Find your National Treasure in the Nation’s Capital – Day 2

You know it’s going to be an interesting day when you see s Twitter message that says

“dengenjourney Denise’s Gen Journey

OMG @dearmyrtle as a scientist at Fairfax GenSoc Spring Conf!! And @hrworth as assistant …. wish it were on video!! #genealogy

7 Habits of Highly effective Genealogists

That is how the day started. A scientist and an assistant. But what does that have to do with Genealogy. The scientist walked around the class, clipboard in hand, taking names and notes and the assistant changed the slides showing important steps in our research. Several items were discussed several times over the course of this class. Record or document what you find and Cite everything. We were reminded that a Citation is NOT created so that others can find the document that you have found, but more for you, the researcher, so that you don’t go looking for it again but also for us to evaluation what we have.

Learning from others, experts, organizations within the Genealogy Community, was another message. That is why I attended this conference. To learn from others, to hang out with other researchers.

We were reminded that not everything is found on the Internet. Examples of the 7 steps were presented. The scientist ended with the notion that we should share with others. Lots to think about.

Integrating Genealogy Software with Online Discoveries

Issues of handling some of the information that we find, and the importance of recording the information, citing the sources, AND attaching this information to the people in our file. A number of techniques on how to take advantage of our computers to record this information. But this is all on a home computer.

The sharing was then discussed, Blogs and online trees, and the steps to do this were talked about. Current technology is allowing us to do this. It’s getting easier.

Another example was then presented, by the assistant, of how Family Tree Maker version 2012 and an Ancestry Member Tree work together. An example of the Sharing of an online tree, where a collaborator in this tree, added an Image of a record to the shared tree, added 31 updated to new pieces of information to that tree, with the use of FTM2012, then using the Sync feature, to update the online tree.

BUT that is only a step to where the “industry” is going. We, the end users of our various software programs want to share our research, no matter what our genealogy database management program we are using. This was a peek into the future.

Clothesline Approach to Documentation and Evaluation

Dear MYRTLE then gave a number of examples of that various documents that we have found, cited, and now must evaluate, using a Clothesline where one end of it is Very Reliable and the other not so much (Less Reliable). Where on that clothesline do this document belong. Reminding us on the need to evaluate our findings. Findings just not being what we find Online, but all of our findings.

Finally Get Organized

Dear MYRTLE handed out 12 “pink slips” to members of the class. The person with the “pink slip” read the assignment and agreed to complete or work on the assignment for a week, or a month, to complete the project. For example, gather and store our documents in weatherproof filing boxes, Scanning, Digitizing our pictures and documents, or preserving what we have. But not stopping there, sharing what we have. Tell a story about one of those heirlooms that we might have.

What was very interesting about the 12 people accepted their assignment, but I suspect that each member of the class too at least one of the ‘assignments’ to heart, will take them home, and complete the assignment.

For me, I was honored by be a part of the class, and to be able to help my cousin with these classes.

Thanks Dear MYRTLE for a great day.

Find your National Treasure in the Nation’s Capital – Day 1

Wow, what a day. A Full Day of listening to Dr. Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL., FASG, FUGA, FNGS. That name may be familiar with many genealogist, and followers of this blog.

A group of folks in Second Life, did a study of a video presentation on FamilySearch.org about Inferential Genealogy and I then did a case study on what I learned from that study.

What an honor it was to be able to attend four classes taught by Dr. Jones.

“The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS); What It is and What It is Not“, was the title of the first class. He walked us through what the GPS is and why it is so important. He used “A Jigsaw-Puzzle Metaphor for Genealogical Proof”. For me, he put that very scary term (GPS) into reality in a very clear way of doing our research. Other terms, in the genealogy community were made real and not so frightening. Will have a lot of reading to do, based on his Source List he provided.

“Using “Correlation” to Reveal Facts that No Record States” was the second class. This was a refreshing class for me, as the tools he taught in the Video series were reinforced. Tools being a Narrative, List, Timeline, Table, and Map. In my case study, I must have learned something, as I used 4 of those 5 items. Guess I need to go back to the Narrative, as I didn’t do a very good job on that one. But, I am not sure that I could have answered the Question to my case study, without using all 4 of the items that I used.

A break for Dinner. Could have used a nap, but was not going to miss the next two sessions.

“Organizing Evidence to Overcome Record Shortages” He reminded us that we may not find the answer to our question(s), nor the records we are looking for, but may have to look elsewhere to find answers. Look into record sets that we might not normally use in our research. There have been discussions around the genealogy, blogging world, about Exhaustive Search. But he reminded us that we may NOT find all of the pieces to the puzzle, there may be some missing pieces or some damaged pieces. Dr. Jones provided is with six steps to overcome record shortages with a couple of case studies.

“Inferential Genealogy: Deducing Ancestor’s identities Indirectly” was the fourth class. I remember that title. It appeared that this case study is what the Video Study that was done in Second Life was based on. A couple of the details of this case study were in the Video, but it was even more interesting is listening to the details that Dr. Jones went through to answering the question that he asked for this case study.

Through out the four classes, Evidence or citing sources was very important. But, more than just citing the source, but evaluating of the information that is presented from that Source. Being able to make to recognize that a source may be negative, and to be able to resolve conflicts.

I was reminded that what I do is not about collecting names, but really attempting to know who this person is and what their story might be. Or, the use the puzzle metaphor really worked for me, understanding that the end result may not be a complete puzzle. He also illustrated when you might have ‘enough’ information to answer the genealogical question that WE establish for our specific research project. He also reminded us that there may be other ways to find information when a specific document does not exist. Understanding the records that we are looking at, what they mean, what their limitation might be in that document. Record, Document, and EVALUATE the information that is gathered to answer the research question.

Thank you, Dr. Jones.

Find your National Treasure in the Nation’s Capital – Day minus 1

This weekend I am attending the Fairfax Genealogical Society, Spring Conference, 2012. I had planned on attending, with my Cousin, Dear MYRTLE. As it turns out, she asked me to do a piece of one of her presentations. What an honor, but a bit scary. But I am looking forward to it. We are going to talk about Integrating your Genealogy Database with Online Discoveries. Actually, this is right up our alley, as that is how we discovered that we are cousins. Will probably talk about this later.

Backing up a day, the Fairfax Genealogical Society had a monthly meeting last night, the night before the conference. Now there is a concept, but it will be a long weekend for those “working” the conference.

Last night, there were over 100 people in attendance. Wow!!!! It was announced that there were 64 new members in this Society. Wow, again.

Beside a normal business meeting, Dear MYRTLE gave a short presentation about the 1940 Census and the Indexing Project.

Have YOU signed up?

I have, and I have done a couple of practice batches, to remind myself how it worked.

There were TWO (2) Featured Speakers at this meeting. The topic Capital Treasure: A Sampler of Gems in the DC Area Repositories. Pamela K. Sayre, CG, CGL, and Rick Sayre, CG were the presenters. They teased us, for the Conference, with four vignettes that demonstrated the various repositories and sources in the DC area.

I was reminded that I am only sorry that I hadn’t started with my research while I lived in the DC area. And the reminder that “Not Everything is Online“.

I am looking forward to two days of classes, hanging out with Myrt and Mr. Myrt, and with other genealogist.

Thank you Fairfax Genealogical Society.

Worthington Descendants – Vol 1, No 4, Page 2 Fall 1983 – Land Grant

Land Granted to Samuel Worthington Jr. then of Frederick Co, Vir. In Hampshire Co. Vir. – By Thomas Lord Fairfax – The Right Honoruable Thomas Fairfax, Baron of Cameron in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia. To all to whom this present writing shall come, sends GREETING: Know ye that for good causes for in consideration of the compostion to me paid and for the annual rent herein after reserved. I have given granted and confirmed unto, Samuel Worthington Jr. of Frederick County a certain tract of waste and granted land near Patterson’s Creek in Hampershire Co; containing two hundred and ninety one Acres, assigns forever, He, the said Samuel Worthington and his heirs forever. Given at my office in the Frederick County under my hand and seal. Dated the 12th. Day or September 1770. Tho. Day Martin Seal, Samuel was the son of Samuel Worthington Sr. and Mary Simcock and brother to Robert called “Bobby Dunblaen”