International Institute of Genealogical Studies – Page 135 – LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION

Methodology, Part 2: An Introduction

Shannon Bennett, Student I am now diving into the second part of the course Methodology to give me the ground work for my genealogy education here at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. This course builds on the basics learned from Methodology Part 1, hopefully so that the student will come out as a better researcher on the other end. Or, at least, that is my hope. In the introduction for the course, the very first paragraph really hit home for me. You can see it here: All I can do is sit here and nod my head yes! Just because I don’t have the answer now, doesn’t mean I might not find it one day. Or, just because I think I have an answer doesn’t mean one day that answer may be incorrect. This field is all about persistence, hard work, and having a good foundation of basic skills. Looking through the syllabus for the course I am excited about several things. The modules appear to be geared to getting you organized in all possible aspects of your family history adventure. Now, I can be very particular about the way certain things are done in my life. Then there are other times that it is like pulling teeth to get that aspect of my life in working order. Unfortunately with my family research it is hit or miss. It’s not that I don’t want things organized, sorted, catalogued, and so on but the overwhelmed feeling of where do I start always kicks in. My saving grace is that I seem to pull it together for specific projects. Too bad I can’t figure out a way to make everything a project. The portion on storing and organizing my files may help me figure out a system to use in my research space. I have struggled with so many good suggestions out there, maybe this one will really stick! While each of the modules covers items that I am familiar with, I strongly feel that you can never take too many classes on basic techniques. You never know what you are going to learn, what will stick, or what will finally make sense. Yes, there are accepted standards in our fields, but each instructor may have a different tip, trick, or technique that you could learn. Come back next week to find out what I learned from modules 1 and 2. …

Finishing up Methodology Part 1

Shannon Bennett, Student I came to the world of genealogy just over three years ago. That is not to say that I was not interested for years before that, but that is when the stars finally aligned and lead me to this path. My little girl dream of participating in the “grown-up” world of family story telling (aka genealogy) had come true. For years I listened to the stories of my family told by my grandmother’s generation to my parents, their cousins, and siblings. Sitting around card tables, in boats, or while sipping homemade wine on the back porch. No matter where I was, the stories always poured forth. As a child I had no reason to question my elders, they knew everything it seemed, and those stories just captivated me. Even though I was not really allowed to be part of many of these adult conversations, I became adept at hiding in the right places so I could listen. Amazing how few adults actually look under a kitchen table. What did I learn? Well, we were descended from people who came to the U.S. on the Mayflower. There was an Algonquin Indian Princess in the family. I heard how my great-grandfather held his mother’s hand while they watched his older brothers in their Union blue march off to the Civil War. The tragedy of accidental deaths and Indian raids on the railroad. The plight of Irish and German immigrants. There were so many stories. But were they true? As an adult I realized many of these stories may be just that, only stories. I decided that while I would be disappointed to find out my favorite tales were only myth and legend, I had a sneaking suspicion that the truths I would uncover would be so much more interesting. So, that is what I set out to do. I wanted to uncover the family truths. Needless to say that was exactly what happened, and I was surprised by all I discovered. Having a background in science I am well versed in good research practices (even if on occasion I may choose to ignore them when I get wrapped up in the research). I realized very quickly that this was a good thing. Not everyone thinks analytically, feels comfortable in a research facility, or can navigate Internet search engines. However, this was a new field, and no matter how comfortable…

Two New Courses Begin Monday!

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is pleased to announce the addition of two new courses to our Professional Development Certificate. Writing for Genealogy: Articles, Blogs, Research Report and so much more and Personal Historian: Telling the Story, written by genealogist and author Jennifer Holik premieres on March 3, 2014. To register for these or one of our over 200 genealogical courses, see our website at www.genealogicalstudies.com. Writing for Genealogy: Articles, Blogs, Research Report and so much more Writing is an essential part of the work of a professional genealogist. Whether you choose to lecture, research for clients, or write content for others, it is important to not only know how to write but to understand how to incorporate various kinds of writing into your business. This course looks at the different types of writing you may do as a working genealogist and gives tips for resources to help further your knowledge of writing. In this course we will examine continuing education, writing client reports, business writing, writing for societies and for editors. Topics covered in this course include: Improving Your Skills Through Writing Groups and Writing Practice Writing for the Online World Marketing Genealogy Business Writing Writing for Organizations Writing Contests Standards for a Genealogical Research Reports Introduction to Writing Articles Book Projects Sign up today for Writing for Genealogy: Articles, Blogs, Research Report and so much more and receive 25% off (use Promo Code: new25w). Personal Historian: Telling the Story Telling the stories of our ancestors must go beyond the basics of names, dates, and places. We can use those pieces as a foundation but must, as a home builder does, add layers and stories to that foundation. This course will help you add a Personal Historian component to your business by demonstrating the many layers available. Those layers add depth to both personal and client projects and additional revenue streams to a business. Topics covered in this course include: Adding a Personal Historian Business component Educational Opportunities Genealogists and Personal Historians Interviewing Add Layers of Historical Research Communication and Interviewing Transcribing the Oral History Interview Photo Skills Biography Writing Legacy Letters or Ethical Wills Memoir Writing Consulting Archiving, Preservation, Conservation Project Management and Consulting Niche Products and Services Histories and Tributes Register for this course today and save 25% when you use the Promo Code: new25w. Register Today! Register now for these course and save 25% off. But hurry this special discount is…

Transcription!: Methodology, Part 1

Shannon Bennett, Student These last two Methodology, Part 1 modules nicely wrapped up this course. They covered resources for research as well as explanations of record sets. While I was familiar with most of these I did like the variety presented and I picked up a few new ways to look at information. Then I found the section on transcriptions, which made my day. This process is one that needs to be ingrained in every student of family history. Creating a correct transcription of a document not only will help your research but the research of those who come after you as well. A lesson that is often learned the hard way by those starting out in the field. Many people feel that this is the easiest thing in the world to do. I am serious; all you are doing is copying words down right? Well, not exactly. Plus, depending on the document, transcriptions can be very difficult. Within the section on transcription there was a list of basic rules, shown below. These guidelines clearly define what is important to have in your transcription. It isn’t just copying down words, it is making an accurate and faithful copy of an original work. The transcriptionist must be true to the original plus know how to insert their comments correctly. That in and of itself is a bit of meticulousness and an art form, both of which come only with practice. When I first started out I was confident that I knew what I was doing. Sure, I had the right idea about what I was supposed to do and how things were to be written down, but I had no idea about the when you were to use square brackets or when/how to make comments. Over the years I have gone back to those early transcriptions and cringed resulting in me redoing most of them from scratch. Needless to say this is one of those skills that we all need to practice. The more transcriptions you make, the more comfortable you will be and the better you will get. Your research and your conclusions are only as good as your sources and information. That right there should be an excellent reason for you to make transcriptions to the best of your ability. See you online!

Who’s Your Cousin?

Shannon Bennett, Student I am really excited that these Methodology, Part 1 modules have started to dig into the meat and potatoes of genealogy. In them we are introduced to sources, evidence, and types of information. Subjects that serious genealogists or family historians need to understand to succeed in their research. However, the parts I found the most interesting where the explanations of terminology found in Module 4. Words associated with kinship, social status, and legal jargon not to mention surnames have changed over time. Confusion can result when modern viewpoints and definitions are put onto older documents, resulting in the misinterpretation of records and the assumption of associations that were in fact not correct. For instance, the word cousin. It could mean not only what we think of as a cousin, but could also mean niece, nephew, grandchild, or any degree of cousin you can think of. Cousin relatedness can get tricky and complicated. Many people just refuse to even try to understand what all the removes are and just refer to everyone as their cousin. Which, I can really understand. However, as researchers we need to know how people fit into our charts. Thankfully there was a nice chart showing an example tree with relationships included in this course. I am always on the lookout for ways to explain to my family all the cousin connections I make while researching. This chart is one that makes a lot of sense and I can apply to future discussions. The other thing I particularly liked was the discussion on changing boundaries. Lines on the map change frequently, sometimes around our ancestors, and it is always important to know not only when your family lived but where. To me this goes hand in hand with good research skills. While I understand this from the point of view of Colonial America it was great to learn about changing borders in Canada. I have no Canadian ancestry that I know of, which means I have never really looked deeply into the history or geography of that country. Also, I don’t speak French. I took German in high school and college which means I have avoided the French speaking parts of Canada entirely. However, the short lesson on French surnames actually was intriguing since it was completely new information. Someday, it may come in handy. You never know. Two more modules left in my…