transcribing

Discussing Family Search

Miss W. Twitterchats , , , , ,

Tonight’s  ANZAncestryTime twitter chat was looking at the website Family Search.

GraphicMama-team / Pixabay

Why do you use @FamilySearch for your family history research? What records do you find most useful?

Great resource to find what records are available inc non-indexed ones

I use FamilySearch for my British, German and Swiss research and for finding relatives in the US. Often I find records. Can’t find elsewhere.

I don’t use it as often as I should

I also like using FamilySearch for New Zealand probate records which are indexed and digitised.

Yes they are great. The digitisation is so much better than my lopsided photos I took in @ArchivesNZ years ago though I think I had out my Grandfathers probate the day he should have been scanned.

I don’t use Family Search as much these days as I did a lot of my detailed family research when we had to use FS microfilms. They were a fundamental part of my research.

FamilySearch is free although you have to register and it has a very good coverage of English parish registers.

Recently discovered the catalogue which is a great resource down to the county/parish level.

Good point Andrew that sometimes it’s still necessary to work through the digital version as if it’s a microfilm. Definitely exploring each available source for your place is important.

I mainly use familySearch for English Parish Records.

Yes, I’ve used them extensively for that as well as my Irish and Scottish parishes, back in the day. Invaluable.

I’ve found it helpful to search the catalogue by place and by keywords. The latter seems to work better for Irish townlands Griffiths etc.

I use them for NZ wills, England and USA Census records, whatever I can find. I look in the catalogue, but it is often not easy to find what I want.

FamilySearch has been the only place I found records for South America and the Grenadas and Jamaica. They were extremely helpful records for me

they have fantastic records on FamilySearch. I 💌their remote access research service. Today they sent me a copy of my 4th G-grandparents wedding registration.

That’s fantastic @AncestorDigger. I haven’t tried that but should since I haven’t been able to get to registered locations recently. Good tip!

It’s so easy, and quick! 4 days since I sent the request. WOW!

What they are not useful for are NZ births deaths and marriages as no dates are provided and records have mistakes.

I usually have Ancestry, Findmypast , FamilySearch and perhaps MyHeritage or The Genealogist open while I research. I search them all if I don’t find what I want on one site.

most recently for Registry of Deeds in Ireland and for some US research, particularly for formerly enslaved people. It’s most valuable to me for records not held by other providers e.g. S. African records and those Irish Registry of Deeds Indices

That’s interesting Tara. Do the names appear on the index that’s being worked on for the Register of deeds.

Do you mean the volunteer transcription project? Not for the names and places I was searching – that will happen in time. For now, I searched through decades of Grantor and placename indices to find reference details then ordered copies

The value to me was that I could search the indices from comfort of home in my own time, without COVID or opening time restrictions.

I’ve been using the images for the Registry of Deeds too. It’s time-consuming, but quicker than visiting the office!

Yes, exactly. You can do it at time/place that suits and their service in RoD @PRA_Ireland is excellent.

I haven’t needed to order a deed at all yet (mostly because I didn’t find anything!) but using the image indexes combined with the memorial images gives so much.

I used @FamilySearch for a few things like looking for passenger records for ancestors coming to New Zealand & looking for records I cannot find at other sites. FS results may even be linked to a site that does have it

I always use the wiki for suggestions of where to search, and I use FS for the digitised SA records

I used to like the map to find NZ records. Seemed quicker.

When I work with people at the library and they have research other than Australia NZ I always recommend the wiki on Family Search for suggestions of where to search

Recently heard about Ontario probate records on FS. Lots of coverage for Canadian records.

Familysearch is nothing short of revolutionary for Irish genealogy. They first put up a pilot index of the civil registration records in 2009 & it was a huge leap forward. familysearch.org/search/collect… It’s actually been superseded by irishgenealogy.ie now in most cases, apart from birth indexes 1922-58, marriage indexes 1947-58.

I couldn’t have progressed my research so far without the @FamilySearch microfilms – I would peruse every film for every place of interest.

There have been great advances for #Irishresearch over the past 10 years of so. No longer the nightmare of extracting info from local societies or only in Ireland (though it made for a good holiday)

Those were the days Pauleen. The excitement when the film finally arrived! it definitely wasn’t instant but I do miss those days

If only my German village was available on @FamilySearch however the local history, and local historian, (plus visits) were invaluable to me.

I use it for Scottish research, both indexed and unindexed images. If the record you need hasn’t been digitised, you can request it. Also there’s a free consultation service  familysearch.org/en/blog/new-on…

I use them most for searching by parish – can narrow down on a place and see everything that is available for that location.

My friend @saytheirnamesIr talks about democratising access and that may not have been FS’s objective but it’s the result (although I wish they’d unlock some more records for general viewing)

I can’t tell you how often in researching #IrishSlaveholders I must go directly to records for the Slave Schedules and search there, because they do not automatically appear on searches for named/known slaveholders. Factual, historical info hidden by algorithms!

Access to records is a significant challenge for African American people and other marginalised groups. If records are hard to find it is so important for us as researchers to ask why? And then try to remedy the situation.

It is I think quite an amazing resource to have free to use. I have visited the FamilySearch Library in SLC a number of times and that is an incredible experience!!!

dniyer / Pixabay

Share smashed brick walls or discoveries found using @FamilySearch? Or what are you hunting for and have not found?

Found school records including prizes for Latin and published works from 1830 Academy in Edinburgh. Very exciting.

Harking back to the Microfilm days. My brickwall was my German ancestry. Told not to bother because of the war destroying records. Eric Koppittke said ‘rubbish’ so I ordered films and found gold!

Unfortunately back when I started I was told there were no Catholic Germans or from Bavaria by the GSQ expert at the time (NOT Eric). It took several certificates to prove him wrong. And yes, same story about the war for other’s research – wrong again.

I found the slave ancestors on the island of Carriacou for a friend who knew nothing of his heritage. That was a wonderful find. More than happy especially as I’d also found his biological father! A very happy friend

I discovered I have a pioneer Mormon great something uncle who was quite an interesting person.

I found the passenger records for when my grandfather came to NZ in 1909 prior to going back to England. Not a big find. I had a photo of an index card seen at NZ archives index cards though great to see the card details source. Another favourite find from @FamilySearch was

my great grandmother, Amelia Bretel passenger records. Originally from @ArchivesNZ. I found a potential sister & brother although still looking for Jersey census records to confirm relationships.

Found a gt grandfathers will where he left his land to his daughter, my grandmother

I have made contact with a few cousins through FamilySearch but the legwork has been done on Ancestry or MyHeritage with DNA matching. Just had to correct my 2xgreat grandfather on FS. Someone has muddled him with a person with the same name

My South African branch – was able to find out so much more about where they went and who their FAN was which has led me to intriguing connections back in Ireland

A recent breakthrough on @FamilySearch was finding the burial information for my great grandfather in Glasgow. Something I’d been hoping for over the years.

I like using digitised copies of parish registers because often the original register has more than the index. Two of my Price ancestors died in coal mining accidents in Staffordshire which were recorded on the parish register but not the burial index

Found school records including prizes for Latin and published works from 1830 Academy in Edinburgh. Very exciting.

DreamQuest / Pixabay

What have you used and found useful with other FamilySearch features such as Memories, the Wiki, Phone app, and more?

I use the Wiki a lot to look up what is available for a place and similarly the Catalogue because not everything is indexed on FamilySearch.

I find the tree a tad exasperating because of all the duplications and errors … worse still duplicated errors. I correct things from time to time but it can be a bit trying!

Ditto for me. Just have to accept it and focus on more productive research. I fix a few big errors usually at #RootsTech time to remove false “relatives at RootsTech” reporting.

Yep couldn’t agree more. I had entered my great grandmother and someone has her emigrating to New York. Family took me to see her shortly before she died in Sussex, UK 🙁

I often merge duplicates. Every child has a new set of parents, so one has to do a large number of merges. I pick them up through my Legacy tree. Then I connect families up as well. I often do a @WikiTreers family at the same time as a FS one

Yes, I’ve started doing this more. Finish research on someone then do FS and WikiTree. Not done many yet though

Ive done grandparents and great grandparents as biographies on blog then added to Wiktree, might need to also add to FS. But in blog I embed images and newspaper clippings. Harder to do in wikitree.

I almost forgot about Books! familysearch.org/library/books/ you’ve got to check out what is available there.

I often peruse the FS YT channel too they have gradually added many of the RootsTech videos youtube.com/c/familysearch

Now I look at it, I have used the Wiki. But I tend to go straight to the record set that I want to use rather than going through that site.

The @FamilySearch wiki is a place I check for information. It is wonderful for people like me that have not been researching for years. There is links to all types of content that can help with #familyhistory research.

Yes and it’s great when you suddenly find yourself researching in a completely new and unfamiliar area as has happened to me a few times

I’ve used the message facility, but it is unreliable as notifications do not always arrive to let you know there is a message. I haven’t used memories yet, but plan to load some of my @WikiTreers profiles when they are rechecked.

The @FamilySearch wiki is a place I check for information. It is wonderful for people like me that have not been researching for years. There is links to all types of content that can help with #familyhistory research.

I like the phone app for when I am out & about. Useful for #familyhistory discussions when needing to check something out. It’s easy to use. Also for events like Relatives at #RootsTech.

I love the Wiki. You just never know what you will find there. I have the app on my phone but don’t use it much. Mainly due to lack of travel over recent years

the most useful features on FamilySearch are the Wonderful Wiki, and the Tremendous Tree! Although the tree has some issues, it also has some gems…certificates, photos, obituaries and much, much more.

The tree can have issues but if you do your own research it can still connect you with others researching the same families

I’ve used the wiki for context on unfamiliar record sets but otherwise don’t use the memories/phone app stuff

I have used the Wiki, the phone App, Relatives Around Me during RootsTech, the catalogue, records and I transcribe when I can

I use the Wiki a lot to look up what is available for a place and similarly the Catalogue because not everything is indexed on FamilySearch.

dassel / Pixabay

Are there any areas you would like FamilySearch to focus on for records or functionality, etc? Discuss…

I would like to see more records digitised and able to be seen at home. Going to a FamilySearch Library or an affiliate library is not always easy and you may have to book a spot and stop just when you find something

Does anyone go to a @FamilySearch library or Affiliate Library to follow up the sources not available at home? Do you have a good process to know what to follow up?

GSV is an Affiliate Library, but all the images I want to access are only at a Family Search Library 🙁

“Affiliate libraries have some limitations and may not have all the services of a family history center. There may be some FamilySearch Historical Records collections that may not be available.” From @FamilySearch familysearch.org/en/wiki/Family…

Yes, Northumberland Parish Registers are available at FHCs but not Affiliate. I was a sad bunny the day I found that out.

That’s seriously weird as I used them extensively as microfilms years ago and they’re great because the bishop demanded extensive additional data.

The Diocese is very protective of them. Even at Northumberland Archives you have to practically guarantee them your soul to get a copy. For a while FS had unindexed copies of some but I think that was an error and they are gone again now

A reminder to download records when one sees them, here today, gone tomorrow

Caloundra Family History, on the #SunshineCoast, is one too. NZ and AUS lists at @FamilySearch familysearch.org/en/wiki/Family… familysearch.org/en/wiki/Family…

I was horrified and disappointed to find that @FamilySearch had Papua New Guinea B&Ms online up to the 1980s. Not just indices, but the full details from the certificates. Legal compliance maybe, ethical to include so much on living people, I don’t think so

Especially in this day and age of identity theft. Too much info out there is not good.

I wish they had a report/improve facility for all records. I know that would take resource time to review/decide but some transcriptions are simply inaccurate.

I have edited some transcriptions where there is an edit button, all have been accepted

The ones I’ve been able to edit, I’ve done that but some of the worst mistakes are in records where that function isn’t available

It’s frustrating especially since less experienced researchers may either take the transcription at face value or miss that important record because of the transcription.

Stopping people changing the tree when there are sources attached to the person showing the correct information. Having a better process for correcting records. Better searching when dates are given. Not assuming everyone is American.

Control people just automatically adding hints/sources and people to trees because something looks OK Same problem with other big sites. Algorithms could check more logic. Eg born before parents born, in 2 places at once, and many more.

Yes @FamilySearch could tighten up their algorithm codes to be a little more sensitive. Seems like the current ones haven’t been updated lately. Phaps we the #Genealogy community should put the pressure on…

I would like FamilySearch to make it harder for someone to make changes to the tree when there are lots of sources already attached to a person. I’ve just had a consultation to ‘fix’ an improper merge as a result of an error.

Just a warning about Irish records on @FamilySearch right now there seems to be a back end glitch where the wrong county is assigned in the index so your search result might say Tullamore Co. Louth (instead of Co. Offaly). Have reported but not fixed yet

Don’t forget that a lot of those records are also available at genealogy.nationalarchives.ie

Crowdsourcing and NFHM2021

Miss W. Twitterchats , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fantastic topic for #ANZAncestryTime chat especially with National Family History Month in August.

Free-Photos / Pixabay

What do you think is crowd sourcing in relation to Family History?

Genealogists or family history type groups helping each other and working together for a common cause

Excellent definition Sue – succinct and yet comprehensive 🙂

For me it’s about asking for support for a collaborative project

I put a callout on the blog for guest bloggers to write about our shared family members. Maybe that’s crowdsourching? Btw I didn’t get anyone take up the offer

Some societies use guest bloggers to write posts weekly eg @gsq Yet another type of crowd sourcing. gsq-blog.gsq.org.au

Curious fox website curiousfox.com

I’m a member of a number of FB groups, occasionally I will ask for help when I’m stuck but I usually ask for help on How I can find the info I’m looking for so I can find it rather than ask someone else to find the info for me

There’s nothing like making the discovery yourself, that to me is what #genealogy is about plus you learn on how or where to find what your looking for

help from Ireland Reaching Out is a type of crowdsourcing where locals who know the place help researchers from afar.

Morning! Not sure that I can contribute a lot to the topic today but you’ve just quoted the one example I could think of. #ANZAncestryTime Although @duchas_ie also uses crowdsourcing and this can also be a great assistance to 20thC #FamilyHistory research – just ask

Also digitisation has overtaken some earlier indexing. Of course correcting Trove texts and adding to lists fits this category as well.

In NZ there’s the 1893 suffrage petition database nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/women… you are able to contribute a short bio

this event (Twitterchat) is an example of crowd-sourcing n’est-ce-pas?

I would argue that the 2 ancestryhours we participate in are a type of crowdsourcing as well.

There is CSI: Crowd Sourced Indexing available to genealogy societies and special interest groups for indexing their records. It is a free, web-based program I saw at #RootsTech a number of years ago. csindexing.com

The new versions of Rootschat email groups that I m a member of are definitely crowdsourcing with lots helping find info for someone with a question – mainly Tasmanian groups

not used crowd sourcing that much. I have a few FB groups for each of my family groups, in asking questions but hit and miss. Used wikitree but find mistakes.

Perhaps something like hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/… where you can not only claim a convict but also contribute information about them

A great result of crowdsourcing is FreeUK Genealogy @FreeUKGen with lots of volunteers

asking and receiving help on social media, platforms that provide input e.g text correction on Trove, transcription sites so many examples. i’ve had folks improve photos just by asking

I suppose that putting cousin bait out there on my blog could be crowdsourcing

I guess @BillionGraves would be another example of crowdsourcing yes?

using social media & message boards to assist both on and offline. Years ago a helpful person on Rootschat looked at some Welsh records for me, long before they were online.

Left a message on Rootschat 4 years after original post. Got a response and person was able to give me information about my Turnbulls Borders area of #Scotland going back to 1700s 😲 ❤️message boards / #Facebook groups / #Twitter threads opportunity to ask questions & #giveback

Another great example of crowdsourcing is @WikiTreers. From the growing well sourced trees to special challenges, the make use of the crowd to advance trees and familyhistory knowledge.

I had to google the definition “enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the internet”…. So basically getting a group of genealogists together and seeing what unfolds! Hehehe.

Crowdsourcing is when a community helps to research such as on @WikiTreers

Indexing for @FamilySearch is one of the big uses for crowdsourcing in #familyhistory. At the other end of the spectrum is individuals asking for help on social media such as Facebook Groups.

I think it can be a number of things like when I go “Hive mind – what’s a good TV show to watch?” – it can be asking your peeps for help or advice or it can be transcribing a graveyard together.

Devanath / Pixabay

Discuss your crowd sourcing experiences from helping an individual’s research through to large indexing projects. (Or do you avoid crowdsourcing?)

Asking the crowd for help with getting material from paid for genealogical sites or free I think is wrong. There are copyright restrictions and these should be followed.

Yeah that irks me. Like, I’m paying this large sum money because I’m using their website for the research I am doing. And copyright copyright copyright. So many of them have free trials or a month payment if you don’t want to fork out more $$$

Or join a society, go to a library or @FamilySearch centre, etc. There are so many places you can source stuff than elect to break copyright.

I’m a contributor to both @IrelandXO and @duchas_ie The former involves helping individuals with their research and the latter involves transcribing the Irish schools’ folklore project from 1930s. I’ve also assisted individuals on other sites

I was very excited to be able to help with this using my knowledge of the excellent resources of bda-online.org.au

I’m about to start a crowdsourcing project during the Christchurch Heritage Festival in October, which I can’t tell you the details of yet… But stay tuned…

so far, only recently starting using social media for crowd sourcing, which have pointed me in the direction of new resources, especially with overseas research. Only started blogging which might help others in the future

there are lots of ANZAC sites that crowd source data on specific soldiers and war memorials.

The Online Cenotaph – Auckland War Memorial Museum is an example of that

Years ago I went to the research room. Probably my first exploration into checking out archives. A bit more specialist than the local library. With so much online I am wondering if the research room still exists. Could not see about it with a quick online check.

Kia ora, Pou Maumahara Memorial Discovery Centre replaced the old Armoury on Level 2 in 2016. The public are welcome to use the published resources and contribute to #OnlineCenotaph aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/o… We are happy to answer any questions

Another crowdsourcing opportunity is Scottish Indexes which is getting support from indexers .

I have just this week begun to transcribe records for @scottishindexes This is my first time transcribing

I was transcribing Naval records for the TNA there for a second too last year.

Just started my first page @scottishindexes They’ve given me so much in past 18 months – 11 free 8 hour conferences. I felt the need to payback a little

Another site I’ve been able to contribute to collection.nelsonmuseum.co.nz/explore collection of digitised glass plate negatives. Identified photos of gg-gparents

a bazillion years ago when I started I helped @GSQPresident with indexing deaths during JAn-June 1916. You can imagine given WWI. I suspect no one has ever looked at them

never underestimate how much you’ve helped dear Pauleen. I think that’s the tragedy is that much of the work is unseen/unrecognized and yet used all the time.

Like some software recognises the developers it would be nice to recognise the workers by adding to digital documents people that helped.

I suspect many people using #ancestry or #findmypast don’t realise the indexes have been created by societies as they don’t read the source info

I have made connections and found people who emigrated using @WikiTreers

I get family info requests on my Irish and Dorfprozelten blogs which helps others

I use FreeUKGen sites @FreeUKGen and have donated to them did start transcribing years ago but did not carry on

and I imagine to a degree that’s what @LostCousins might be all about too, yes?

I suppose a recent/continuing experience is being part of a Facebook group for my Gill ancestors and helping write up a document of all the descendants on my line from my 4x G Gparents down & assisting others with writing their line.

good result from crowdsourcing here 3 different versions of one photo enhanced by Rootschat folks after I asked for advice on FBook – see post below

Not a big crowdsourcing person. Really a lack of time as I work full time. I think it is a great idea although some of the questions I see on social media asking for help could be solve with a google search. Not sure they are lazy or what.

yes someone complained about that on my facebook knitting group today but I think it is just people want to hear from a human not a machine where they can find stuff or what they should be using.

I love transcribing Tassie convict records but usually get the person to type out what they can first, then I help with the unknown bits.

I reckon some of the best crowd sourcing that has happened has been during the UTAS course – by sharing assignments for everyone to read, I got some excellent advice/feedback from other students. (Only shared after assignment had been marked – Ed)

I am very busy on @WikiTreers but have previously transcribed for Family Search

Just today I have a comment on my latest post suggesting I have the age and time period out by a decade – love that input!

I agree I get all sorts of unexpected info and requests from my blog

I love it when people make contact through the blog when if they recognise their ancestor in my post

geralt / Pixabay

Have you any plans or suggestions for celebrating National Family History Month in Australia & NZ?

I attended the opening talk by Zoom with @HicksShauna and plan to attend the closing one with @fiona_memories. Our group is running a talk with Shauna via zoom also.

Where do you find out about all these talks, etc?

good point Brooke. I think we should have some kind of national calendar like the NFHM calendar AFFHO did but for all the time. There is conferencekeeper.org/event-submissi… but I suspect a US focus.

Great idea – another thing we need a volunteer to upkeep? NZSG has an events calendar. Perhaps AFFHO could have n annual calendar. genealogy.org.nz/Events-Calenda…

Sharn’s talk was so amazing. I really do wonder at the value of having bricks and mortar if we are safer using zoom. It was always so hard to get people to use the library anyway – I think our efforts now need to go into digitizing as much as we can.

Hoping to get to a family history day next Saturday. Wellington Region #FamilyHistory event (combined Wgtn branches of NZSG)

Might see you there, Jane. I’m selling raffle tickets in afternoon.

ah raffle tickets. The funding lynchpin of many a society 😉

Auckland and Christchurch Family History Expos. Launching a new Plan to Publish online course plus some new guides to help with publishing and sharing your research.

When I can get back on the computer, re start my blog!!! Dormant since 2018.


I have joined in with @luvviealex #NFHM2021 Blogging Challenge to blog every week or more often in August


Am doing two talks at Rosny Library – will probably be half hour talk then hour and a half to do practical stuff from the talk

I’m going to a talk at my local Family History Society. This will be my first visit

The opening talk to Family History month in AUS & NZ discussed the future of #familyhistory societies. What role do you see societies playing in the future?

you can now have a speaker in London give a talk to a society in Cheshire watched by someone in America that’s the one good thing to come out of the last two years, but like archives, if we don’t use family history societies they will disappear

I really like locality chats eg run by #DevonFHS for a gp of Parishes, sharing real local knowledge, alongside FB for questions between chats. #RyedaleFHG have informal Zoom chat (how to peel a banana to detailed FH questions/sharing finds informally – is great too.

I have used #familyhistory societies in the past, and can be useful as they have inside knowledge of counties and towns, particular maps. They do need be more involved with social media.

#future very much depends on members/committees keeping up to date w/ #technology, making their resources available #Online / in #Digital format, changing mindset from pull to push ie as much if not more online teaching content & resources as #f2f engagement

Check out Part 1 of podcast from last week between Andy of @AFHpodcast & Margaret from @FHSofCheshire – who discuss the benefits of #FamilyHistory societies. Well worth a listen Link – amateurfamilyhistory.com/2021/07/28/epi…

Personally I think local Societies need to be more interactive with all members do combined meetings about local topics

Even still, a lot of online sessions are held during work hours. I usually sign up If it has a watch later option, but I always forget to watch it later.

And more flexible timing. I know I could only go at weekends or evenings when I worked and had a family at home.

very true. And if we got younger presenters that might suit them better anyway.

I (Alex) think more user-generated content is essential and I think that has been part of SAG’s success with Friday afternoon chats. I have been so impressed with members’ contributions.

The issue though is how many societies we can afford to be members of. How do you weigh up which to keep, which to join, which to leave?

I expect value for money especially when your already a subscriber to several other websites, plus other costs involved in buying Certs etc, #genealogy is not a cheap hobby and some people should not expect it to be freely given either

I’ve never been able to get myself into the society thing. Maybe because I’m younger? I’m not sure. Joining a society just hasn’t spoken to me. I love the online fam history groups – Maybe they could have a fb group if they don’t already.

My English ancestors come from 20 English counties but I’ve never really considered joining a Society mostly due to cost of joining so many, I would follow them on Twitter/Facebook so I could keep up to date with news from the Society’s

excellent point which I hadn’t considered before. You just can’t afford to join every society can you ? But Facebook is free 🙂

And don’t forget ancestorian.com That is free too

At least with following Society’s on FB/Twitter if I see a post made by the relevant society I can comment or send a message and make enquiries

I would join societies for areas my ancestors are from if I knew joining would be useful. If it’s not going to be helpful, why bother?

Which means that #FamilyHistory societies need to MARKET themselves. What is the value proposition for joining a society? (My idea of becoming a marketing guru for FH societies keeps growing 🙂

Agree, I think the majority of members are retired or have a lot of time. Often only open few hours during the day while others working. They can be useful but again hit and miss

The successful societies will weigh up the costs of going online with the number of members they may attract subs will reflect this

Local Societies know the peculiarities of their area and history useful for researchers from afar they need to promote this

completely agree Hilary. The most successful posts for QFHS Facebook page are about the local projects we have indexed or digitized.

Societies need to adapt to changing social & economic conditions. Change takes time to implement and requires planning. Might be too hard for many organisations when they might not have the skills to succeed at adapting.

In order to survive Societies need to encourage younger people and involve themselves more with social media

Societies need to upgrade websites and start getting younger people into their ranks

Blog posts

Carmel – Using photo enhancement as crowd sourcing,

Alex –  Genealife in lockdown challenge intro, Sum up after the challenge,

 

Apps for family history

Miss W. Twitterchats , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thoroughly enjoyable chat tonight with #ANZAncestryTime – apps to make life easier when doing family history.

JESHOOTS-com / Pixabay

Share apps for photos, digital images, storage, scanning etc: favourites, alternatives, features, tips, value.

I only use the software on my computer for my work. I scan with Karapa on my ancient scanner, take photos with my Oppo phone or Panasonic camera, and organise with FastStone Image Viewer. Used to use Picasa

I used to so love Picasa and mourn its absence greatly. Reckon I lost a lot of photos in the transition.

#photomyne @Photomyne has been my personal favourite. It does it all and is still an expanding app.

the best app I use is ora-extension.com/en/ora-setting…

I need something to organise my photos! For creating images, I’ve used Canva, for charts LucidChart, and SnagIt for annotating screenshots. Image editing I use GraphicConverter

Lots of Google, Adobe and Microsoft apps can be used for all sorts of #familyhistory tasks Google Keep and Microsoft Office Lens a couple of current favourites. Microsoft Office Lens Another scanner, documents, cards, photos to pdf etc.etc


Apps for kids recommended by common sense media commonsensemedia.org/lists/photogra…

For photo scanning, Google Photoscan I found to be quite useful. Storing… Google Photos hands down.

My FH source images and photos also automatically connect to Dropbox via my Reunion desktop software and the Reunion Touch app on the iPad. Means the images are viewable on the road via the app.

Unsplash for free images and Pic Collage for making collages of images

To store my photos I use Photos from Apple. They are synced through the cloud to other devices so available when out and about. For my sources images I store them in a file connected to my tree on my computer.

Pixabay images are searched when writing my blog summaries. includes the image credit automatically

I mainly use Canva, Pixabay, Pic Collage, Unsplash and Shutterstock for blog images

a freeware alternative to Photoshop that I discovered at a SLQ workshop years ago is GIMP. I use Google Photos and Dropbox mostly for image management and sharing.

I use Flickr on my ipad to collect all my photos and group in albums

photos: Flickr from archives and for some of my own. Shutterstock for paid images for presentations or blog; Pixabayfor free images. Canva for graphics; pic collage for collages.

For scanning I mostly use my iPhone with the Scannable app from Evernote. It straightens up the page to a rectangle even if you take the image on an odd angle. Only for iPhones and iPads available at the Apple app store

dapple-designers / Pixabay

Apps for place research, eg mapping, cemeteries, etc. AND/OR: recording or writing family history, note-taking, presentations, blogging etc.

Use my Firefox browser for working on websites, often up to 20 tabs open, and my MS Pro at the same time if I need to have information up while I’m working on @WikiTreers profiles.

Glad to read that I am not the only one with loads of tabs open. I can go to multiple windows with groups of tabs open in each one.

use LibreOffice for writing reports, preparing spreadsheets, etc. I have my many trees in Legacy. I manage my thousands of files with ZTreeWin. I backup with ToolKit. I email through Thunderbird.

between #Evernote @evernote my camera and map widgets, I am good to go! My PDF app stores my research notes. (Yellow highlights reminds me what I still need to locate, when I am on my fieldtrips.).

Hmm… place research – Google Maps and Google MyMaps. I tend to create presentations and everything on my PC. I don’t like doing those things on phones/tablets.

I agree Daniel. I don’t use a phone for much. I use my large keyboard and my large touchscreen to work. A phone is too small except reading FaceBook, emails, etc.

Am back using Scrivener for writing blog posts, assignments, research reports, etc. So useful being able to pull in resources, and split screen handy for transcribing documents. Have GenMap for mapping data, put Windows VM on my Mac especially to run it.

Scrivener’s great! I think I am finally over my footnote formatting disaster that occurred during my studies – took me a year to recover from that LO

oh yes footnotes can be the bane of your life if you haven’t got the right program or know how to use it properly.

I have used google MyMaps to create some family maps. Here is an example. Can attached a story and images accessible by clicking the numbers or side panel. Usually good but can go a bit wonky. google.com/maps/d/u/0/edi…

have used Soundcloud and voicememos for interviews and then added to my blog

I’ve used wavepad to record oral history interviews and it worked quite well.

Audacity is free and open source and easy to use (I use it to edit my podcast episodes for THB and my own…) Not sure about Soundcloud

The WordPress App really is great. When I was in Spain, I posted every day for 6 weeks and managed comments, all through the app.

I did an oral history via my Evernote app once and this recorded clearly with no extra mics. For note writing I use the notes app on the iPad. Blogging apps: WordPress Apps that links back to my blogs on the server. Lets you manage comments too.

I use WordPress App for my blog, Billion Graves and Find A Grave for cemeteries

mozlase__ / Pixabay

Apps for storing FH research, data, research and your tree. Preferences and why? Multiple choices? Which simplify (or assist) collaboration and sharing?

I use multiple folders on my D drive with subfolders which I can access through ZTreeWin to store photos, certificates, notes. spreadsheets, etc. Backupped to two PHDs. I exchange information through email or Messenger. My work is on @WikiTreers

mentioned in A2 with my camera and PDF widgets/apps, as long as I remember to update/ upload my notes, is all I need

I use Reunion to store my tree offline, but have other apps to produce reports and charts. Excel for data, Scrivener for project work. Endless notebooks that I need to index/transcribe at some point <- need an app for that!

try out using voice to text for all these note books. I have given up typing tonight and are actually saying my posts.

I use the ReunionTouch app on my iPad lots including when I need to check out a birthday coming up as I can never remember them. For transcribing try testing out voice to text options. Double tap fn key the Mac to start, once on in sys pref.

Have also used animoto to create slideshows with and without background music

I have been a long time user of Family Tree Maker but am now trying to switch to Family Historian. I want to make more use of/give SVG Family Tree generator a good workout for creating family tree graphics on my blog. I love Coggle for mind-mapping.

Thanks for bringing up mind mapping Alex. It’s a great tool. I used to use it constantly but not so much lately. For no reason. Just…time!

I have used bubbl.us for mind mapping especially with DNA matches and creating thruline type chart

storing info: notes Evernote, Google docs and sheets, desktop Word, Excel and Powerpoint and online in MyHeritage, Ancestry and FamilySearch Google stuff set to offline too so can be all backed up to 2 external hard drives. family heritage albums in Flickr

Office programs extensively. Evernote is backup of FH emails. Google docs for photos; Dropbox for presentations etc and ready access; OneDrive similarly for access

I have the @Ancestry app. It connects to one of my trees so reflected changes made on the web or synced from Family Tree Maker. You can log into other trees I think.

Yes you can access multiple trees but it is a bit problematic if you want to frequently move between trees

I really like the Ancestry App. It’s great to always have my tree on my phone wherever I go.

Trees on iPad only with ReunionTouch. @FamilySearch App, @MyHeritage, @Ancestry on iPhone as well. I do frequently use a web browser on my iPad for consistency the interface with desktop use. Apps though are better on a phone being mobile responsive.

ds_30 / Pixabay

 

Apps for anything and everything: learning, time keeping, mind mapping, charts, etc. The ones you cannot do without and why.

Zotero for keeping track of useful resources and the Chrome extension Zotero Connector that grabs the details with one click.

Spreadsheets for pretty much everything – Research logs, Timelines, BDM certificates. Genome Mate Pro for DNA matches, DNA Painter

Librarything for books owned. Easy to scan in bar code. I use GoodReads for the books read. This applies to both FH and general reading though LT is more for my reference library.

Books owned are in a large spreadsheet arranged in the order they are on the shelves by bookcase and room. Couldn’t find them otherwise as I have moved several times – know where they were in the last house

Libib for tracking my genealogy/history books, so I don’t buy a book I already have.

If I could only pick one app then the one I would pick is more of an extension for Firefox. It’s called web developer and it’s the first thing I download whenever I get a new computer and set up Firefox.

I confess to still using pen and paper to keep myself organized and when I get frustrated at not getting through my To Do list, I use my own version of the Pomodoro technique, allocating 1/2 an hour to each task just to make some progress on them.

Ah, I have the FocusTime app to use that technique. I find it helps, mostly 😉

You work 25 minutes on a task, then have 5 min break. Can help if you have trouble focussing, or easily distracted. Can be annoying if you get stuck into something, and then “have” to stop. So sometimes I don’t 😉 Customisable, can change time settings

If using wordpress, here is how to embed some media help.edublogs.org/user-guide/med…

For language translation I’ve used Reverso app. Feedly to monitor blog posts by others, voice memos when travelling or otherwise as a reminder. Facebook to stay in touch with genimates and FH & DNA groups.

Spreadsheets. I could not survive without them. All my data goes into them. I have some with 50 years of data. Ask a question, I go to a spreadsheet. Maybe I should start writing about the information.

yes I love doing timelines for ancestors on Spreadsheets. Makes it much easier.

DNA matches from every site I’m on. The ones above 20cM mainly but I do put up others that I am looking at. BDMs too

I keep virtually everything on Google Drive – spreadsheets, slideshows, documents, photos etc Can then be accessed on any computer world wide or on ipad or laptop

Great comments:

Time seems to be the issue that challenges most family historians in many areas of their research. It’s my biggest challenge. But retirement is coming in a few weeks so things will change

Yes where is that time expansion app we’ve all been looking for?????

Blog posts:

Carmel always has great posts. Here is one for apps for family history tasks.

Readers: Do you have a favourite app you use when researching or travelling?