The Genealogy Search

2016 will be the year of "getting it together". I have been shaping up my genealogy files for quite some time.  I have once again started a new database making sure my citations are correct, I am reviewing the sources and information I have in hand, and documenting every piece of information from each source.  The whole process has been rather willy-nilly – I hope to change my ways in 2016.  I am going to follow with both Dear Myrtle’s FINALLY Get Organized  http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/p/finally-get-organized.html . and Thomas MacEntee’s The Genealogy Do-Over through Geneabloggers and the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogydoover/ .  The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook can be ordered in Kindle format for $3.99 – visit http://www.geneabloggers.com/tag/genealogy-do-over/ for more information.  I’ll probably drive myself crazy but I should end the 2016 year much more “together”.  I am also “cleaning” up my skills…...

Chris Urman 1984

OK, so I have been getting teased for the last few weeks about a video that the local newspaper did.  It all started innocently enough, a reporter calls me and wanted to ask questions about FindAGrave - that lead to a discussion on tombstone symbolism.  The reporter asked if I could meet her at one of the cemeteries and show her some of the symbols I was talking about.   Of course, really, what genealogist would turn down any trip to a cemetery.  Anyway, she asked if she could video me talking about symbolism. Not a problem,  but she caught me a few times "fondling"  a few headstones and video taped me at times I did not know she was shooting (she was using her phone to record).  I did not think it was so apparent, you can judge for yourselves.....the video can be viewed at:    https://youtu.be/N5xGO97ytNU So yes my dear friends, I confess.  I do fondle tombstones, pet headstones, and touch markers.  I can't seem to help myse...

Amy Clark (now Urman) and Kandi Alexoff 1990

Matt and I visiting Santa!  Maybe 1967?

Mary and Eva Drvaric

My wonderful father bought me a new computer for my birthday - best part he did it two months early!  I moved over most of my business records, archived some and ditched the rest.  The genealogy part of my records, well that will take on a different approach.  I did move  pictures and all the information to a "My Passport" portable drive for the time being.  I am redoing my files, yet again, to standardize all my files both computer and paper.  Looking at all I have saved and the numerous copies of the same documents/pictures that were on the old computer I can see things need to change. I am going to continue with my marriage number folders.  That has worked for me and the way I think about the records - smaller family units.  I am going to create a master list of every sub-file that I want in the each family folder.  I am also going to have  a new photo system.  I am debating now on file naming standards beginning with vitals ...

William Skibbe's Republican National Committee Certificate 304185 1936 

Ancestry has made available "Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999" and I have records of my Miottel family! My Great Grandfather Theodore Miottel was appointed executor of his brother John's estate.

Janice Drezdon, top row, far left.

Robert Urman (Yurmanovich) 1932

Nick, Juliana and Claire Urman 

Saturday Night Fun with Randy Seaver of Genea-Musing join in! Please see Randy's post at  http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/09/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-fifth.html     Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Fifth Grade Memories Here is your assignment if you choose to play along:  1)  Remember when you were 10 or 11 years old and in fifth grade at school?  Was that one of the best times in your life?  Or not? 2)  Tell us about your fifth grade memories and the highlights of that time of your life - in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook or Google+. Here's mine: Forest View Elementary School Fifth grade was attended at Forest View Elementary in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  I was in Mr. Michaels' class.  I was a crossing guard along with John Cerza - we jointly helped at our intersection.  I thought 5th grade was the best for the most part.  I think I was the only girl that...

Wilma Joyce Clark ready to do to the dance, Stonington, Illinois

The Boston University certificate of Genealogical Research program has been completed.  At the end of our course the instructors made some suggestions for furthering our education.  Friends and other genealogy acquaintances have also made suggestions.  I decided to put all the suggestions together to form one master lists.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions.  Here is what I came up with:  SUGGESTED FOR ADVANCEMENT WEBSITE/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NGS Home Study Course http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/homestudy_course_cd Boston University Certificate Genealogical Research http://professional.bu.edu/programs/genealogy/ University of Toronto, National Institute Gen. Studies http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/eng/uoft.asp ProGen Study Group http://progenstudy.org/ Review BCG Application/Begin research prior to application http://...

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun --  The Wayback Machine Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:   It's  Saturday Night  again -  time for some more  Genealogy Fun!! Join in the fun with Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Prompt for Saturday Night Fun Original post at http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/08/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-wayback.html   1)  Do you have a website or a blog?  Or know someone with one?  Pick yours, or theirs or another. 2)  Now go to the Wayback Machine ( https://web.archive.org/web/ ) and put the web site address in the search field.   3)  Share your Wayback adventure with us in your own blog post, in a Facebook or google+ post.  Be sure to leave a link in a Comment on this blog. Here's mine: The Wayback Machine starts for The Genealogy Search on 11 January 2012.  Here are four of my posts from that period of history:  ...

I had the pleasure of growing up with a Great Dane by the name of Taffy.  When my father rescued her and brought her home my brother and I were scared!  She was huge!  The only interaction we had with a dog before that was a dachshund named Fritz. Taffy "danced" with my father on her hind legs, tended bar downstairs with him, and went biking with him.  Matt and I were her puppies.  We laid on top of her, hugged her, and just enjoyed being around her.  When Mom would get mad at us the wooden spoon came out and Taffy would jump in between us and Mom to protect us. Mom and Taffy Taffy, me and Matt  Now she did have a bad habit of escaping - mainly breaking the chains she was tied up with.   Once she got loose and went over to the neighbors and scared them so bad they gave her the steak off their grill.  Another time Taffy escaped and Dad called the police in Mount Prospect (Illinois, it was a village then) and reported her missing. ...

Robert Urman:  Boy Scout unknown year

Matt, Fritz, Amy, Spooky and Lorraine Clark 1967

Well I've been busy stepping up my education.  I have been honing my Private Investigative skills and advancing my genealogy skills.  I have one more week to go to complete the Boston University Genealogy Research Program.  The classes included problem solving, research, evidence evaluation, and professional genealogy.  Instructors included Melinde Lutz Byrne, Mary Ann Boyle, Thomas Jones, Elissa Scalise Powell, and Allison Ryall.   The class has been wonderful and I have learned a lot! The BU class is accredited for three graduate school hours, it requires quite a bit of time and effort.  I can honestly say it has been challenging and fulfilling.  Some classmates jumped ship before the completion of the course, others like myself have dutifully done our reading,  homework, and participated in the online discussion groups. I can honestly say that I spent about twenty hours a week on the course.  I was my own worst enemy - constantly ...