Be Careful What You Ask For?

Tuesday night’s Who Do You Think You Are? with Christina Applegate was surely one of the saddest episodes I’ve seen. Her father had scant memories about his mother, and the ones he shared on the program were not happy ones. Now that he has some facts concerning his childhood perhaps he’ll remember more. We won’t know how the information he received and any resultant memories will affect him, but I think we, as genealogists and “history detectives”, should be aware of the results our actions may cause.

Of course there are always those people who don’t want to hear that one of their ancestors was imprisoned or spent time in a mental hospital.  Sometimes, however, our probing can trigger other, more troublesome, memories. There are times the questioning should stop; so the information can be digested, or perhaps halted altogether. Sometimes people need to deal with the memories before they can go on. We need to recognize this situation and respect those boundaries.

Mastering Genealogical Proof - Chapter II

Mastering Genealogical Proof - Chapter 1

Wednesday was the second meeting of our Gen Proof Study group. The first, two weeks ago, was a get acquainted meeting. This group meets every two weeks by video chat, using Google Hangout so there is no cost. Angela Packer McGhie, the administrator of the ProGen Study Groups, organized the Gen Proof study groups as well. Each group meets at regularly scheduled times to discuss a chapter of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, GG, CGL, FASG, FNGS.

Tom Jones mentored the first study group, which began in May. The participants in that group are the mentors for subsequent groups. Our mentor is Debbie Hooper, CG. We seem to have a diverse group, some professionals, some not; some who have researched for many years and others relatively new to genealogy. But all of us have joined the group for the same reason, to become better genealogists and to adhere to accepted standards for today’s researchers. For me it is a continuation of the Tom Jones course at SLIG “Advanced Genealogical Methods”. Tom is one of those people whose teaching methods make you say, "oh yeah, why didn’t I think of that". So many gems to take your research theone step further that you need to answer your questions. He teaches using actual case studies, and the book provides the same tools. At the end of each chapter is a series of exercises to further understanding of the concepts of the chapter. The answers require familiarizing yourself with the articles provided in the book. Then the group meets to discuss the chapter and the exercises.

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.

Mount Hood Family History Conference, March 8-9, 2013

Mount Hood Family History Conference - March 8-9, 2013

 Hosted at 12300 SE 312th Ave Boring, OR 97009 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 Stephen P. Morse will be the Keynote Speaker for Discover Your Family Family History Conference.

Education Plans

One of the assignments for ProGen Study Groups is to write an education plan. The recent discussion on the APG list about genealogy education and institutes was a reminder to review and update the plan I wrote over two years ago.

 My ProGen Education Plan.

 Areas to improve: These are all still works-in progress.

·       Do a better job keeping an up to date research journal.

·       Organizing and writing research reports.

·       Expand my knowledge of Oregon research.

·       Layout and design for publications.