U3A members have arrived at Family Research - Beginners with baskets or folders full of resources collected during a family research ‘burst of energy’, sometimes recently, sometimes decades ago. Some baskets have also included books or documents donated by other family members, or their own first effort at writing about their family. Most importantly, all brought along stories passed down over generations.
It is always a question of where to begin! This year we have asked class members to identify and focus on a person or family branch of interest which still needs work, or where there is a particular family mystery, ‘black hole’ or roadblock.
Using this person or family branch we are using the new computer and large screen in the small classroom to develop understanding of ancestry.com, both in one to one and small group sessions. Lots of sharing of ‘practice wisdom’ gained in past paper-based family research is occurring along the way.
Hints invariably appear as soon as a core person and father’s name are used to establish the tree.
It isn’t long before we are reading through source documents which shed light on the person, family mystery, or family branch which is the focus for research. Census results, baptisms, photographs, are reviewed and considered carefully before being accepted and added to the tree – with others ignored or added to the ‘maybe’ shoebox for future reference. During the process, some class members have discovered a tree commenced once as a ‘free trial’ is still available on ancestry!
We’re very pleased to welcome experienced family researcher Judy Barry as a mentor for the beginners’ group. Thank you for offering to be a mentor, Judy, and for the rich, thoughtful contributions you are already making. Thanks to Wendy Sturgess and Barry O’Connor, who will also be supporting the beginners’ group.
Bev Lee
It is always a question of where to begin! This year we have asked class members to identify and focus on a person or family branch of interest which still needs work, or where there is a particular family mystery, ‘black hole’ or roadblock.
Using this person or family branch we are using the new computer and large screen in the small classroom to develop understanding of ancestry.com, both in one to one and small group sessions. Lots of sharing of ‘practice wisdom’ gained in past paper-based family research is occurring along the way.
Hints invariably appear as soon as a core person and father’s name are used to establish the tree.
It isn’t long before we are reading through source documents which shed light on the person, family mystery, or family branch which is the focus for research. Census results, baptisms, photographs, are reviewed and considered carefully before being accepted and added to the tree – with others ignored or added to the ‘maybe’ shoebox for future reference. During the process, some class members have discovered a tree commenced once as a ‘free trial’ is still available on ancestry!
We’re very pleased to welcome experienced family researcher Judy Barry as a mentor for the beginners’ group. Thank you for offering to be a mentor, Judy, and for the rich, thoughtful contributions you are already making. Thanks to Wendy Sturgess and Barry O’Connor, who will also be supporting the beginners’ group.
Bev Lee