Sneakeasy/family history

FROM THE WEBSITE:

"The Southern California Genealogical Society exists to foster interest in family history and genealogy, preserve genealogical materials, and provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques.

The Southern California Genealogical Society was organized January 10, 1964. It is the largest volunteer-managed genealogical society west of the Mississippi.

Through its programs, members are offered the opportunity to list queries, survey indexes, join special interest groups and provide support for other members and their activities. The Society maintains a library with over 35,000 volumes including 6,000 family histories. Research resources also include manuscripts, microforms, maps, periodicals and electronic data resources for use by its members and the general public. Library holdings include materials from every state and many countries, with emphasis on Germany, French Canadian, Cornwall, and other special collections.

This is an informative 7 min. video tour, from 2007, of the facility housing the Southern California Genealogical Society.

The name is a bit deceptive because their resources, both in Books/Magazines, and CD/DVD, covers every state in the Union, as well as Great Britain, Germany, other places in Europe, and elsewhere.

While open to the public, membership has its priviledges, including computer access, and access to Members Only parts of the website.

Located at 417 Irving Drive, Burbank, CA.

scgsgenealogy.com [scgsgenealogy.com]

The 3rd of Amy Crooks humorous, and informative, must read, series called "The Organized Genealogist, Getting Started."

In this chapter she discusses how to organize all the paperwork you have that pertains to your family history, and how you will need a file cabinet or files boxes, hanging file folders, and manila or colored folders.

She discusses organizing by Surname, Location, and Document Type, and choosing which works best for you.

As an example she discussed her choice of the Surname System.

Once you choose your system you need to start filing things, and organizing, and she discusses this as well.

PART 1 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-getting-sta... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-getting-sta...]

PART 2 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-ii.htm... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-ii.htm...]

The 1st of Amy Crooks humorous, and informative, must read, series called "The Organized Genealogist, getting Started."

As she writes: "The disorganized genealogist doesn't get as far as the organized one. Of course I had to learn this the hard way!"

Among the points covered, in detail, in this post, are many:

1. The first part of your family search is gathering information. Where do I start gathering information? In your own home.

2. Seperate into piles. One for photos, one for letters, one for heirlooms, another for books and diaries and so forth.

3. How to protect, and display, or not, books, diaries, and photos.

4. With regards to family heirlooms: Setting down at your computer and typing up information that you will then attach to each family heirloom, using special labels.

PART 2 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-ii.htm... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-ii.htm...]

PART 3 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-iii.ht... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-iii.ht...]

The 2nd of Amy Crooks humorous, and informative, must read, series called "The Organized Genealogist, Getting Started."

About Photos she writes: "To me the most rewarding part of my search for my ancestor are the photos I find and that others so graciously share. When you can put a face to the name and see that they really did exist it's indescribable the way you feel."

This entry in her series covers, in detail, several different ways you can organize and preserve your photos: Scrapbooks, Boxes, and Photo Albums.

She also discusses what you need to consider in making your choices:

1. Is is archival safe?

2. Is it simple enough that you will continue to use it?

3. Will future generations be able to view and understand the people and events when you are gone?

4. Making copies to give to other family members.

Lastly she discusses what will happen with your photos and heirlooms when you are gone, and things you can do to prepare for this.

PT. 1 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-getting-sta... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-getting-sta...]

PART 3 IS HERE: untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-iii.ht... [untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2007/08/organized-genealogist-part-iii.ht...]

FROM THE PAGE:

"The ancestors you are looking for are currently unavailable. They may be hiding in offline resources which will require you to contact repositories via more archaic methods. If they are dead, rest assured they are not creating more descendants.

Please try the following...."

The rest of the page is an absolute hoot. ;-D

Why do Genealogy? Why get the kids involved, too?

Such simple questions.

There are as many different answers as there are people chasing down their ancestors all around the world.

There is no wrong answer to the first question, and this post shares many of them.

The answer to the 2nd question can be found in the list of links to Child-centric Genealogy websites, aimed at helping you get your kids as interested as you in their roots.

Ever wish there were a My Space or Facebook just for Genealogists?

Would it have a Genealogist Beseiged by Brick Walls Chance in Hell of succeeding in the rough and tumble world of the internet?

Well wait no more!

We are about to find out! ;-D

Welcome to AncestralSpace.com!

A fellow Ancestry Obssessed researcher took it upon herself to start this new "My Space" for Genealogists 3 weeks ago, and so far over 400 fellow Roots Diggeruppers, such as myself, have help to christen the venture.

A grassroots effort of a unique sort members have their own GenBlog, where they can write their thoughts on genealogy issues, and share stories, and info about their research ( Almost 400 posts so far.), as well as photos (1600 so far.), and videos, and connect through comments (1100 so far.), and messages.

The message boards, called Groups (23 so far.), have subjects related to Genealogy, from a Random Act of Genealogical Kindness Group, and one for Brick Walls, to ones dedicated to cities and, eventually, every state in the Union, and maybe a few countries, and more, where researchers can connect with others, share info, tips, successes, and failures.

Yes, there, are a few kinks still to be worked out, and the owner hopes to get sponsors to advertise, but the quickness, and enthusiam, with which ordinary Family Researchers, the world over, have embraced the idea is a very good sign.

Cross your fingers. ;-D