Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Tech Savvy Genealogists' Meme

Another great meme this time about genealogy and technology and originated by Jill Ball of Geniaus.

Here's mine: The Tech Savvy Genealogists' Meme The list should be annotated in the following manner:
• Things you have already done or found: bold face type
• Things you would like to do or find: italicize (color optional)
• Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

Feel free to add extra comments in brackets after each item! Which of these apply to you?
1. Own an Android or Windows tablet or an iPad
2. Use a tablet or iPad for genealogy related purposes
3. Have used Skype for genealogy purposes
4. Have used a camera to capture images in a library/archives/ancestor's home
5. Use a genealogy software program on your computer to manage your family tree
6. Have a Twitter account
7. Tweet daily
8. Have a genealogy blog
9. Have more then one genealogy blog
10. Have lectured/presented to a genealogy group on a technology topic
11. Currently an active member of Genealogy Wise (need to learn about this)
12. Have a Facebook Account
13. Have connected with genealogists via Facebook (would like to)
14. Maintain a genealogy related Facebook Page (would be smart to do just need help in setting up)
15. Maintain a blog or website for a genealogy society
16. Have submitted text corrections online to Ancestry, Trove or a similar site
17. Have registered a domain name
18. Post regularly to Google+ (need to learn more – my understanding Googles answer to Facebook)
19. Have a blog listed on Geneabloggers
20. Have transcribed/indexed records for FamilySearch or a similar project
21. Own a Flip-Pal or hand-held scanner
22. Can code a webpage in .html (A little rusty, but could in a pinch)
23. Own a smartphone
24. Have a personal subscription to one or more paid genealogy databases
25. Use a digital voice recorder to record genealogy lectures
26. Have contributed to a genealogy blog carnival (would be smart to do so)
27. Use Chrome as a Web browser
28. Have participated in a genealogy webinar
29. Have taken a DNA test for genealogy purposes
30. Have a personal genealogy website
31. Have found mention of an ancestor in an online newspaper archive
32. Have tweeted during a genealogy lecture
33. Have scanned your hardcopy genealogy files (would be smart to finish doing)
34. Use an RSS Reader to follow genealogy news and blogs (probably should it might make it easier)
35. Have uploaded a gedcom file to a site like Geni, MyHeritage or Ancestry (WikiTree at http://www.wikitree.com)
36. Own a netbook
37. Use a computer/tablet/smartphone to take genealogy lecture notes (means I have to go to a lecture)
38. Have a profile on LinkedIn that mentions your genealogy habit
39. Have developed a genealogy software program, app or widget
40. Have listened to a genealogy podcast online
41. Have downloaded genealogy podcasts for later listening
42. Backup your files to a portable hard drive (love the backup day events – nice reminder)
43. Have a copy of your genealogy files stored offsite
44. Know about Rootstech (should probably learn about)
45. Have listened to a Blogtalk radio session about genealogy (need to become more podcast/radio sauvy)
46. Use Dropbox, SugarSync or other service to save documents in the cloud (again more need to be more tech sauvy – where is the best place to learn?)
47. Schedule regular email backups
48. Have contriibuted to the FamilySearch Research Wiki (need to do some research about this)
49. Have scanned and tagged your genealogy photographs (need to scan more)
50. Have published a genealogy book in an online/digital format

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Thank You Thursday – Great Aunt Marion



My great Aunt Marion Violet Plaisted (1901 – 1980) was the one who first did the family history. She was trying to prepare to join the DAR in the late 60’s or early 70’s. She did the CRAM side of the family and then typed it up she had back to John Cram who came to America in 1639. I hope to be able to use part of it to obtain membership into the DAR myself. I am in the process of trying to document the names that she had listed.

I remember Aunt Marion as being a true New Englander (born in raised in a small New Hampshire town – Meredith). She lived there her entire life. She worked for the Post Office at the end of her street (High Street). The summer we visited her for the first time 1968 (since we then went on to the World’s Fair in Montreal, Canada) she took us everywhere. The state capitol in Concord, the Old Man in the Mountain, the Trading Post at the bottom of the hill (there was a bear on top of the post), the Weirs, Annalee doll factory. I just wish I had been older than 8 at the time to fully appreciate it. She took us to the York Beach in Maine the first time the California kid saw the Atlantic ocean. We were walking down the when we ran into my Great Aunt on my grandfather’s side of the family. The family joke has always been that we were related to just about everyone..

Her home was turned into was turned into condos or apartments after her death. I was a huge 2 story house with a big attached garage (or barn). I remember the pot belly stove in the living room for heat and the stove in the kitchen being part cast iron. It’s amazing what you remember as a child. .

She was said to be the Postmistress at the post office, but I haven’t been able to verify it. (does anyone know a good source for this?)