One of the many genealogy blogs/websites I follow is Amy Johnson Crow. She is a genealogist who came up with the idea of writing about 52 ancestors in 52 weeks. I haven’t done it in the past but thought I’d give it a go this year. So, in addition to my Sunday blog post, I’ll be adding one during the week (hopefully) that follows that week’s theme. This week’s theme is “I’d like to meet…”
I’d like to meet my grandmother, Lillian Rebecca Bothwell Stabley. This is her on her wedding day, March 17, 1928, marrying my grandfather, Bernard Stabley.
This particular day was extra special because it was the 25th anniversary of Bernard’s parents, Eli Bernard Stabley and Ida Jane Dettinger. It was written up in all the local papers.
“Mother Lillian,” my dad’s mother, passed away in 1950 when she was just 41 years old. She had a heart condition that today could be easily treated. My dad was only 16 years old at the time. He said his mom had the best sense of humor and he remembered his childhood as a happy time.
As I write this I’m getting a bit emotional…not sure why. I know I would have loved her as did everyone who met her. I had such a wonderful relationship with my maternal grandmother that I feel sad I didn’t get that chance with my dad’s mom. Her death changed his life forever.
Genealogy tip: This photo was found behind another one in a frame. Look everywhere for those hidden gems.
Do you have an ancestor you didn’t get to meet? If you need help uncovering your lineage, I’d love to help.
So, it’s the start of a new year. I love this time for reflecting on the past and figuring out my genealogy research in the coming year. I’m a goal-setter and always have been.
If you’re not, but think you might want to this year, keep reading. Here are 5 reasons to have goals for your genealogy research (and a peek at mine).
Focus and Direction
Genealogy can quickly become overwhelming without a clear sense of direction. There are so many databases and documents to wade through. Without defining what it is you’re looking for, you may miss the mark. Goals also encourage thoughtful planning. They prompt you to ask questions like What exactly am I trying to find? What resources do I need? How will I approach this search? These kinds of specific questions can help you stay on track.
Efficiency
Setting clear objectives can significantly enhance your efficiency. A strategic approach helps you focus on specific aspects of your research rather than wandering through records that might not contribute to your ultimate goal. Goals help streamline the research process, allowing you to use your time and resources wisely.
Breaking Down Brick Walls
Every genealogist encounters roadblocks or brick walls that seem impossible to break through. Whether it’s a missing surname, conflicting information, or a lack of records, these barriers can be frustrating and discouraging. However, setting goals can serve as a powerful tool to tackle and overcome these challenges.
When faced with a brick wall, setting smaller, more specific goals can break the problem into manageable tasks. With this approach, the problem doesn’t seem as big. You can meet mini-goals on your way to solving the bigger picture.
Motivation and Milestones
Genealogy isn’t a sprint – it’s more like a marathon. Setting goals provides milestones along the way, offering a sense of accomplishment as you achieve each one. Small wins count! They keep the enthusiasm going and keep you motivated to continue. Celebrating these milestones can renew your enthusiasm, enjoyment, and motivation.
Documenting and Sharing
Genealogy isn’t just about discovering names and dates; it’s about piecing together stories and preserving legacies. Setting goals encourages you to document and organize your findings, making sure your family’s history isn’t lost to time. It’s about keeping those stories alive and making sure everyone knows about the incredible adventures your family has had.
Reflecting On My 2022 Goals and A Look To The Future
Here’s a peek at a few of the goals I had this past year…
Education and Skill-building: After years of trying to fit this into my schedule, I finally took the Mount Pleasant Cemetery tour with Kathy DiPhilippo, executive director of the South Portland Historical Society. This cemetery is in my neighborhood and I was happy to attend in October.
It was a beautiful day to walk among the headstones of trailblazers of the South Portland community and hear their stories. Plus, hear about the beginning history of the cemetery itself. Men such as Benjamin W. Pickett, a master shipbuilder, are buried at Mount Pleasant. He built wooden ships pre and post-Civil War in the Ferry Village section of South Portland. Shipbuilding was a big part of the economy in those days and of the history of this area.
We also learned of Daniel Goold, who was mortally wounded in the Civil War, not from a battle, but from an accidental musket shooting incident in South Portland. I’m sure I have walked by his headstone a dozen times, and never knew his story.
Also, in my journey to become a professional genealogist, I continued with the ProGen Study Group and have taken many seminars from the APG, Association of Professional Genealogists. They not only have educational programs on genealogy but also on the business side of genealogy…something I need to learn more about.
And my computer skills are improving with two webinars from WordPress, one on blog pages and the other on home pages. Working on a website is fun, but sometimes challenging. I’m sure there will be many more webinars in the future for this task.
Volunteering: While I was at Mount Pleasant, I took headstone photos trying to help others with their family history. Requests are made on the Find A Grave website and fulfilled by volunteers like me. You can make a photo request for your family and hopefully, someone near that cemetery will take a photo for you.
DNA: I didn’t do a lot with DNA, but there’s always next year…
Organization: I’ve also started organizing and digitizing photos. All of my pictures have been stored in manila envelopes and thick boxes, which I’m sure has done them no good.
So, even though this will be a very long process…I had to start. First, I took the photos out of their envelopes and started organizing them by topic. I had to stop myself from going down memory lane with every picture!
Most are just snapshots, but others are keepsakes that I want to protect. I investigated archival boxes and found them to be very expensive. As an alternative, I took the advice of Thomas MacEntee, a well-known genealogist, who suggested storing pictures in an acid-free box that wasn’t quite so pricey. These are found on Amazon and I figured it was better than manila envelopes! (I get no compensation for recommending these, just showing you what I bought).
I didn’t realize it until they arrived in the mail, but I had purchased these before, just in another color. I will rethink buying the more expensive archival boxes when I want to store my dad’s scrapbooks, but for most pictures, these shoebox-type containers will be just fine.
Now, what about the first quarter of 2023?
Many goals for the first quarter of 2023 will be an extension of last year…
The one big educational item will be a week-long institute from SLIG, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. In January I’m taking an Advanced Methodology class. This was my Christmas present. I’ll let you know how it goes. I can’t wait!
Volunteering: No plans for this in the winter months, but you never know what might come up!
DNA: My husband has a DNA match on his list that (so far) I can’t figure out who he is! The ProGen assignment for January is all about DNA, so perhaps this will finally get solved.
Organization: January is definitely the month for this! Those photos need to be organized along with my office (an endless task…LOL).
The one thing I am going to try differently this year is to have a word to focus on. I have accepted the 2023 One Word Challenge from a blog I’ve started to follow…Heart of the Family by Elizabeth O’Neal. She invites bloggers of family history to share their stories at her Genealogy Blog Party
So my word for this year…EVOLVE. By definition, it means to develop. This is the year for me to evolve into the professional genealogist I want to be.
Do you have a project that’s been on the back burner? It’s time to dig it out and just start. Happy New Year!
Genealogy Tip: Some projects are going to be big and seem overwhelming. Break them down into smaller tasks and tackle those one at a time. Even a small amount of work done over time adds up to finishing those bigger goals!
If you need assistance breaking down your genealogy research into bite-sized bits, I’d be happy to help.
When I look back at the hundreds of photographs from my childhood, some of my favorites are from Christmas. During Christmas time, my parents, full of excitement like kids, wanted to share that joy with us. On Christmas morning my dad was usually the first one up. He filmed 3 very sleepy kids as they walked down the stairs to see what Santa had brought.
I feel fortunate to have had such an idyllic childhood. My hope for you this Christmas Day is peace and love from family and friends and to feel like a kid, no matter what your age. Here are a few special moments from my Christmas past…
Genealogy Tip: Just this…Have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
How did your ancestors celebrate the holidays? If I can help find that out for you, give me a call.
