Getting Organized?

I’m listening to Adele and cleaning my office. Again. Getting organized. I try every method that comes along but I still end up with piles of papers and stacks of half read book everywhere. I have a large trestle table for a desk but the top is rarely visible.  Why am I doing this now? The stacks have gotten unwieldy. I need to organize all the research material for my latest presentation on Indentured Servants, and I know the answers to my brick wall is here somewhere. I still have stacks of my earliest research attempts, the ones I did when I didn’t have a clue. I need to find the courage to tackle them too.

Mastering Genealogical Proof by Tom Jones

NGS  (National Genealogical Society) is now taking pre-orders for Tom Jones new book Mastering Genealogical Proof. The estimated shipment date is 20 May 2013.  I have been waiting for the book to come out since we discussed it at SLIG in January. Dr. Jones is an amazing speaker and teacher. He has the ability to make clear complex topics. Throughout his Advanced Genealogical Methods course at SLIG his concise explanations, coupled with class exercises and homework gave us a much better understanding of the entire process, especially analysis. The book follows that same pattern.

I think this book will be an important addition to my library.

The NGS site has the following content list, as well as a sample  exercise.

• Preface
• Chapter 1 - Genealogy’s Standard of Proof
• Chapter 2 - Concepts Fundamental to the GPS
• Chapter 3 - GPS Element 1: Thorough Research
• Chapter 4 GPS Element 2: Source Citations
• Chapter 5 GPS Element 3: Analysis and Correlation
  Chapter 6 GPS Element 4: Resolving Conflicts and Assembling Evidence
• Chapter 7 GPS Element 5: The Written Conclusion
• Chapter 8 - Using the GPS
• Chapter 9 - Conclusion
• Appendix A - Pritchett Article
• Appendix B - McLain Article
• Glossary
• Reading and Source List
• Answers to exercises

Mt. Hood Family History Conference

Last Friday I spoke at the Mt. Hood Family History Conference in Boring, Oregon. Susan LeBlanc, of Gopher Genealogy, wrote about the conference and I don’t want to repeat what she said, but I would like to commend the organizers and volunteers.