
Got a family member to let you copy photos.
Used a digital camera to 'copy' photos or records.
Translated a record from a foreign language. (With Google Translate)
Found an immigrant ancestor's passenger arrival record.
Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
Used microfiche.
Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Used Google+ for genealogy.
Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
Taught a class in genealogy.
Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century. (Via Clan Campbell Archives)
Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century. (Via Clan Campbell Archives)
Can name all of your great-great-grandparents. (Only 12 of 16 yet)
Found an ancestor on the Australian Electoral Rolls. (Queensland has three separate series)
Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
Have found relevant articles on Trove.
Own a copy of 'Evidence Explained' by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
Visited the National Library of Australia.
Have an ancestor who came to Australia as a ten pound pom.
Have an ancestor who fought at Gallipoli.
Taken a photograph of an ancestor's tombstone.
Can read a church record in Latin.
Have an ancestor who changed his/her name. (Not that I know of, but maybe that's why I haven't found a death record for Robert BUTLER!)
Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
Created a family website. (Separate sites for my maternal and paternal lines)
Have a genealogy blog. (Seven of them)
Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
Have broken through at least one brick wall.
Done genealogy research at the War Memorial in Canberra.
Borrowed microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
Found an ancestor in the Ryerson index. (A relative but not a direct ancestor)
Have visited the National Archives of Australia. (Brisbane Office only)
Have an ancestor who served in the Boer War.
Use maps in my genealogy research. (Including those on CuriousFox)
Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
Visited the National Archives in Kew.
Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
Taken an online genealogy course.
Consistently cite my sources. (Wish I'd done so when I was a beginner!)
Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
Followed genealogists on Twitter.
Published a family history book on one of my families.
Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
Offended a family member with my research.
Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.
Have a paid subscription to a genealogy database. (FindMyPast)
Edited records on Trove.

I have also put a more personal (non-genealogy) '99 things' list in Jottings Journeys and Genealogy.

Netbooks, Windows 7 and Genealogy

2011-06-05T07:35:00.000+10:00

I am thinking about buying a Netbook computer before I go overseas. At just over 1kg, it would be a much better proposition than my current (heavy) laptop. With my trip just three weeks away (and very little free time to set up and become familiar with a new computer), my dilemma is - should I buy a new netbook with Windows 7 Starter or buy or borrow a pre-loved one with Windows XP (the operating system I know and like)?

Will my genealogy software work with Windows 7 Starter? I use The Master Genealogist v.7, SecondSite v.2.1.10, TMG Utility v.7 and Treepad. I have not had time to research this question, so I am hoping that you will help me to make a quick decision! I would love to hear (via a comment below) what you think of Netbooks (any recommendations for or against particular brands or models?), Windows 7 Starter, and any 'tech tips'. Thanks!

Attending Genealogy Conferences

2011-05-09T09:34:00.001+10:00

Earlier this week I wrote about my experiences as a speaker and a vendor at genealogy conferences. Now I will explain why I love attending, how organisers can entice me to continue doing so, and how I find out about conferences, save money, etc.

Genealogy conferences are for everyone, including beginners. I have been to fifteen two-day conferences and ten major conferences of four days or more (six in Australia, two in New Zealand, one in Britain and one conference on a cruise) - and I have lost count of the one-day seminars. I have vivid memories of my first big conference in 1986. I was very shy, but people were friendly and helpful and I was soon having the time of my life! Now I always make a point of speaking to anyone standing alone and looking a bit lost, because I remember how that felt.

Why do I love conferences?

I learn so much from the lectures, the questions afterwards, the trade displays, and my conversations with all and sundry.
I make new friends, and I catch up with friends whom I rarely see. No matter how often I am in contact with someone via email or social networking sites, speaking with them in person is so much better.
Most of my favourite conferences are interstate, so they give me an excuse to travel and do local sightseeing or research.
There is always a chance of meeting a 'lost cousin'. I did!

One of the main reasons for going to a conference is to learn. The quality of the lectures is therefore very important. Speakers at the Australasian Congress always include a few 'big names' from overseas, and some (eg, Michael Gandy and Sherry Irvine) are absolutely brilliant (informative, entertaining and approachable). Choosing local and international speakers is a big responsibility for conference organisers, who often use some sort of 'quality control'. For example, prospective lecturers may be asked for a recording of a recent lecture so that the committee can assess their suitability.

As well as being educational, conferences are about meeting people and having fun. Be sure to read Amy Coffin's Rock Star's Guide to Genealogy Conferences. Another 'must-read' is Sue Maxwell's Prepare Before Attending a Genealogy Conference, which has many excellent tips.

What makes a conference more appealing or more enjoyable?

Being able to book for the whole event or just one day.
Lectures for all levels (beginner to advanced), and (for multi-day events) a range of topics - including social history. I want to learn about sources and techniques, but I am also interested in historical context and the everyday life of my ancestors.
Lectures whose content matches the title and description in the programme.
A programme that identifies (at the time of booking and on the day) which talks are aimed at beginners.
Pin-on name tags in large bold type. (My eyes are not getting any younger.)
A brochure (on paper) with lecture details (time, room number, speaker, title, topic summary, 'beginner' if applicable) and a map of the venue.
Signs that clearly point to and identify lecture rooms, exhibit hall etc.
Lunch/tea breaks that are long enough to allow people to eat, chat and explore the exhibits without feeling rushed.
Exhibits halls and tea-break areas that are not cramped.
Healthy options for lunch/tea (salad, fruit, sandwiches on multigrain or wholemeal bread, jugs of water).
As a member of the audience and as a speaker, I appreciate it when computer users are asked to sit towards the back of the room as a courtesy to those who find them distracting.
A large corkboard (with plenty of pins) to leave notes for other attendees.
Pre-conference advice about parking and public transport.
Lecture rooms where I can put my notebook on something other than my lap (a desk, or a small swing-out table attached to the chair).
A conference banquet that is optional and not too expensive.
A feedback form in the conference satchel. (We need to praise what was good, give constructive criticism, and be honest in our assessment of speakers.)
A 'delegate's surname interests' form to be submitted at the time of registration, so that all data can be combined into one alphabetical list and displayed at the conference.
The option to purchase a copy of individual lectures (by download) or the entire conference proceedings (with a choice of book, CD or USB flash drive). (I have a Web page that lists titles of many published conference papers. If the books are out of print and your local Society does not have them, borrow them via interlibrary loan.)
Affordable registration, and affordable accommodation on site or nearby.

I particularly look for conferences that are held at a university, college or boarding school while students are on vacation. Registration costs are often lower. Lecture rooms and common rooms are well equipped. Cafeteria-style meals in the student dining hall are a great opportunity to meet people and chat. Attendees can (if they wish) stay in simple but affordable student bedrooms on campus. (At the last Congress I had a modern, comfortable, single ensuite room with lots of desk space.)

In other situations a friend and I sometimes share a two-bedroom apartment and save money by preparing our own breakfast and dinner. For one-day or two-day events away from my home town, I can often keep accommodation costs down by booking through Wotif or staying in a cabin in a caravan park.

Which conferences particularly interest me?

Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry (4 days) - held every third year. I have been to eight of the last nine Congresses. The next is Your Ancestors in their Social Context in Adelaide, South Australia (28-31 March 2012). If you miss that one you will have to wait until Canberra in 2015.
NSW & ACT State Conference (2 days) - held every year, usually in September. The next is at Inverell NSW (17-18 Sept 2011).
'Lost In..' conference (2 days) - held by the Society of Australian Genealogists in either Sydney or a country centre, usually in early November. Themes have included 'Lost in London', 'Lost in a Woman's World', 'Lost in Black Sheep' and 'Lost in the Internet'.
Victorian State Conference (2 days) - held every third year. The next will be in 2013.

How to find out about conferences?

Sources of information vary from country to country, but examples include the Unlock The Past Web site, the AUS-GEN-EVENTS Rootsweb mailing list (or its overseas counterparts), Geneabloggers calendar, and (for the UK) GENEVA. I also use a Google Alert, and I 'search blog posts' for 'conference' in the Genealogy Blog Finder.

What does the future hold?

I think 'live streaming' sessions by remote/overseas speakers will become more common (especially if that reduces conference costs and registration fees). And I sincerely hope that Australian conferences will introduce lectures and networking opportunities for genealogy bloggers!

Other people's thoughts on attending genealogy conferences?

Amy & Sue (see the links above).
Thomas: Genealogy Conferences.
Patricia: Genealogical Conference - Taking it all in.
Helen: Attending Genealogy Conferences.
Joan: Confessions of a Genea-Conference Groupie.
Missy: My Take on Genealogy Conferences.
Lynn: How to Persuade Me to Attend More Genealogy Conferences and 2011 Genealogy Conferences - Who Deserves Your Money?
Marian: Totally Random Thoughts on Attending Conferences.
Randy: Attending Genealogy Conferences: My View.
Elyse: Conferences and Seminars, Oh My!.
Valerie: Genealogy Conferences - My View.

Genealogy Conference Vendors

2011-05-05T20:37:00.000+10:00

Days 1 and 2 of the current Geneabloggers discussion looked at planning and speaking at genealogy conferences. Today's topic is selling goods and services at conferences.

As a professional genealogist who also self-publishes indexes and research guides, I have had a 'sales table' in three different situations: (1) at small seminars where I am a speaker; (2) at the biennial Local and Family History Fair run by History Queensland; (3) at the NSW & ACT State Conference. Whatever the venue, assembling and packing all the 'vendor gear' takes longer than you might expect, especially if the display includes posters, banners etc.

Here are a few tips based on my own experience.

When you agree to do a talk, ask whether you can display and sell your publications or other wares. (I often speak at public libraries, and some do not allow sales.) Unless you are driving and can take a folding table, ask the organisers to supply something suitable. On the day, put the table where you can keep an eye on it.
Take a carbonless receipt book, a money belt and lots of change.
Take a notepad or A5 pages printed with your name and contact details. When people ask questions, jot down your answer (a book title, Web address etc) and hand it to them. I use a clipboard, and I attach a pen with string so I won't misplace it. I design my own notepads with VistaPrint:
Items that may come in handy are a magnifying glass, spare pens, sticky tape, yellow highlighter, paper clips, rubber bands and plastic bags.
If possible, keep the items that are for sale separate from the freebies (business cards, handouts, leaflets, bookmarks etc). Use price labels and signs such as 'Free leaflets'.
If you are on your own at an all-day event (as I usually am), arrange in advance for someone to come over occasionally and keep an eye on your table while you take a bathroom break.
For all-day events, take plenty of water and some food that is easy to handle. (I favour nuts, apples and cubes of cheese.) You do not want to put sticky fingers or sandwich filling on your display!
Take Butter Menthols or something similar for when you begin to lose your voice!
Many people seem afraid to touch a display or speak to the vendor. Encourage them by smiling and saying, 'Please take a free bookmark' or 'You're welcome to pick up the books and have a closer look' or 'Do you have any questions?'

The thing that I find most difficult is being on the sales table all day on my own. On the rare occasions when a colleague and I shared a table, the job was easier. Vendors at larger events will have a different point of view, and I look forward to reading everyone's comments.

Genealogy Conferences - Delivering the Content

2011-05-05T07:28:00.001+10:00

This week's discussion at Geneabloggers is about genealogy conferences. On day 1 Thomas and Helen (and probably others whose posts I did not see) talked about conferences from the perspective of the planners. Thomas has also written a brilliant post about being a speaker.

Later this week I will explain why I love attending genealogy conferences, and the realities of selling goods and services there; but today's topic is Delivering the Content: what does it take to be a speaker at a genealogy conference? One thing it takes is courage! Even after presenting fifty papers to audiences ranging in size from fifteen to over one hundred people, I still get butterflies in my tummy. (Hint: take homeopathics such as Rescue Remedy or Brauer's Nervatona Focus before the talk!)

A wise friend once told me, 'Choose a topic that you know well. Then, as you look out at the sea of expectant faces, remind yourself that they have come to listen because you know more about the topic than they do.'

When I am asked to give a talk, this is what usually happens:

The organisers and I agree on a date, time, venue, number of talks, length of the talk/s (with or without question time), and payment / reimbursement of expenses if applicable.
Sometimes I am asked for a specific talk that I have given elsewhere, but usually I submit a list (titles plus content descriptions) and the host makes a selection.
I ask what equipment will be provided (laptop, projector, microphone etc), and I ask permission to display and sell my books.
I ask whether I need to put a purchase order number on my invoice. (I once waited three months for reimbursement of $600 travel costs because the host forgot to give me a purchase order number.)
Only once have I been asked to sign a contract, but I was happy to do so. Occasionally I draw up an agreement based on the advice in Professional Genealogy: a manual for researchers, writers, editors, lecturers and librarians (Elizabeth Shown Mills; Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001). Usually I just send (and require acknowledgment of) an email that clearly states all the arrangements.
I write or update the talk(s); do one or more practice runs to check the timing; prepare handouts; scan documents for use in overheads; and create a Powerpoint presentation. Non-presenters have no concept of how long all that takes!
I save the Powerpoint show on a USB flash drive (or two), in several different formats including HTML. I once found that the host's laptop would not open my Powerpoint slides, so now I play it safe.

It's lucky that I enjoy travelling, because 90% of my talks have been a long way from home. A six-hour drive is not uncommon. If I need to fly, I check airline schedules before agreeing to speak at a certain time. I once had to leave home at 3.30am because I made the mistake of letting the organisers book my flight. After some panic situations due to cancelled flights or vehicle breakdowns, I now aim to arrive in town the previous night.

Many speakers enjoy being billeted in private homes, but I had a very bad experience with that. My hostess insisted on talking (picking my brains?) until midnight - and to make matters worse, I was allergic to her dog.

In Making Money from Genealogy, I talked about payment for speaking engagements. Unless I belong to the host society, I usually charge a speaker's fee and ask to be reimbursed for travel and accommodation expenses. The 2009 Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry was (to the best of my knowledge) the first Congress to offer speakers a really good deal. The organisers might not want me to publish all the details here, but you can email me if you wish. One of the conditions was that we should be available to delegates at all times (so no skipping social functions or sneaking off to go sightseeing!)

Talks are usually arranged many months in advance, but my most enjoyable 'speaking trip' was an impromptu affair. My sister asked me to relocate her campervan from the Gold Coast to Cairns. I drove 2,000 kilometres in nine days, and along the way (with only three weeks notice) I gave talks at Biloela, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Mackay, Townsville and two in Cairns. I had contacted Council libraries and genealogical groups, told them what day I would be in town, and offered to do a talk for just $50. (Council libraries in Australia usually expect to pay about $100.) I gave them a choice of three talks, all of which I had done before. The trip was tiring but great fun, and the $50 fees plus sales of my books covered the cost of fuel, caravan parks and my flight home from Cairns to Brisbane.

I would love to do similar trips in the future, especially in rural Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Family historians who live far from a capital city really appreciate the opportunity to learn about sources and research strategies. I can empathise with them, because I grew up in the bush and started researching my family when I lived six hundred miles from Brisbane (with no Internet).

I wonder what other speakers find especially rewarding. For me, the ultimate thrill was having a member of the audience look at one of my overheads and excitedly say, 'That's my great-grandfather!'

How to Become a Paid Genealogy Researcher

2011-04-30T18:31:00.000+10:00

Genealogical research is interesting and challenging, but not necessarily very lucrative. It involves a lot of non-billable hours and expenses. I talked about that in Making Money from Genealogy.

As a paid researcher you will probably need to know about sources that you did not use for your own family tree. Before setting up a business, do some voluntary research (perhaps dealing with requests sent to your local Family History Society). This will alert you to any significant gaps in your knowledge. You can then decide what research commissions your business should accept. You could start by working as a record agent, dealing with simple requests that require minimal analysis and interpretation ('I want a copy of Document-X, which I know is at your local record office.') When you are familiar with more record series, you can offer a wider range of services.

In my opinion, these are the principal requirements for a professional genealogist who does research in local record offices or archives:

A very high degree of proficiency in using the holdings of the record office.
A thorough understanding of correct research techniques and the difference between primary and secondary sources.
An awareness of the traps involved in using indexes and interpreting handwriting.
The ability to cite sources fully and accurately, regardless of whether results are positive or negative.
A willingness to undertake professional development and on-going education. This includes attending seminars and conferences (for example, the Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry), reading reference books, journals, newsletters and Web sites, and doing whatever else is necessary to keep up with changes in your particular field.
Good analytical skills.
The ability to use lateral thinking.
Some knowledge of the history of the area in which you specialise (dates of first settlement, local industries etc.)
The ability to interpret and analyse the lives of individuals and families in the context of local, national and world events.
Good communication skills, especially in reports and emails. (Clients do care about your grammar, spelling and punctuation!)
A clear understanding of privacy issues and professional ethics.
Some knowledge of accounting and small business management.

Potential clients rarely take much notice of my formal qualifications and accreditation. Their decision to employ me is usually based on word-of-mouth referrals and/or the helpful content of my Web site.

Do you agree with my ideas on what should be expected of a paid researcher? If not, why? I would love to hear your point of view. Whether you are a researcher or a client, please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.