Last week, I found myself thinking I should really have a copy, so I ordered one online. I work with professional genealogists in my support role at Genlighten and I’m striving to become a professional genealogist myself. That pretty much makes it a must-read.

I’m in no position to offer a scholarly review, but I can share my first impressions. So far, I’ve only flipped through a few of the chapters, but, to put it in colloquial terms, I’m blown away by what I see.

This is not just an updated version of the old book; it’s a rewrite. For example, the first chapter is still called “Defining Professionalism” but it has a new author.

The writing is so clear and uncluttered. I think it would be hard to find a single word in the book that doesn’t serve a useful purpose and that makes it a joy to read.

It’s a chance to learn at the feet of experts in the field and I find myself hanging on their every word. The author list is a who’s who of professionals who have earned the respect of their colleagues because they’re very good at what they do. Asking them to condense their thoughts into concise chapters has created a powerful read.

Some chapters present a new take on the same foundational principles. For example, I enjoyed the fresh sample reports in the “Research Reports” chapter.  Other chapters reflect significant changes in the industry. The most obvious illustration of this is the addition of the “Genetics for Genealogy” chapter which I have yet to read.

The book also broadens my thinking on topics I’ve pondered before. The “Auxiliary Careers” chapter offers several possibilities that leave me wondering if I’d like to change direction. And the chapter on “Marketing” offers suggestions that I am eager to apply to my own situation.

I think the new book captivates me, in part, because the ProGen 33  experience that I finished in July left me hungry to find a place in the field of professional genealogy. The intended audience might be those who are preparing for or engaged in a genealogy-related career, but, really, the book would be an interesting and worthwhile read for anyone interested in genealogical research.

Professional Genealogy is easily available through Genealogical.com or Amazon.com and I highly recommend it. (Neither of these are affiliate links.)

Warmly,

Cyndy
Genlighten Co-founder

The post 2018 Edition of Professional Genealogy: I Love It! appeared first on Genlighten Blog.

Looking back over the almost-forty years that I’ve been researching my family tree, I’d say there have been some times when curiosity has overtaken my common sense–like the time I struggled to keep my boots on while wading through thigh-high snow, hoping to find a cemetery stone that was, in all likelihood one of the ones covered with drifts, right?

That turned out to be a pretty laughable experience–no frostbite, no lost footwear, and, as evidenced by this blog post, I lived to tell. But, there have been other times when a temporary lapse of judgement has, theoretically, put me at risk in the name of research.

Sometimes, it’s been small things. Like the time I wandered a cemetery for over an hour in a biting winter wind without thinking to protect my face from wind burn. (Yes, ouch!) Or the times I’ve given no thought to the air I was breathing as I handled records covered in thick dust. (I now realize it would be a good idea to pack a mask.)

Other times, it’s been more significant things. Like the time I decided, on a whim, to take an alternate route home from a repository and discovered it ran through an area where I didn’t feel safe. (Fortunately, my car didn’t break down.) Or the many times I’ve wandered remote cemeteries alone. (What if I’d twisted my ankle? Or worse?)

Genealogy isn’t exactly a hazardous occupation or hobby, but when we get caught up in the research moment, it’s easy to overlook the tried and true safety advice that we would apply in other situations.

This blog post is a gentle reminder to think ahead and plan ways to stay safe when we’re out on our research adventures.

Warmly,

Cyndy
Genlighten Co-founder

The post Common Sense and the Genealogist: Stay Safe! appeared first on Genlighten Blog.

Are you a non-genealogist, thinking about hiring a genealogist to learn more about your family tree? If so, this post is for you.  

Sure, you can hire a reasearcher to just have at your family tree! But, for many people, it’s more satisfying, and more financially feasible, to work with a genealogist to answer specific genealogy questions. This post suggests three things you might do before reaching out to hire.

First: Narrow Your Focus

I often hear people say, “I’d like to learn more about my family.” That’s a good reason to hire a genealogist but it’s a pretty broad, open-ended statement. Two parents. Four grandparents. Eight great-grandparents. Sixteen great-great-grandparents. Thirty-two great-great-great grandparents. If a genealogist spent one hour of time researching to learn a little bit about each one that would be sixty-two hours and that would just be the beginning. Multiply that by $35/hour, a good ballpark figure for what a genealogist might charge, and the initial cost would come out to a little over $2000. If you have the means, engaging the services of a researcher to compile a multi-line, multi-generational tree would be cool. The investment would likely prove to be a good one.

But, many of us are on a budget. If that’s the case, it’s important to narrow down the research goals and/or break large projects into smaller pieces before reaching out to hire. It’s also, quite frankly, a good way to test the waters before diving into a large-scale project.

Here’s a simple way to decide what to work on first:

Spend some time jotting down responses to the question “What would I like to know about my family?” My list looks something like this:

• Where was Louisa Porter born and why was she given up for adoption?
• Who were Amanda Vandawalker’s parents?
• What prompted two Bielby families, one in New York and one in Illinois, to say claim were related to an Archbishop of Canterbury?

Then, review that list and choose one thing to be the focus of your research project. You can always go back and work on the other things later. I’ll choose Amanda Vandawalker’s parents to use as an example.

Second: Write Down What You Know

Now, take a new piece of paper and write down what you know about the research subject you’ve chosen and also write down how you know it. If any of the information is drawn from a document, write down what it is and where it was found and make sure a copy is handy. Here’s what my summary might look like:

If you haven’t done any genealogy research on your own, this list may be short. If you have, in addition to listing sources that have relevant information, also list sources that you’ve checked that don’t. This gives a researcher a starting point. It’s also a good way to make sure the genealogist doesn’t unknowingly spend time looking for records and information that you already have. Of course, if you have a formal research log with complete citations, that would take the place of the quick, informal summary described above. And, sure. You can also do this exercise using a word processor or even working from an online family tree, if you’ve started to create one.

Third: Make Sure Family Sources Haven’t Been Overlooked

Finally, do your best to make sure you haven’t overlooked privately-held family sources. For example, is it possible a relative might have a family bible? Vital records? A diary? Copies of deeds? First-hand information? If so, consider making a call or writing a letter to see what else you can find on your own.

My Vandawalkers lived in Lewis and Oneida counties in upstate New York. There’s a good chance descendants still live in the area but I’ve never reached to see if anyone has family records. A good first step might be to ask my parents if they know of anyone with that surname.

Reach Out to Hire a Genealogist

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you’re ready to contact a genealogist. Choose someone you’d be comfortable working with–someone who has the right expertise for your project–then reach out to hire. Share your research goal and include the summary of documents and information you already have.

The genealogist will review the material, ask questions, if needed, and suggest a plan for moving forward with the research.

There are never any guarantees that research will uncover the answers you’re seeking–sometimes there just isn’t any information to be found–but there’s a good chance it might.

Warmly,

Cyndy
Genlighten Co-founder

The post How to Prepare to Hire a Genealogist appeared first on Genlighten Blog.