27 October 2011

'Beyond the Internet' Geneameme

My eyes lit up when I read Pauleen Cass's 'Beyond the Internet' Geneameme (and not just because of the reference to Tips for Queensland Research, for which I thank you, Pauleen!) - 'Beyond the Internet' is definitely my scene.

Copy the text below and paste it into your blog or into a note on Facebook. Substitute your annotations for mine, and change the font to show your answers. Overseas researchers may want to add to the list or replace items with ones relevant to their own research. Remember this is all about locating information from sources not on the internet (with a couple of small exceptions).

Things you have already done or found = bold face type
Things you would like to do or find = italicize (colour optional)
Things you haven't done or found and don't care to = plain type

You are encouraged to add extra comments in brackets after each item.
  1. Looked at microfiche for BDM indexes which go beyond the online search dates.
  2. Talked to elderly relatives about your family history.
  3. Obtained old family photos from relatives.
  4. Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-grandparent.
  5. Have at least one certificate (birth/death/marr) for each great-great-grandparent. (Many were born before civil registration. For the UK I have some certificates and lots of parish registers. One parish marriage register gave details that were not on the certificate!)
  6. Seen/held a baptism or marriage document in a church, church archive or microfilm.
  7. Seen an ancestor's name in some other form of church record, eg kirk session, communion roll.
  8. Used any microfilm from an LDS family history centre for your research.
  9. Researched using a microfilm other than a parish register (LDS family history centre/other).
  10. Used cemetery burial records to learn more about your relative's burial.
  11. Used funeral director's registers to learn more about your relative's burial.
  12. Visited all your great-grandparents' grave sites (some don't have headstones).
  13. Visited all your great-great-grandparents' grave sites (some are in Germany / Poland).
  14. Recorded the details on your ancestors' gravestones and photographed them (including one that has since fallen face down - and the oldest headstone I've found is for gr-gr-gr-grandmother Mary AGAR, died 1794).
  15. Obtained a great-grandparent's will/probate documents.
  16. Obtained a great-great grandparent's will/probate documents (but the most useful was for my gr-gr-grandfather's *brother* - always research the siblings!)
  17. Found a death certificate among will documents (lots of Queensland probate files have death certificates).
  18. Followed up in the official records, something found on the internet.
  19. Obtained a copy of your immigrant ancestors' original shipping records.
  20. Found an immigration nomination record for your immigrant ancestor (I wish! Mine seem to have been assisted or free, not nominated.)
  21. Found old images of your ancestor's place of origin (online or other).
  22. Read all/part of a local history for your ancestor's place of residence.
  23. Read all/part of a local history for your ancestor's place of origin.
  24. Read your ancestor's school admission records.
  25. Researched the school history for your grandparents.
  26. Read a court case involving an ancestor (online newspapers don't count for this). (Actually it was my direct ancestor's brother.)
  27. Read about an ancestor's divorce case in the archives (none of mine were divorced).
  28. Have seen an ancestor's war medals.
  29. Have an ancestor's military record (not a digitised copy eg WWII).
  30. Read a war diary or equivalent for an ancestor's battle.
  31. Seen an ancestor's/relative's war grave.
  32. Read all/part of the history of an ancestor's military unit (battalion/ship etc).
  33. Seen your ancestor's name on an original land map.
  34. Found land selection documents for your immigrant ancestor/s.
  35. Found other land documents for your ancestor (home/abroad).
  36. Located land maps or equivalent for your ancestor's place of origin.
  37. Used contemporaneous gazetteers or directories to learn about your ancestors' places.
  38. Found your ancestor's name in a Post Office directory of the time.
  39. Used local government sewerage maps (yes, seriously!) for an ancestor's street.
  40. Read an inquest report for an ancestor/relative (online and/or archives) (inquests - including fire inquests re damage to property - are fabulous!)
  41. Read an ancestor's/relative's hospital admission. (If only more hospital admission registers survived!)
  42. Researched a company file if your family owned a business.
  43. Looked up any of your ancestor's local government rate books or valuation records.
  44. Researched occupation records for your ancestor/s (railway, police, teacher etc).
  45. Researched an ancestor's adoption. (No adoptions in my direct line)
  46. Researched an ancestor's insolvency.
  47. Found a convict ancestor's passport or certificate of freedom. (No convicts in my tree)
  48. Found a convict ancestor's shipping record. (No convicts in my tree)
  49. Found an ancestor's gaol admission register. (My lot were too law-abiding to leave such interesting records. Sigh.)
  50. Found a licencing record for an ancestor (brands, publican etc) (horse and cattle brands).
  51. Found an ancestor's mining lease/licence (I haven't found any miners in my family).
  52. Found an ancestor's name on a petition to government (petition about a railway) (I should look for other petitions - lots in Government publications and Colonial Secretary's correspondence.)
  53. Read your ancestor's citizenship document (naturalisation record at Qld State Archives).
  54. Read about your ancestor in an undigitised regional newspaper.
  55. Visited a local history library/museum relevant to your family (several - and I was stunned to find a portrait of my gr-gr-grandmother's brother, John Campbell, in Sale museum in Victoria).
  56. Looked up your ancestor's name in the Old Age Pension records (mine aren't listed, but I checked the index as I was creating it!)
  57. Researched your ancestor or relative in Benevolent Asylum/Workhouse records (none of mine were there, but they are great records).
  58. Researched an ancestor's/relative's mental health records (sister of my direct ancestor was in Goodna Asylum).
  59. Looked for your family in a genealogical publication of any sort (but not online remember).
  60. Contributed family information to a genealogical publication.
Please leave a comment on Pauleen's post, with a link to your response to her Geneameme.

04 October 2011

Genealogists, Traditions and Kiva

There have been exciting developments since last week, when I wrote about continuing my father's tradition of setting aside a small sum of money (we called it his 'Do Good Money') for short-term loans to those in need. Pamela said it would be lovely if this became a tradition for other families - and (to my delight) that has already begun!

My family, friends and colleagues (and their family, friends and colleagues) are following my father's example, but with a modern twist. It works like this:

From the Web site of the non-profit organisation Kiva, you choose a borrower whom you would like to help. You make a loan of just $25, using PayPal's secure service to pay by credit or debit card or from a bank account. When the loan is paid back, you can either withdraw your money or lend again. It's a simple and sustainable way of helping someone to support their family and overcome poverty.

Two of my friends have been doing this for years, so I know Kiva is reputable. It is also a lot of fun! I really enjoy the process of choosing a borrower. For each individual or group there is a photograph, some biographical data, an explanation of how the loan will be used, and information about the country. (This would be an interesting way for children to learn about other cultures, geography etc.)

To maximise the fun and motivation, people with a common interest often form a team (but you can remain anonymous if you wish). Our team is called 'Genealogists for Families', but everyone is welcome - genealogists, family and friends, and anyone who believes that our small loans can make a big difference to those who are less fortunate. Our motto is, 'We loan because we care about families (past, present and future).'

It's very easy:
  1. Join Kiva. (Do this first - the link opens in a new window.)
  2. Choose a borrower and make a $25 loan.
  3. Join the 'Genealogists for Families' team (opens in a new window).
  4. (Optional) Edit your Kiva Lender Page to publicise your Web site, business or online family tree (see this example). Select your country from the drop-down list so we can see how widespread the team is. Go to 'Settings', then edit 'Account settings' (scroll down to 'My Lender Profile').
  5. Invite your family, friends, workmates or fellow students to join Kiva (and, if they wish, our team).
As I write this, our 'Genealogists for Families' team page shows that we are currently helping sixteen small businesses in low income areas: farming in Peru; poultry in Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe; fishing and livestock (cattle, pigs etc) in Mongolia, the Philippines and Tajikistan; arts and crafts in El Salvador; food sales in Honduras; manufacturing in Nicaragua; sewing in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru and Tajikistan; tailoring in Tanzania; and an Internet cafe in Bolivia.

Join Kiva and the 'Genealogists for Families' project and be part of the growing team of individuals who make a difference by helping families now and in the future!