Tutorial

How to Start My Family History Research – Join a Local Family History Society

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How to Start My Family History Research:
Join a Local Family History Society!



Join a Local Family History Society

 

If you join a local family history society it can be a great way to learn about your family’s past and connect with other people who are interested in Genealogy. It is also an inexpensive way to gain access to resources you may otherwise not have access to.

Here are ten reasons why you should join a local family history society:

1. Access to Expertise:

Local family history societies often have members who are experts in various aspects of genealogy research. This can be incredibly helpful if you’re stuck on a particular branch of your family tree or, you need help interpreting old documents among other things.

2. Networking:

Family history societies are great for networking with other genealogy enthusiasts. This can help you find connections that you may not have been able to find on your own. It can also help you learn more about the history of your family and/or find records that you may not have been able to find yourself.

3. Resources:

Local family history societies often have access to resources that you may not have been able to find on your own. This can include things like old documents, records, photos, books and lots, lots more.

4.  Learning:

Attending meetings and events hosted by a family history society is a great way to learn more about genealogy. You can learn the tips and tricks of the trade and get access to new resources that can help you with your research.



5. Saving Money:

Family history societies often offer discounts on products and services that can help you with your research. This can be a great way to save money on the cost of researching your family tree. It is also a good way to access resources that otherwise you may not be able to afford

6.  Sharing:

Joining a family history society is a great way to share your discoveries and stories about your family. You can also learn from other members and get ideas for further research.

7. Connection:

Joining a family history society is a great way to connect to your family’s past and to the other members of the society..

8. Socialising:

Attending events and meetings hosted by a family history society is a great way to meet other people with similar interests and socialise. It’s also a great way to get to know other members and share stories about your families.

9. Fun:

Researching your family tree can be a fun and rewarding experience. Joining a family history society allows you to share your discoveries with other people who have the same interests, making the experience even more enjoyable.

10. Support:

It can be incredibly helpful to have a support system of a like-minded group of people who are as passionate about family history as you are. They can help provide you with much-needed support which is a great way to stay motivated and inspired as you research your family tree.

 



Join a Local Family History Society!

How to Start My Family History Research – Share your Research

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How to Start My Family History Research:
Share your Research!



Share your Research!

Share your Research!

Sharing your research can be both a helpful and fulfilling way to connect with other people who are researching the same ancestors you are. It is also a way to honour your ancestors, pays tribute to the lives that they lived and, preserve the historical records of your family. You may even find branches of your family that you never knew existed.

It can also be a rewarding and enriching experience that helps you learn more about your family history and connect with others who share your interests.

Some of the ways that you can share your research are:

1. Create an Online Family Tree:
Websites like Ancestry, MyHeritage and FamilySearch among the other things that they offer, allow you to create family trees online which you can then share with others. You just need to respect the privacy of those family members who are still with us.

2. Create a Website or Blog:
Creating your own personal website or blog to share your research and findings with others, is a good way to share a lot of information and allow others to easily access it. If you create your site or Blog on a system like WordPress you will find they have a lot of ready-to-go genealogy plugins to help you along.

3. Use social media:
Many people use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share their genealogy research and connect with others who are interested in the same topics. You can create a group or page specifically for genealogy research, or you can use hashtags to connect with others who are researching the same areas or families.

4. Join online genealogy forums or communities:
There are many online forums and communities dedicated to genealogy research where you can share your findings and ask questions of other researchers. Some popular options include Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and the Genealogy Today forums.

5. Attend genealogy conferences or events:
Many local, regional, and national genealogy conferences and events offer opportunities to share your research and connect with other researchers. These events may also offer lectures, workshops, and other educational opportunities.



6. Share your research with local libraries, historical societies, and archives:
Many local libraries, historical societies, and archives are interested in collecting and preserving genealogy research for future generations. You can contact these organizations to see if they would be interested in adding your research to their collections.

7. Publish your research:
You can also consider publishing your research in a genealogy magazine or journal. This can be a good way to reach a wider audience and share your findings with a more professional audience.

8. Collaborate with other researchers: You can collaborate with other researchers who are working on the same or related family lines. This can help you to share information and resources and make new discoveries together.

9. Donate your research to a genealogy library or society:
You can donate your research to a genealogy library or society, where it will be available for others to access and use. This can help to preserve your research for future generations.

10. Simply talk with members and extended members of your family.
By talking to your family, both close and extended, you may find other members who are also doing the family tree. Speaking with these members may lead you to new information, photos or branches of the family that you never knew existed.

So overall, sharing your genealogy research can be considered a good idea for many reasons, as it can help to enrich your own understanding of your family history, as well as contribute to the broader knowledge about your family and the history of your ancestors.

 



 

How to Start My Family History Research

How to Start My Family History Research: Keep Track of your Research!

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Aow to Start My Family History Research:
Keep Track of your Research!



Keep Track of your Research!

Keep Track of your Research!

Keeping track of your Research is not the easiest thing to do with it being extremely easy to get lost in the plethora of paperwork, photos and notes that you will undoubtedly bring together.

This tutorial will hopefully give you some simple insights by discussing both genealogy software and the Hard copy filing system and help you stop losing track of where you are and what you have done so far.

Whether you use genealogy software, keep a hard copy filing system or, a combination of both, I have found that the best method to use relies on the KISS principle: that is the principle that you, Keep It Simple and Stupid! Again, like most areas of genealogy, there is no right or wrong answer, only what works for and makes sense to you

Both Genealogy Software and the Keeping of a Hard Copy filing system have their own advantages and disadvantages, some of which are listed below.

It is just up to you to decide what is right for you.

Genealogy Software:

Genealogy software is a specific type of computer program designed to help people organise and track their family history research.

Some Advantages of Genealogy Software are:

  • Organisation: Genealogy software allows you to easily store and organize your family tree, photos, documents, and other records in one place. This makes it easier to keep track of your research and make connections between different family members.
  • Collaboration: Many genealogy software programs have features that allow you to share your family tree with others. This means you can collaborate on research, and access shared resources such as census records and other public records.
  • Accuracy: Genealogy software can help you avoid errors and inconsistencies in your research by providing tools to verify and validate information, such as by comparing it to other sources or using built-in citation tools.
  • Convenience: Genealogy software can save you time by providing access to a wide range of online resources and tools, such as census records, military records, and historical maps, all in one place.
  • Security: Genealogy software can also help you protect your sensitive information. You can password-protect your family tree and set privacy settings.

Disadvantages of Genealogy Software are:

  • Cost: Some genealogy software can be expensive, especially if you need to purchase a subscription or upgrade to a premium version.
  • Limited data: Genealogy software may not have access to all the records and sources that you need to build your family tree. This can make it difficult to accurately trace your ancestry.
  • Inaccurate or incomplete information: Genealogy software relies on user-submitted data. This can sometimes be inaccurate or incomplete. This can lead to errors in your family tree.
  • Time-consuming: Researching your family history can be time-consuming. Using genealogy software may add additional time as you input and organize data.
  • Dependence on technology: Genealogy software relies on computer systems and internet access. These may not always be available. This can make it difficult to access and work on your family tree when you are not able to use a computer.

If you are after reviews on the different Genealogy software that is available please see the list below:

or, you could simply google “best genealogy software” yourself.



Hard Copy Filing Systems

A hard copy filing system is a reliable and efficient way to store and organise your Family History.

The advantages of the Hard Copy Filing System are:

  • Durability: Hard copy documents are more durable than electronic ones. They are less susceptible to damage from technological issues such as power outages or hardware failures.
  • Security: Hard copy documents are more secure than electronic ones. They cannot be hacked or accessed by unauthorized individuals.
  • Accessibility: Hard copy documents are more accessible than electronic ones. They do not require a computer or any other type of technology to be viewed.
  • Ease of use: Hard copy documents are easier to use than electronic ones. They do not require any special skills or knowledge to access.
  • Portability: Hard copy documents are more portable than electronic ones, as they can be easily carried from one location to another.

Disadvantages of the Hard Copy Filing System are:

  • Space: Hard copy filing systems require physical space to store the documents. This can be an issue for businesses with limited office space.
  • Inefficiency: It can be time-consuming to locate and retrieve documents from a hard copy filing system. This can lead to decreased productivity and efficiency.
  • Risk of loss or damage: There is a risk of documents getting lost or damaged in a hard copy filing system. This can lead to important information being lost or inaccessible.
  • Security: Hard copy documents can be easily accessed by unauthorized individuals. This can be a security risk if the documents contain sensitive or confidential information.
  • Environmental impact: They can have a negative environmental impact due to the use of paper and the energy required to print, store, and transport documents.

Some Forms and Charts that I have available for you to download and use can be viewed here.

 

 

Personally, I prefer to use a combination of both methods but that is my preferred choice.

You, on the other hand, may choose to only to use genealogy software, or only to use the Hard copy filing system. There is no right or wrong answer, it is entirely up to you.

 



How to Start My Family History Research