Do you ever wonder what makes us do the things we do? Why are some people timid and want to stay in the background, while others are in the forefront? This thought has been in my mind a lot lately as I’m starting a new, exciting genealogy journey.
In the fall of 2023 I wrote a blog post celebrating my one year anniversary writing this blog. You can read it here. In it I stated my goal to become a Certified Genealogist, or CG for short.
In this blog post I’ll explain what a CG is, how you get certified and explain one of the elements of the portfolio I must submit that will help you, too. That element is called Document Work. You may never want to obtain a CG yourself, but learning how to deal with old documents is something that every genealogist needs to know.
I’m not sure what it is in my DNA that drives me to achieve, but I’m a Type A person who always strives for improvement. If there’s a credential available, I want it.
As an example, during my time as a television meteorologist, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) offered a certification known as the AMS Seal of Approval. Naturally, I pursued it and earned it early in my career.
Genealogy also has a certification program.
What Is A Certified Genealogist (CG)?
The Board for Certification of Genealogists is a non-profit organization that began in 1964 setting “standards for competence and ethics in genealogical research.” They offer three certification credentials with the CG being the foundation of them all.
Becoming a CG shows you care about being the best genealogist you can be and that others can be confident in your ability. That last aspect is important to me as a professional genealogist.
This credential involves submitting a portfolio of six elements:
- Genealogist’s Code of Ethics – a signed document stating you work with the highest possible standards and ethics
- Development Activities – a resume of activities that have helped you become a better genealogist
- Document Work – BCG gives you a handwritten document from the past to transcribe, abstract and then write a research question and plan
- Research Report – a report written for another person
- Case Study – a written report demonstrating your ability to work with conflicting direct evidence, indirect evidence, or negative evidence
- Kinship-Determination Project – a family narrative showing your ability to link generations together
Once submitted, a panel of three independent judges read your work and decide whether you meet the standards put forth by BCG.
Let’s look at one element of the portfolio and show you why this isn’t just for those seeking a credential. It’s valuable in everyone’s genealogy research.
Document Work
The third element of the portfolio is document work. BCG wants to know if you can work with ancestral documents. During the application process you tell BCG what time frame and geographical area you’d like the document to come from and they give you that. Then it’s up to you to do the following 5 things:
- Transcribe the document
- Abstract the document
- Write a research question based on the document
- Analyze the document
- Write a research plan
The first item on the list is to transcribe the document. Why would you want to do this and how will it help your genealogy research?
Why Transcribe?
Transcribing old documents is an important step in genealogy research. Here are the key reasons why you should take the time to do it:
Accuracy
Transcribing makes sure you grab every detail. When you have a typed version, you can easily spot and verify details without straining to read the original.
Preservation
Old documents can be fragile and deteriorate over time. By transcribing them, you create a digital copy that can be preserved indefinitely. This helps protect the information even if the original is lost or damaged.
Searchability
Typed transcriptions are searchable. This means you can quickly find names, dates, or specific terms within a document using a simple search function. This saves time compared to manually scanning each page.
Sharing
Transcribed documents are easier to share with family members or anyone else interested in your research. A digital transcription can be emailed or uploaded to online databases, making collaboration easier.
Clarity
Old handwriting can be challenging to read, especially if it’s in a style you’re not familiar with. Transcribing forces you to read every word, making sure you understand what’s written.
Analysis
Having a typed version makes it easier to analyze the information. You can annotate, highlight, and make notes directly on the digital transcription without altering the original document. This helps in forming connections and making sense of the data.
Translation
If the document is in a foreign language, transcribing it first makes translation easier. You can use translation tools or work with a translator more effectively with a clear typed text.
Backup
A transcription acts as a backup. In case something happens to the original document, you still have the information preserved.
My Favorite Reason
How many of you have had to go back to a document a few times to check information? Going back to a transcribed copy is a lot easier than having to reread old handwriting again and again.
Transcription Help
There are many ways to make transcribing genealogy documents as easy as possible. Here are two:
For me, I like using Word and working with two screens. I pull up the document on my laptop and then use Word on an attached monitor to transcribe what I see.
You can also use software applications. One that is very popular with the genealogy community is Transcript.
Transcript is a free application that allows you to see an image and transcribe it all on the same screen. It is not Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capable, so it will not do the transcription for you. But then again you don’t want that anyway. You want to read every word.
Here’s what Transcript looks like:
The image is at the top and the writing space is at the bottom. You can then save the transcription to your computer and refer back to it when you need to. Or you can copy and paste into Word and refer back to that copy.
If your interested in learning more about Transcript, go to https://www.jacobboerema.nl/en/Freeware.htm
Transcription Education
There are so many ways to educate yourself to improve your transcription skills. Webinars found at Legacy Family Tree Webinars are a start. You can also find YouTube videos from competent genealogists. And there are courses found online.
I’m taking a transcription course from the National Genealogy Society. It is helping me improve my skills for this phase of my portfolio.
Finally
In many areas of our lives, getting started is the hardest part. I was a little nervous when I hit the send button to submit my preliminary application to BCG and get this ball rolling. But at the same time I had a calm feeling knowing this was the right time for me to do this. If not now, when?
The entire process of obtaining a CG is lengthy, so in the next year or so I’ll keep you updated on how I’m doing. And tell you about the elements of the portfolio that can help you in your genealogy research. Whether you want credentials or not, following standards is a great way to do great work.
Genealogy tip: In genealogy we all want to get answers quickly, but we also want accuracy and understanding. Take the time to transcribe all of your genealogy documents. By doing so you may discover more clues about your ancestors that you wouldn’t have found otherwise.
If you need help deciphering old documents, give me a call. I’d love to help you with your latest project. Just click below to get started.
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