A funny thing happened on the way to the tree!

So one of the most important tips when doing family tree research is to verify that you have the right ancestor.  I was at the library today to print my paternal great-grandfather's WWI draft card.  After I had printed it AND saved it to my hard drive, I looked at the spot where it said occupation.  It said "Stone Cutter".  Well, my great-grrandfather was a "Pocket Book Maker".  So, I felt dumb.  Then I realized what I had done.  His name in the US was John, but in Czechoslovakia I had searched the wrong first name. 

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Where did that person go????

Most people are not overly organized.  Unless you have OCD, you have probably lost some papers somewhere along the line.  Most times for me it's something important.  When it comes to genealogy organization is super important.  My time is valuable, so doing the same research 2 or 3 times is silly.  Looking over my census extracts, I found several that I did more than once.  In a perfect world that would never have happened.  I'll now confess I am NOT an organized person.  But when it comes to genealogy research I really need to get better.  That is super inportant.  Having important family tree information but not being able to find it shouldn't happen.  But it does.  One of the first things you should do as you start genealogy research is find the organiztion method that works best for you.  After about 4 years of researching I'm still working on the best system for me.  One little hint though, the best method is one you will actually use.

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Lost grave? Let's find it!

One of the best websites for looking at gravestones is Findagrave.com.  Once you register for free, you can add photos and memorial pages for loved ones.  If you live far away from where they are buried, you can request someone to go take a photo for you and it will be posted to the site.  You can add flowers to the pages for family, friends and others.  There is also a whole section of famous graves where you can leave flowers and notes for actors, muscians, and politicans. 

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One week until 1940!

Alright, I guess I can admit it now.  I'm getting kind of excited.  The 1940 census will be released in about a week!  A lot of other people are excited about it too.  People who don't look into their family tree, don't understand it.  Ancestry has a daily countdown.  Genealogists get heart palpitations the closer it gets.  And why not?  For most researchers, the 1940 census will have the first listing of family members they have met during their lives.  All census records, provide valuable information.  The United States Federal census is taken every 10 years by federal law.  The first one was held in 1790.  From 1790 to 1840 they only listed the head of the household by name and counted the other members.  In 1850, they started listing everyone by name.  The only census that cannot be thoroughly researched in 1890, which was mostly destroyed in a warehouse fire.  The census results are held secret for 72 years before being released.  Which I guess is what makes it so exciting to wait for.  Who are you hoping to find? 

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Searching for family at family search

When you are researching your family tree, it can be a bit overwhelming.  Where to go to find census records, and what's the best site for birth records.  Now I must admit here that Ancestry has tons of great records...for a price.  If you can afford it, great, but if you are like me and doing your researching on the cheap you need another option.  Enter familysearch.org!  This is a wonderful website run by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS).  They have tons of records that you can search for FREE.  Now keep in mind, some of the records you can't view the original document and must rely on a indexer's eyes to be accurate.  They have census records, birth and death, immigration and have some user uploaded family trees.  A quick warning, not all the information in the uploaded trees is accurate.  Always find documents to back up any and all info you find in other's trees.  Familysearch.org is one of my favorite free site full of tons of really great records.  And on a personal note, if you have the time, consider signing up to help them index records.  I do and one batch of records (from 10 to 25 documents) takes only about a half hour.  Unit next time!

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Researching on the cheap

OK, I have a confession to make.  I am cheap.  I clip coupons, hunt sales, scour the clearance racks and LOVE freebies.  And I like to call myself  "The Cheapskate Genealogist".  Everyone knows how the economy is, and money is tight, for everyone.  Right now I am not ashamed to admit I do all my research for the family tree for free.  Yes, you read that right, FREE.  I use as many free websites and my public library to find as much as I can.  I have, in 3 years, not paid for a subscription to any website.  That's because right now I cannot afford it.  But it must be said, there are plenty of good, free sites out there.  And many of them rely on user information input.  A really good one is findagrave.com.  If you know where someone is buried you can add a memorial page for them, although knowing the burial location is is not manditory.  They even have pages for celebrities and you can add flowers and notes to any page.  All you need to do is register for free.  Next time I'll gush about one of my favorite free sites...until next time.

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It's a family thing

Everyone has heard the old saying, "you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family".  A truer statement has never been uttered.  Most of us have family members they don't really like to be around.  But most people who are working on their family tree are skipping right over this valuable resource.  When I was younger, my mom was going to start a family tree.  I was about 10 or so and I didn't care.  I would tune her out when she would talk about family members I had never met.  When I was 24, she passed away.  Soon after, I decided it was my duty as the oldest to finish her work on the family tree.  But it is easier said than done.  With one living parent, and one living grand-parent, one of my best research resources is dwindling.  But I also have aunts, uncles and cousins I can turn to.  Never be afraid to ask family for information about relatives.  A typed letter can be copied many times and sent to many family members.  A short questionaire asking about parents, grandparents, and others can also be mailed to many family members.  Until next time.

Keep branching out.