Day 1
"Decide what you want to find."
From various webinars, discussions groups, as well as the Genealogy Do-Over, one should sit down and write out a Research Log for each individual they are researching and each fact to be checked. While I can, somewhat, understand and appreciate the organized methodology of this practice, I just can't get myself to do this for each individual and fact - at least not on paper or computer. I do it mentally as I have a individual or family records displayed on my computer screen.
I want to immediately start my research. And for now, I'm concentrating on using my World Subscription for Ancestry. This allows me to search the full extent of Ancestry's database - primarily Canada, United States and United Kingdom records.
I want all possible information on the individuals (direct and collateral) in my database.
I am currently concentrating on direct ancestors. However in doing research on that individual, information on other family member appear on the same record and are entered into the database (citing sourcing is a given).
In other words, I display the record of a family member. What do I want to find?
1) confirm birth date, place, parents (if birth suspected to be during timeframe covered by Ancestry).
2) confirm marriage (if marriage suspected to have taken place during timeframe covered by Ancesty).
3) check censuses during lifetime of individual
4) check cemetery databases (links in Genealogy Toolbox) for burial information and possibly photo of headstone
5) repeat #1-3 in FamilySearch for records not found in Ancestry
6) google individual (using and altering keywords searched)
7) search newspapers for death notices
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Beyond Week 13
The intent of participating in the popular "Genealogy Do-Over" is to retrain (or maybe train) one's research skills so that on-going research is done in a more efficient manner and properly cited. Is this working?
I started lurking the Facebook group of Genealogy Do-Over part way through Cycle 1 and was a participant of Cycle 2. I resumed lurking through Cycle 3 and now Cycle 4. Each week, I read through the assignment and make a mental evaluation of whether I have been continuing to follow the practices.
For the most part, yes, I am continuing to follow the practices layed out in the Do-Over. In the new database I created for the Do-Over, I have continued to concentrated on direct lines, one generation at a time. When dealing with censuses, siblings of ancestors are entered, but am trying to refrain from pursuing those lines - for now. Instead of colour coding these individuals green (purple for spouses and blue for direct ancestors) as I did in the old databases, I am using aqua instead of green and purple and navy for the blue. Once I feel I have dones sufficient primary research (vital stats, census and cemetery records available online), I change the colour to the appropriate colour. That way, as time goes on, I can check the People Index and search aqua coloured people, one at a time.
I continue to try to refrain from following BSOs (Bright Shiny Objects) and sticking to concentrating on one family of direct lineage at a time. However, I have been guilty of gettign distracted for several days as I enter information from Public Member Trees on Ancestry. I justify the distraction as I search in the trees when trying to fill in missing information and hope that a tree is sourced, or at least give me sufficient hints re name variations, dates, spouses, children so that I can do my own verification.
Sucesses with the Do-Over
By revisiting censuses previously researched, I have been able to resolve a question/mystery I have had for several years. The 1901 household of my maternal great-grandparents, John and Mary (nee Deadman) Schell listed 15 year old sister Maud Deadman as well as sister-in-law as well and just below her a Charles N, with a birthdate of 2 May 1900, age 11/12. No surname or relationship to Head of Household.
Due to the order of entries in the census, I had assumed that Mary's 15 year old sister Maud was living with the Schell family after having had an illegitimate child the previous year. Another possibility was that the infant was a brother of both Maud and Mary. I had been told by my mother a number of years ago that her father George had two uncles younger than him. His mother, Mary was the eldest child and her parents, George Deadman and Rebecca Gauley, were still having children after she had married and started her own family. My earlier research did find two sons for George and Rebecca born after Mary's son George. Charles N would have been a third son.
As part of my Do-Over practices, I compared the family in my old database. The only source I had for Charles N Deadman existing was that 1901 census. So I set out to prove/disprove the relationship of Charles N
I searched the Ontario Births database in the hopes that Charles N's birth record would reveal the name of the father. No record found for Charles N Deadman BUT the date matched the birth for a Charles Norman Rawn, son of Abijah Rawn and Charlotte Ann Smith. That couple have connetions to my Schell branches as well as Allen branches. In checking my entries for that family in my other databases, I discovered that there was a son Charles Norman listed with that couple in the 1911 census with a May 1900 birthdate.
Why was infant Charles Norman Rawn listed with the John Schell family in the 1901 census instead of his parents? Charles N was entered on the last line of the page. When I located the entry for the Abijah Rawn household, I discovered that they were also the last family on the page - with no empty lines at the bottom. In other words, no room for the enumerator to add the youngest member of the family and instead of starting a new sheet to record the infant, the enumerator must have flipped back a few pages and found a blank line to use. But neglected to enter a surname for Charles N.
If I had not taken the time to re-do and re-evaluate my research, I would have continued listing Charles N Deadman as either an illegitimate son of Maud or a third sibling of Mary younger than Mary's son George. Now I can proceed with Charles Norman Rawn being the son of Abijah Rawn and an explanation why the infant was not listed with his parents in the 1901 census.
Future
The 13 week Genealogy Do-Over cycles will be altered in 2016. The exercise will take the entire year with a new assignment each month. Participants found that it was difficult to keep up with the weekly assignments and needed more time for each assignment.
Will I participate? It will depend on how it is presented. If done in a format similar to the 13 week model with each new assignment being emailed and posted on Facebook, more than likely I will participate. And definitely lurk if I don't actually participate. But if it offered as a course, than probably not as I won't want to spend the money. I will continue doing what I've been since I started the Do-Over several months ago.
31 Days to Better Genealogy
With a similar purpose as Thomas McIntee's 13 week Genealogy Do-Over, another professional researcher, Amy Johnson Crow, has developed a programme that involves an email being sent to participants each day with a tip on how to improve one's genealogy research.
Just as the 13 week timeframe was not rigid, I'm sure the 31 day programme will have the flexibility. Assigments may be emailed as per the programme's schedule, but that does not mean that participants have to adhere to a deadline.
It will be interesting to see how many of the daily tips I am already doing. Or at least doing to some extent and can tweek to improve my research skills.
I started lurking the Facebook group of Genealogy Do-Over part way through Cycle 1 and was a participant of Cycle 2. I resumed lurking through Cycle 3 and now Cycle 4. Each week, I read through the assignment and make a mental evaluation of whether I have been continuing to follow the practices.
For the most part, yes, I am continuing to follow the practices layed out in the Do-Over. In the new database I created for the Do-Over, I have continued to concentrated on direct lines, one generation at a time. When dealing with censuses, siblings of ancestors are entered, but am trying to refrain from pursuing those lines - for now. Instead of colour coding these individuals green (purple for spouses and blue for direct ancestors) as I did in the old databases, I am using aqua instead of green and purple and navy for the blue. Once I feel I have dones sufficient primary research (vital stats, census and cemetery records available online), I change the colour to the appropriate colour. That way, as time goes on, I can check the People Index and search aqua coloured people, one at a time.
I continue to try to refrain from following BSOs (Bright Shiny Objects) and sticking to concentrating on one family of direct lineage at a time. However, I have been guilty of gettign distracted for several days as I enter information from Public Member Trees on Ancestry. I justify the distraction as I search in the trees when trying to fill in missing information and hope that a tree is sourced, or at least give me sufficient hints re name variations, dates, spouses, children so that I can do my own verification.
Sucesses with the Do-Over
By revisiting censuses previously researched, I have been able to resolve a question/mystery I have had for several years. The 1901 household of my maternal great-grandparents, John and Mary (nee Deadman) Schell listed 15 year old sister Maud Deadman as well as sister-in-law as well and just below her a Charles N, with a birthdate of 2 May 1900, age 11/12. No surname or relationship to Head of Household.
Due to the order of entries in the census, I had assumed that Mary's 15 year old sister Maud was living with the Schell family after having had an illegitimate child the previous year. Another possibility was that the infant was a brother of both Maud and Mary. I had been told by my mother a number of years ago that her father George had two uncles younger than him. His mother, Mary was the eldest child and her parents, George Deadman and Rebecca Gauley, were still having children after she had married and started her own family. My earlier research did find two sons for George and Rebecca born after Mary's son George. Charles N would have been a third son.
As part of my Do-Over practices, I compared the family in my old database. The only source I had for Charles N Deadman existing was that 1901 census. So I set out to prove/disprove the relationship of Charles N
I searched the Ontario Births database in the hopes that Charles N's birth record would reveal the name of the father. No record found for Charles N Deadman BUT the date matched the birth for a Charles Norman Rawn, son of Abijah Rawn and Charlotte Ann Smith. That couple have connetions to my Schell branches as well as Allen branches. In checking my entries for that family in my other databases, I discovered that there was a son Charles Norman listed with that couple in the 1911 census with a May 1900 birthdate.
Why was infant Charles Norman Rawn listed with the John Schell family in the 1901 census instead of his parents? Charles N was entered on the last line of the page. When I located the entry for the Abijah Rawn household, I discovered that they were also the last family on the page - with no empty lines at the bottom. In other words, no room for the enumerator to add the youngest member of the family and instead of starting a new sheet to record the infant, the enumerator must have flipped back a few pages and found a blank line to use. But neglected to enter a surname for Charles N.
If I had not taken the time to re-do and re-evaluate my research, I would have continued listing Charles N Deadman as either an illegitimate son of Maud or a third sibling of Mary younger than Mary's son George. Now I can proceed with Charles Norman Rawn being the son of Abijah Rawn and an explanation why the infant was not listed with his parents in the 1901 census.
Future
The 13 week Genealogy Do-Over cycles will be altered in 2016. The exercise will take the entire year with a new assignment each month. Participants found that it was difficult to keep up with the weekly assignments and needed more time for each assignment.
Will I participate? It will depend on how it is presented. If done in a format similar to the 13 week model with each new assignment being emailed and posted on Facebook, more than likely I will participate. And definitely lurk if I don't actually participate. But if it offered as a course, than probably not as I won't want to spend the money. I will continue doing what I've been since I started the Do-Over several months ago.
31 Days to Better Genealogy
With a similar purpose as Thomas McIntee's 13 week Genealogy Do-Over, another professional researcher, Amy Johnson Crow, has developed a programme that involves an email being sent to participants each day with a tip on how to improve one's genealogy research.
Just as the 13 week timeframe was not rigid, I'm sure the 31 day programme will have the flexibility. Assigments may be emailed as per the programme's schedule, but that does not mean that participants have to adhere to a deadline.
It will be interesting to see how many of the daily tips I am already doing. Or at least doing to some extent and can tweek to improve my research skills.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Week 13 (June 26 - July 2 2015)
The end is near. This is the last week of Cycle 2 of the Genealogy Do-Over.
Topics:
1) Securing research data
2) Reviewing the journey
1) Security Research Data
Preservation
Thomas MacEntee asks participants the question: What have you done to preserve and "future proof" all your hard work? He continues on to pose the scenerio that if you were to loose all of your data, would you be able to recreate it - if you even knew where to begin. He also asked if people were aware of what his/her family would do with the research and have plans been made to preserve the research for future generations.
I have always been interested in family history and when I started to get serious with my research, I have never given much thought to what happens to my research once I am dead and gone. In the same manner of my crafts and associated supplies, I view my genealogy research as a hobby. I love the thrill of discovering new information of someone related to me and wouldn't want to deprive others of that thrill. Yes, I have appreciated discovering trees that others have worked on, but I have always viewed them only as clues to do my own verifications.
In the case of my family, no one really shows any interest in it. Having no biological children, I don't have any direct descendants and neither to either of my brothers.
When my in-laws died suddenly (result of an automobile accident), I willing took on the role of curator for their genealogy research. No one, including my husband, really showed any interest in any of the information, barring the narrative report compiled and printed at the time of my brother-in-law's wedding in 1994. If I hadn't taken the boxes of photo albums, etc they would have been left in the house to be disposed of with the rest of the estate - most of which likely ended up in a dumpster.
When I need a break from my research on my own family, I have dabbled with my husband's. My intent is that I will provide my step-children with the research and leave it up to them to do with as they wish. At this point in time, neither of them have partners or off-spring, so it remains to be seen if there will be future generations from them.
Would a local genealogical society be interested in the research on either my family or my husband's? I doubt it. Both of us are from working class families. If there is anyone notable in our trees, it is distant and a collateral branch, not direct, and more than likely already sufficient covered by research done by others.
Having worked for several decades in a library, I am fully aware of an institution having to deal with being viewed as a "dumping ground" for people thinking they are generously donating a gold mine to the library. They are unaware that the library may already have multiple copies of that book, as well as several new editions. If I haven't bothered submitting a pedigree chart to a relevant genealogical society during my lifetime, what right do I have of "dumping" all of my research on them to deal with after my death?
Most of my information has been obtained from internet searches and shouldn't be difficult for someone to re-create. As I've been participating in the Genealogy Do-Over, I have been re-doing my research and discovering more information on individuals than I had found when I had worked on that individual at some point in the past. I would expect someone in the future would have similar results.
Backing up Your Genealogy Data
The adage in the computer world is that it is not a matter of if, but when, a hard drive will fail. And the mantra of "back up, back up, back up." I have to confess that I continue to play dangerous and do not religiously back up my data. When I was working I did have somewhat of a backup plan of my Rootsmagic database by using a thumbdrive and Rootsmagic To Go for use at work during lunch and breaks. I did loose a thumbdrive once and have yet to miss whatever data was on the thumbdrive. At the time, I was fairly confident that anything on the drive was a backup, working copy, of what was on my laptop. Using a new thumbdrive, I recreated whatever I believed to have been on the lost drive.
In the past, I have tried to set up an automatic back-up schedule on the home computer network, but never got things to work properly. I have done so manually, but as mentioned earlier, have not done it religiously. Besides the cost, I'm leery of subscribing to an online service as they seem to come and go and have heard stories of people needing to access their backup to discover that the data they thought was being backed up had not been done.
MacEntee recommends creating a backup plan by identifying what data needs to be backed up and to identify a method that will work on an ongoing basis. He also advises to test the backup to ensure that it will work properly come the time you would need it. MacEntee also warns people to future-proof one's technology and to not rely on outdated technology of CDs and DVDs as their coating is known to degrade after several years.
MacEntee informed participants that he is comfortable with his 3-2-1 backup plan: 3 copies of data, 2 different backup media and 1 offsite copy (cloud).
Earlier in the Do-Over process, I once again tried to set up an automatic backup of my laptop, but still encountered problems as it requires an external source to be attached to the laptop. The external harddrive, set up to an older laptop, won't allow other backup via the home network. As I continue to get the home office setup, I will try to set up another external harddrive to my current laptop and hopefully, will be able to get automatic backups working successfully. And I need to get back into the routine of synching my Rootsmagic databases with at least one thumbdrive, if not multiple drives.
I do have a cloud backup as I save Rootsmagic databases to Dropbox so that I can view my trees on my iPad with the RM app. I just need to get into the habit of doing this on a regular basis.
Reviewing the Journey
The 13 weeks of the Cycle 2 of the Genealogy Do-Over has passed quickly.
Am I in a better place with my research? Probably. I may not have really changed my habits, but it made me more aware of what research skills I have that are second nature to me. As I've commented in earlier posts, the years spent working in academic libraries have served me well for doing my genealogy research. But I attribute my awareness of evaluating sources and those sources goes back to my high school history classes. Because these practices have been so ingrained in me for decades, comments people have posted on the FaceBook groups concerning their past practices has been an eye-opener to me.
My original purpose of participating in the Do-Over was the desire to start fresh with a new database. When I had switched from FamilyTreeMaker to RootsMagic, I had imported as much data as I could from a corrupted FTM database. Thinking that the size of the database contributed to the problem, I created separate trees in RM for various branches. Over time, I found that I was having to do a lot of cross referencing. I was hesitant to merge the trees together as it would require alot of maintenance in merging or deleting duplicate records.
Another reason for my reluctance in merging the existing files into one is that the same source was not necessarily cited identical in each tree. So I would also have to spend time merging and tweaking sources in the new database. I also had concerns about sources that had orginally been created in FTM before software provided templates compliant with Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained, the "holy bible" of citations. Back in the day, FTM sources were done free form style and I was unsure how to cite internet sources as my essay writing experiences predated the internet.
I also found that, although I may have originally recorded where I found information, I didn't always record exactly what information had been found in that source. Over the years, I may have obtain 10 different sources for the birthdate of an individual. But I know that not all of the 10 sources provided all of the information. Some may have only given the date and no location, some may have been given year and location; or in the case of census, an approximate year calculated from the age recorded on the census. In acknowledging the poorly written citations, I knew I needed to revisit the sources. Better to start fresh than revise.
Have I taken the time to reorganize my data? No. At the same time of participating in the Do-Over, I have finally been able to start setting up my home office. Papers that have been boxes for the past several years (due to 2 moves within 2 years) and pending setup of the office, are finally been unboxed. Packers hired by the moving companies didn't care about the papers when the emptied the filing cabinet and shelves in the original office space. As a result, financial papers are mixed in with genealogy material. However, binders are now organzied and properly displayed on shelving.
I am trying to refrain from paper and try to leave as much electronic as possible. I know when I start organizing the backlog of paper, much of it will be tossed as it will be WorldConnect trees printed to use for searching in other locations and to input into my database. As computers were updated with bigger monitors and faster connections, I trained myself to use split screens so that I could have the internet record on the screen at the same as my database. This practice has also enabled me to better record exactly what information the source provides as I can cut/paste from one screen to another rather than transcribing.
I feel that my electronic filing method already in place before the Do-Over is acceptable as it works for me. Again, my past work experience instilled in me to file things in a certain manner. My computer experience dates back to DOS and file names were limited to 8 characters. It became routine to me to use subfolders to create file hierarchy. I do the same with email. I can't help but cringe whenever I hear people speak of having everything in one folder. I would rather click through multiple levels of files than scroll through multiple screens looking for a certain file.
I admit that I did not spend a lot of time on each week's assignments. I would review and evaluated what Thomas MacEntee was asking/suggesting participants do and I would revise it to my needs or wants. With doing a blog update each week, I reflected on why I did or didn't do what was being suggested. Many weeks, I found I was patting myself on the back as what was being suggested was soemthing I was already doing in some manner. In some cases, if I wasn't already doing the assigned task (ie organizing files), I was aware that it needs to be done, but on my schedule. And when I do get around to sorting through the three boxes of papers still to be done, I will be re-evaluating the material as I enter the data into my database.
Will I participate in Cycle 3? Not likely. However, I have not requested to be removed from the mailing list, or Facebook group, so I will likely lurke as I did for most of Cycle 1 when I had first joined the Facebook group. By lurking, it will provide me with reminders of what to do and I will evaluate what I'm currently doing to ensure that I stay on the straight and narrow of my research.
Summary
I am glad that I signed up to be a participant of the Genealogy Do-Over. As I have mentioned numerous times, I had been debating starting over with my research rather than trying to revise and edit my existing records. I was relieved, and have to admit excited, that I was not alone in the realization that it can be a good thing to set existing things aside and start fresh. It was also good to be aware that well known people in the genealogy world are able to admit that they were not perfect from the get-go and their level of expertise in genealogy research was achieved over the years but still subject for re-evaluation and revision.
Topics:
1) Securing research data
2) Reviewing the journey
1) Security Research Data
Preservation
Thomas MacEntee asks participants the question: What have you done to preserve and "future proof" all your hard work? He continues on to pose the scenerio that if you were to loose all of your data, would you be able to recreate it - if you even knew where to begin. He also asked if people were aware of what his/her family would do with the research and have plans been made to preserve the research for future generations.
I have always been interested in family history and when I started to get serious with my research, I have never given much thought to what happens to my research once I am dead and gone. In the same manner of my crafts and associated supplies, I view my genealogy research as a hobby. I love the thrill of discovering new information of someone related to me and wouldn't want to deprive others of that thrill. Yes, I have appreciated discovering trees that others have worked on, but I have always viewed them only as clues to do my own verifications.
In the case of my family, no one really shows any interest in it. Having no biological children, I don't have any direct descendants and neither to either of my brothers.
When my in-laws died suddenly (result of an automobile accident), I willing took on the role of curator for their genealogy research. No one, including my husband, really showed any interest in any of the information, barring the narrative report compiled and printed at the time of my brother-in-law's wedding in 1994. If I hadn't taken the boxes of photo albums, etc they would have been left in the house to be disposed of with the rest of the estate - most of which likely ended up in a dumpster.
When I need a break from my research on my own family, I have dabbled with my husband's. My intent is that I will provide my step-children with the research and leave it up to them to do with as they wish. At this point in time, neither of them have partners or off-spring, so it remains to be seen if there will be future generations from them.
Would a local genealogical society be interested in the research on either my family or my husband's? I doubt it. Both of us are from working class families. If there is anyone notable in our trees, it is distant and a collateral branch, not direct, and more than likely already sufficient covered by research done by others.
Having worked for several decades in a library, I am fully aware of an institution having to deal with being viewed as a "dumping ground" for people thinking they are generously donating a gold mine to the library. They are unaware that the library may already have multiple copies of that book, as well as several new editions. If I haven't bothered submitting a pedigree chart to a relevant genealogical society during my lifetime, what right do I have of "dumping" all of my research on them to deal with after my death?
Most of my information has been obtained from internet searches and shouldn't be difficult for someone to re-create. As I've been participating in the Genealogy Do-Over, I have been re-doing my research and discovering more information on individuals than I had found when I had worked on that individual at some point in the past. I would expect someone in the future would have similar results.
Backing up Your Genealogy Data
The adage in the computer world is that it is not a matter of if, but when, a hard drive will fail. And the mantra of "back up, back up, back up." I have to confess that I continue to play dangerous and do not religiously back up my data. When I was working I did have somewhat of a backup plan of my Rootsmagic database by using a thumbdrive and Rootsmagic To Go for use at work during lunch and breaks. I did loose a thumbdrive once and have yet to miss whatever data was on the thumbdrive. At the time, I was fairly confident that anything on the drive was a backup, working copy, of what was on my laptop. Using a new thumbdrive, I recreated whatever I believed to have been on the lost drive.
In the past, I have tried to set up an automatic back-up schedule on the home computer network, but never got things to work properly. I have done so manually, but as mentioned earlier, have not done it religiously. Besides the cost, I'm leery of subscribing to an online service as they seem to come and go and have heard stories of people needing to access their backup to discover that the data they thought was being backed up had not been done.
MacEntee recommends creating a backup plan by identifying what data needs to be backed up and to identify a method that will work on an ongoing basis. He also advises to test the backup to ensure that it will work properly come the time you would need it. MacEntee also warns people to future-proof one's technology and to not rely on outdated technology of CDs and DVDs as their coating is known to degrade after several years.
MacEntee informed participants that he is comfortable with his 3-2-1 backup plan: 3 copies of data, 2 different backup media and 1 offsite copy (cloud).
Earlier in the Do-Over process, I once again tried to set up an automatic backup of my laptop, but still encountered problems as it requires an external source to be attached to the laptop. The external harddrive, set up to an older laptop, won't allow other backup via the home network. As I continue to get the home office setup, I will try to set up another external harddrive to my current laptop and hopefully, will be able to get automatic backups working successfully. And I need to get back into the routine of synching my Rootsmagic databases with at least one thumbdrive, if not multiple drives.
I do have a cloud backup as I save Rootsmagic databases to Dropbox so that I can view my trees on my iPad with the RM app. I just need to get into the habit of doing this on a regular basis.
Reviewing the Journey
The 13 weeks of the Cycle 2 of the Genealogy Do-Over has passed quickly.
Am I in a better place with my research? Probably. I may not have really changed my habits, but it made me more aware of what research skills I have that are second nature to me. As I've commented in earlier posts, the years spent working in academic libraries have served me well for doing my genealogy research. But I attribute my awareness of evaluating sources and those sources goes back to my high school history classes. Because these practices have been so ingrained in me for decades, comments people have posted on the FaceBook groups concerning their past practices has been an eye-opener to me.
My original purpose of participating in the Do-Over was the desire to start fresh with a new database. When I had switched from FamilyTreeMaker to RootsMagic, I had imported as much data as I could from a corrupted FTM database. Thinking that the size of the database contributed to the problem, I created separate trees in RM for various branches. Over time, I found that I was having to do a lot of cross referencing. I was hesitant to merge the trees together as it would require alot of maintenance in merging or deleting duplicate records.
Another reason for my reluctance in merging the existing files into one is that the same source was not necessarily cited identical in each tree. So I would also have to spend time merging and tweaking sources in the new database. I also had concerns about sources that had orginally been created in FTM before software provided templates compliant with Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained, the "holy bible" of citations. Back in the day, FTM sources were done free form style and I was unsure how to cite internet sources as my essay writing experiences predated the internet.
I also found that, although I may have originally recorded where I found information, I didn't always record exactly what information had been found in that source. Over the years, I may have obtain 10 different sources for the birthdate of an individual. But I know that not all of the 10 sources provided all of the information. Some may have only given the date and no location, some may have been given year and location; or in the case of census, an approximate year calculated from the age recorded on the census. In acknowledging the poorly written citations, I knew I needed to revisit the sources. Better to start fresh than revise.
Have I taken the time to reorganize my data? No. At the same time of participating in the Do-Over, I have finally been able to start setting up my home office. Papers that have been boxes for the past several years (due to 2 moves within 2 years) and pending setup of the office, are finally been unboxed. Packers hired by the moving companies didn't care about the papers when the emptied the filing cabinet and shelves in the original office space. As a result, financial papers are mixed in with genealogy material. However, binders are now organzied and properly displayed on shelving.
I am trying to refrain from paper and try to leave as much electronic as possible. I know when I start organizing the backlog of paper, much of it will be tossed as it will be WorldConnect trees printed to use for searching in other locations and to input into my database. As computers were updated with bigger monitors and faster connections, I trained myself to use split screens so that I could have the internet record on the screen at the same as my database. This practice has also enabled me to better record exactly what information the source provides as I can cut/paste from one screen to another rather than transcribing.
I feel that my electronic filing method already in place before the Do-Over is acceptable as it works for me. Again, my past work experience instilled in me to file things in a certain manner. My computer experience dates back to DOS and file names were limited to 8 characters. It became routine to me to use subfolders to create file hierarchy. I do the same with email. I can't help but cringe whenever I hear people speak of having everything in one folder. I would rather click through multiple levels of files than scroll through multiple screens looking for a certain file.
I admit that I did not spend a lot of time on each week's assignments. I would review and evaluated what Thomas MacEntee was asking/suggesting participants do and I would revise it to my needs or wants. With doing a blog update each week, I reflected on why I did or didn't do what was being suggested. Many weeks, I found I was patting myself on the back as what was being suggested was soemthing I was already doing in some manner. In some cases, if I wasn't already doing the assigned task (ie organizing files), I was aware that it needs to be done, but on my schedule. And when I do get around to sorting through the three boxes of papers still to be done, I will be re-evaluating the material as I enter the data into my database.
Will I participate in Cycle 3? Not likely. However, I have not requested to be removed from the mailing list, or Facebook group, so I will likely lurke as I did for most of Cycle 1 when I had first joined the Facebook group. By lurking, it will provide me with reminders of what to do and I will evaluate what I'm currently doing to ensure that I stay on the straight and narrow of my research.
Summary
I am glad that I signed up to be a participant of the Genealogy Do-Over. As I have mentioned numerous times, I had been debating starting over with my research rather than trying to revise and edit my existing records. I was relieved, and have to admit excited, that I was not alone in the realization that it can be a good thing to set existing things aside and start fresh. It was also good to be aware that well known people in the genealogy world are able to admit that they were not perfect from the get-go and their level of expertise in genealogy research was achieved over the years but still subject for re-evaluation and revision.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Week 12 (June 19-25 2015)
Topics:
1) Sharing research
2) Reviewing research travel options
1) Sharing Research
Thomas MacEntee provides a list of Do's and Don'ts of collaborating and sharing. He advises people to treat others as one wants to be treated. If you expect others to give you credit for your research, you must be prepared to do the same for the research you receive from others. As well as walking the fine line between oversharing, risking being taken advantage of but not falling into the "tit for tat" game.
In my sources, I cite where and who I obtained the information from. In the case of images and photos, I try to routinely note where I obtained the image. It may not be up to GPS standards, but I try to acknowledge the source of the item.
I do have a public tree on Ancestry, but it is certainly not my prime tree. Although it does serve as "cousin bait", my prime reason to maitain the tree is to have Ancestry provide the hints for me to save me time from doing manual searches. As a result, almost all of the information (at least the sourced information) is from Ancestry.
I have only been contacted by people a few times wanting additional information and/or share information. Unfortunately, the person(s) they were interested in was either an in-law in my tree, or individuals that need pruning from my tree as they are family members of an in-law and have no other connection to my lines. They appear on the Ancestry tree because I haven't always taken time to evaluate a hint to determine relationship to me. So I have allowed Ancestry to flesh out individuals that I would not normally spend time researching beyond making note if they were in the same household at the time of a census of someone who eventually married into my family.
On the rare times that the person who has contacted me is reseaching someone who does belong in my tree, I have shared what additional information I may have. Unfortunately, I usually don't have too much more in my database. I share the information without expectation of payback. And as most of that information is from Ancestry or FamilySearch databases, I haven't been concerned whether I get proper credit for the information or not.
2) Reviewing Research Travel Options
Although there are various repositories I would love to visit, at some point, I currently do not have the time or financial means to do so. I do not feel that I'm at the point in my research that I need to do such trips. I will surf the internet from the comfort of my home searching for official documents on Ancestry, FamilySearch, as well as online newspaper, funeral home and cemetery sites.
Several years ago, I did have the opportunity of spending a day at the Historical Society of Herkimer County. I spent the day scanning documents in one of two vertical files on the Schell family. I had started out trying to enter information into my database as I handled each document, but I quickly realized it was too time consuming and I started scanning the documents.
Have a ever evaluated and entered the relevant information into my database once I was back home? I had to admit that I only did some. I guess as part of this Do-Over, I will need to locate the data and record the information. It has been a low priority as the information would pertain to the Schell lines prior to emigrating to Ontario, or the lines that stayed in the Herkimer area. I have been focusing on the Ontario lines and haven't tried to revisit the more distant lines.
Over the years, I have made stops at cemeteries pertinent to my ancestors and have taken photos of the headstones. I have not shared them to any of the websites for headstones as I leery that the quality of my photos are good enough. In some cases, others have already provided photos of those headstones anyway.
Summary
I have no objection to sharing my research. I have benefitted over the years from others and am always willing to assist others.
At this point in time, I have no plans on doing research trips as I'm still finding more than enough relevant information via the internet. With my subscription to Ancestry, I have access to vital records from Ontario - which covers a good portion of my ancestors. And I have access to online newspapers covering many of the areas where my ancestors lived. I try to maintain Research Logs to have lists of obituaries, etc to search at the Barrie Public Library for dates not yet avaiable digitally. OurOntario continues to digitize more and more of the Barrie Examiner, so it remains to be seen whether I'll have a need to search the microfilm at the library or if the pertinent issues will be digitized.
1) Sharing research
2) Reviewing research travel options
1) Sharing Research
Thomas MacEntee provides a list of Do's and Don'ts of collaborating and sharing. He advises people to treat others as one wants to be treated. If you expect others to give you credit for your research, you must be prepared to do the same for the research you receive from others. As well as walking the fine line between oversharing, risking being taken advantage of but not falling into the "tit for tat" game.
In my sources, I cite where and who I obtained the information from. In the case of images and photos, I try to routinely note where I obtained the image. It may not be up to GPS standards, but I try to acknowledge the source of the item.
I do have a public tree on Ancestry, but it is certainly not my prime tree. Although it does serve as "cousin bait", my prime reason to maitain the tree is to have Ancestry provide the hints for me to save me time from doing manual searches. As a result, almost all of the information (at least the sourced information) is from Ancestry.
I have only been contacted by people a few times wanting additional information and/or share information. Unfortunately, the person(s) they were interested in was either an in-law in my tree, or individuals that need pruning from my tree as they are family members of an in-law and have no other connection to my lines. They appear on the Ancestry tree because I haven't always taken time to evaluate a hint to determine relationship to me. So I have allowed Ancestry to flesh out individuals that I would not normally spend time researching beyond making note if they were in the same household at the time of a census of someone who eventually married into my family.
On the rare times that the person who has contacted me is reseaching someone who does belong in my tree, I have shared what additional information I may have. Unfortunately, I usually don't have too much more in my database. I share the information without expectation of payback. And as most of that information is from Ancestry or FamilySearch databases, I haven't been concerned whether I get proper credit for the information or not.
2) Reviewing Research Travel Options
Although there are various repositories I would love to visit, at some point, I currently do not have the time or financial means to do so. I do not feel that I'm at the point in my research that I need to do such trips. I will surf the internet from the comfort of my home searching for official documents on Ancestry, FamilySearch, as well as online newspaper, funeral home and cemetery sites.
Several years ago, I did have the opportunity of spending a day at the Historical Society of Herkimer County. I spent the day scanning documents in one of two vertical files on the Schell family. I had started out trying to enter information into my database as I handled each document, but I quickly realized it was too time consuming and I started scanning the documents.
Have a ever evaluated and entered the relevant information into my database once I was back home? I had to admit that I only did some. I guess as part of this Do-Over, I will need to locate the data and record the information. It has been a low priority as the information would pertain to the Schell lines prior to emigrating to Ontario, or the lines that stayed in the Herkimer area. I have been focusing on the Ontario lines and haven't tried to revisit the more distant lines.
Over the years, I have made stops at cemeteries pertinent to my ancestors and have taken photos of the headstones. I have not shared them to any of the websites for headstones as I leery that the quality of my photos are good enough. In some cases, others have already provided photos of those headstones anyway.
Summary
I have no objection to sharing my research. I have benefitted over the years from others and am always willing to assist others.
At this point in time, I have no plans on doing research trips as I'm still finding more than enough relevant information via the internet. With my subscription to Ancestry, I have access to vital records from Ontario - which covers a good portion of my ancestors. And I have access to online newspapers covering many of the areas where my ancestors lived. I try to maintain Research Logs to have lists of obituaries, etc to search at the Barrie Public Library for dates not yet avaiable digitally. OurOntario continues to digitize more and more of the Barrie Examiner, so it remains to be seen whether I'll have a need to search the microfilm at the library or if the pertinent issues will be digitized.
Week 11 (June 12-18 2015)
Topics:
1) Reviewing Social Media Options
2) Building a Research Network
Due to family commitments, time was limited during this week to spend on the Do-Over tasks. But an evaluation of the topics, even minimally, is warranted. Neither topic are one time events; both warrant the need for evaluation on an ongoing basis.
1) Review Social Media Options
Thomas MacEntee quotes someone he met recently "You really can't succeed with your genealogy research these days without some use of social media." One probably could as genealogists did so long before the invention of the internet. But why not use all resources available to you? It could save you from needlessly reinventing the wheel.
Facebook
MacEntee's notes list several genealogy related groups on Facebook - which I had already discovered on Facebook. Join one group and people's postings will reference other groups. Some postings may not be relevant to you, but it's just a quick scroll to the next posting, just as a do with the postings from friends and advertising Facebook forces upon its subscribers. You never know when there might be something interesting or useful.
The Rootsmagic group has provided me with tips that I had not been aware because I often don't RTFM. By the same token, I have been able to provide suggestions and assistance to others. "Pay it Forward."
Postings encouraged me to revist using Evernote as well as OneNote for genealogy purposes. I have started using OneNote to save webpages for future use.
Pinterest
MacEntee also cites Pinterest. I do use Pinterest, but more for my other hobbies: cooking and crafts. But I can see makign use of Pinterest for genealogy purposes for items I want to publicize.
Twitter
Although I already have a twitter account, I use it more to follow celebrities and websites rather than posting myself. My circle of friends use email or Facebook messages rather than twitter.
Other social media resources
To keep up on celebrity gossip and news, as well as craft and genealogy related information, I use RSS readers (Feederly) as well as FlipBoard.
2) Building a Research Network
MacEntee quotes "No genealogist is an island." and points out that by participating in the Do-Over, one is part of a research network. He also stresses that it is a two way street and one needs to give knowledge freely and others will be able to help you in the future.
The previously referenced Facebook groups are examples of research networks. And as I mentioned above, I have experienced the give and take benefits. Similar experiences when I have attended workshops and conferences. Although I have been a member of genealogy socities, I was never able to attend their meetings.
Summary
As I have found with topics covered in earlier weeks, I have already been doing what is being suggested. But as usual, it is good to revisit and re-evaluate what I am doing with the assurance that I am "doing the right thing". It's just a matter of being aware of what, and why, I am spending my time on.
1) Reviewing Social Media Options
2) Building a Research Network
Due to family commitments, time was limited during this week to spend on the Do-Over tasks. But an evaluation of the topics, even minimally, is warranted. Neither topic are one time events; both warrant the need for evaluation on an ongoing basis.
1) Review Social Media Options
Thomas MacEntee quotes someone he met recently "You really can't succeed with your genealogy research these days without some use of social media." One probably could as genealogists did so long before the invention of the internet. But why not use all resources available to you? It could save you from needlessly reinventing the wheel.
MacEntee's notes list several genealogy related groups on Facebook - which I had already discovered on Facebook. Join one group and people's postings will reference other groups. Some postings may not be relevant to you, but it's just a quick scroll to the next posting, just as a do with the postings from friends and advertising Facebook forces upon its subscribers. You never know when there might be something interesting or useful.
The Rootsmagic group has provided me with tips that I had not been aware because I often don't RTFM. By the same token, I have been able to provide suggestions and assistance to others. "Pay it Forward."
Postings encouraged me to revist using Evernote as well as OneNote for genealogy purposes. I have started using OneNote to save webpages for future use.
MacEntee also cites Pinterest. I do use Pinterest, but more for my other hobbies: cooking and crafts. But I can see makign use of Pinterest for genealogy purposes for items I want to publicize.
Although I already have a twitter account, I use it more to follow celebrities and websites rather than posting myself. My circle of friends use email or Facebook messages rather than twitter.
Other social media resources
To keep up on celebrity gossip and news, as well as craft and genealogy related information, I use RSS readers (Feederly) as well as FlipBoard.
2) Building a Research Network
MacEntee quotes "No genealogist is an island." and points out that by participating in the Do-Over, one is part of a research network. He also stresses that it is a two way street and one needs to give knowledge freely and others will be able to help you in the future.
The previously referenced Facebook groups are examples of research networks. And as I mentioned above, I have experienced the give and take benefits. Similar experiences when I have attended workshops and conferences. Although I have been a member of genealogy socities, I was never able to attend their meetings.
Summary
As I have found with topics covered in earlier weeks, I have already been doing what is being suggested. But as usual, it is good to revisit and re-evaluate what I am doing with the assurance that I am "doing the right thing". It's just a matter of being aware of what, and why, I am spending my time on.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Week 10 (June 5-11 2015)
This week's topics are:
1) Reviewing DNA Testing Options
2) Organizing Reserch Materials - Digital
I must confess that I haven't spent much time on the Do Over this week due as I'm fairly satistified with my status of both topics.
1) Reviewing DNA Testing Options
At this point in time, I still have no interest in pursuing DNA testing, the latest "craze" in the genealogy world. Maybe it's the cost or maybe it's the fear that I will discover my blood lines are not what I think they are.
I've been aware for a number of years about the existence of DNA testing and how people are often surprised as to their ethnicity. I'm not concerned as to what percentage of each ethnic groups following through my veins. On the other hand, maybe that would answer the question I had last year from my cousin Doug as to whether we have any Aboriginal blood in our Allen line. As far as I've ever known, no. However, I have been questioned various times if I am Native, so maybe there is something in that speculation. I just don't know where it come in as my research accounts for mother and fathers descending from the British Isles. If there is Aboriginal blood, then a legal spouse was not the blood parent of a baby somewhere in the tree.
Thomas MacEntee indicates he hopes that his DNA testing will be able to connect his branch of MacEntees to a more famous one in the same New York state county. He wants to be able to prove one of his long-held theories and hopes DNA testing will accomplish that goal. I don't have that same need. I feel comfortable accepting family lore of parents, and I've been fairly successful in documenting this assumptions. The benefits of close, large families keeping in touch over the generations.
Just this week, Ancestry Canada has announced they will are now offering DNA testing. But I'm still not interested. My trees are large enough now and I'm enjoying the hunt through official documents to verify and add branches. I'm reluctant to graft branches to my tree as a result of DNA testing. Even if I make contact with a cousin verified through DNA, I would still be reluctant to accept his/her research without checking documentation. I would only use the matches in the same way I do now to the Public Member Trees I find on Ancestry.
2) Organizing Research Materials - Digital
As stated in previous posts, I have always tried to keep my computer records organized. The benefits (or woes) of the old dos computer days. File structure was very important, especially as one was limited to 8 characters for file names. I feel that I have already developed a file naming convention that works for me, with can be easily tweaked if the need arises. I will continue with that methodology.
If I experience a computer failure, I'll just have to do another Do Over and start fresh. I have lost a thumb drive somewhere in my travels, as well as one getting damaged (while still plugged into the laptop), but most of the information on those drives were technically back ups. If there was anything unique, I've yet to realize what it would be.
MacEntee also talks about metadata and suggests using the comment field as a way of linking relevant information, including the citation, to the file. I guess I should get into the routine of doing that. I have been trying to provide that information within Rootsmagic as I add media files to individuals and tag relevant people to that media item.
Summary
I continue to be pleased that I decided to participate in the Genealogy Do Over. I may not be fully participating in the topics each week, but I do feel that I am continuing to learn things or reinforce that I have, instinctively, been doing things in a proper manner.
With making the commitment with the Do-Over, I started a fresh database and have proceeded to fill in the 'leaves' even though one is not to be doing that yet in the Do-Over. But I have my brain trained to update my database as soon as new information is found. If I set documents aside (either physically or digitally), it will be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. As I procede with each family, I compare to my old file and it is amazing what additional information I have found in 2015. Granted some of the families I've worked on the past 10 weeks were ones that I had not revisited for several years and more information is now available online.
1) Reviewing DNA Testing Options
2) Organizing Reserch Materials - Digital
I must confess that I haven't spent much time on the Do Over this week due as I'm fairly satistified with my status of both topics.
1) Reviewing DNA Testing Options
At this point in time, I still have no interest in pursuing DNA testing, the latest "craze" in the genealogy world. Maybe it's the cost or maybe it's the fear that I will discover my blood lines are not what I think they are.
I've been aware for a number of years about the existence of DNA testing and how people are often surprised as to their ethnicity. I'm not concerned as to what percentage of each ethnic groups following through my veins. On the other hand, maybe that would answer the question I had last year from my cousin Doug as to whether we have any Aboriginal blood in our Allen line. As far as I've ever known, no. However, I have been questioned various times if I am Native, so maybe there is something in that speculation. I just don't know where it come in as my research accounts for mother and fathers descending from the British Isles. If there is Aboriginal blood, then a legal spouse was not the blood parent of a baby somewhere in the tree.
Thomas MacEntee indicates he hopes that his DNA testing will be able to connect his branch of MacEntees to a more famous one in the same New York state county. He wants to be able to prove one of his long-held theories and hopes DNA testing will accomplish that goal. I don't have that same need. I feel comfortable accepting family lore of parents, and I've been fairly successful in documenting this assumptions. The benefits of close, large families keeping in touch over the generations.
Just this week, Ancestry Canada has announced they will are now offering DNA testing. But I'm still not interested. My trees are large enough now and I'm enjoying the hunt through official documents to verify and add branches. I'm reluctant to graft branches to my tree as a result of DNA testing. Even if I make contact with a cousin verified through DNA, I would still be reluctant to accept his/her research without checking documentation. I would only use the matches in the same way I do now to the Public Member Trees I find on Ancestry.
2) Organizing Research Materials - Digital
As stated in previous posts, I have always tried to keep my computer records organized. The benefits (or woes) of the old dos computer days. File structure was very important, especially as one was limited to 8 characters for file names. I feel that I have already developed a file naming convention that works for me, with can be easily tweaked if the need arises. I will continue with that methodology.
If I experience a computer failure, I'll just have to do another Do Over and start fresh. I have lost a thumb drive somewhere in my travels, as well as one getting damaged (while still plugged into the laptop), but most of the information on those drives were technically back ups. If there was anything unique, I've yet to realize what it would be.
MacEntee also talks about metadata and suggests using the comment field as a way of linking relevant information, including the citation, to the file. I guess I should get into the routine of doing that. I have been trying to provide that information within Rootsmagic as I add media files to individuals and tag relevant people to that media item.
Summary
I continue to be pleased that I decided to participate in the Genealogy Do Over. I may not be fully participating in the topics each week, but I do feel that I am continuing to learn things or reinforce that I have, instinctively, been doing things in a proper manner.
With making the commitment with the Do-Over, I started a fresh database and have proceeded to fill in the 'leaves' even though one is not to be doing that yet in the Do-Over. But I have my brain trained to update my database as soon as new information is found. If I set documents aside (either physically or digitally), it will be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. As I procede with each family, I compare to my old file and it is amazing what additional information I have found in 2015. Granted some of the families I've worked on the past 10 weeks were ones that I had not revisited for several years and more information is now available online.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Week 9 (May 29 - June 4 2015)
Topics:
1) Conducting Cluster Research
2) Organizing Research Materials - Documents and Photos
Conducting Cluster Research
Thomas MacEntee defines Cluster Research as Friends, Associates and Neighbors (aka F.A.N. Club) concept put forth by Elizabeth Shown Mills. The FAN Club is part of the community of one's direct line ancestors. Sometimes to locate an ancestor, one needs to focus on the geographical area where the ancestor lived as well as the locales from and to which they migrated.
Once again, this research practice is one that I have been using to locate those illusive ancestors. Can't find someone in the index for a census? Did they move, or was the name mangled by the transcriber? Sometimes the mangled name is easily found by "playing" with the spelling but sometimes the name has been really distorted for one reason or another. On the assumption that my ancestor had not moved (farmers tended to stay in the same place), I would take note of a neighbour in the previous or later census and then search for that individual in the census I'm trying to work on. I have had a good success rate with this method.
In the rural communities, families tend to intermarry. I learned years ago to always scan the the names on the page of not just the census but also birth, marriages and deaths. Quite often, I will recognize names of other families in the census or individuals in the case of the BMDs. Sometimes I do have to reign myself in from following those BSOs. In the case of census, there have been times that the illusive daughter married the boy next door - I just hadn't found the marriage record to search for that surname.
Organizing Research Materials - Documents and Photos
I have to confess that I have yet to make the time to properly organize some of my genealogy material. I had things fairly organized at one time, but then with two moves within two years, much of my research has been in boxes. I've tried to kept them in the boxes until we have been able to set up an office in our current home. The moves were company moves, done quickly so I was unable to properly box things up. The hired packers mixed stuff up from the filing cabinet drawers, so boxes needed to be opened to access supplies and research material set aside for later evaluation. Four years later, we have finally got the office set up to my likely with lots of shelving. So I will be slowly going through the stacks of papers that have gotten mixed in with financial records.
Fortunately, after the first move, I had started putting some things into binders and they are now housed on shelving in the brand new office. I know much of the loose paper are outdated printouts, so they will likely be tossed when I start sorting. With that knowledge, their sorting is a low priority as I prefer to spend my genealogy time searching current databases. Especially with participating in this Genealogy Do-Over.
On a positive note, for several years now I try to do digital rather than paper. As I save records on my computer, I save them in a systematic way and able to readily find specific documents. Similar with photos (at least genealogy related ones).
As I start to go through the backlog of paper, I will be "curating" as MacEntee suggests and I suspect I will be disposing of most of the paper. In the case of material to be kept, I will be filling - either in a file folder or binder, depending on the item. I have not yet got to the point in my research of ordering documents, so there is little that I need to ensure is stored in archival quality material.
1) Conducting Cluster Research
2) Organizing Research Materials - Documents and Photos
Conducting Cluster Research
Thomas MacEntee defines Cluster Research as Friends, Associates and Neighbors (aka F.A.N. Club) concept put forth by Elizabeth Shown Mills. The FAN Club is part of the community of one's direct line ancestors. Sometimes to locate an ancestor, one needs to focus on the geographical area where the ancestor lived as well as the locales from and to which they migrated.
Once again, this research practice is one that I have been using to locate those illusive ancestors. Can't find someone in the index for a census? Did they move, or was the name mangled by the transcriber? Sometimes the mangled name is easily found by "playing" with the spelling but sometimes the name has been really distorted for one reason or another. On the assumption that my ancestor had not moved (farmers tended to stay in the same place), I would take note of a neighbour in the previous or later census and then search for that individual in the census I'm trying to work on. I have had a good success rate with this method.
In the rural communities, families tend to intermarry. I learned years ago to always scan the the names on the page of not just the census but also birth, marriages and deaths. Quite often, I will recognize names of other families in the census or individuals in the case of the BMDs. Sometimes I do have to reign myself in from following those BSOs. In the case of census, there have been times that the illusive daughter married the boy next door - I just hadn't found the marriage record to search for that surname.
Organizing Research Materials - Documents and Photos
I have to confess that I have yet to make the time to properly organize some of my genealogy material. I had things fairly organized at one time, but then with two moves within two years, much of my research has been in boxes. I've tried to kept them in the boxes until we have been able to set up an office in our current home. The moves were company moves, done quickly so I was unable to properly box things up. The hired packers mixed stuff up from the filing cabinet drawers, so boxes needed to be opened to access supplies and research material set aside for later evaluation. Four years later, we have finally got the office set up to my likely with lots of shelving. So I will be slowly going through the stacks of papers that have gotten mixed in with financial records.
Fortunately, after the first move, I had started putting some things into binders and they are now housed on shelving in the brand new office. I know much of the loose paper are outdated printouts, so they will likely be tossed when I start sorting. With that knowledge, their sorting is a low priority as I prefer to spend my genealogy time searching current databases. Especially with participating in this Genealogy Do-Over.
On a positive note, for several years now I try to do digital rather than paper. As I save records on my computer, I save them in a systematic way and able to readily find specific documents. Similar with photos (at least genealogy related ones).
As I start to go through the backlog of paper, I will be "curating" as MacEntee suggests and I suspect I will be disposing of most of the paper. In the case of material to be kept, I will be filling - either in a file folder or binder, depending on the item. I have not yet got to the point in my research of ordering documents, so there is little that I need to ensure is stored in archival quality material.
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