RootsTech Learning #1 -- Ancestral Lines Pairing System

Prior to leaving for RootsTech 2012, I indicated that I would not be blogging during the conference, but would begin to put my learning to work and report on the results.  My first after-RootsTech post is about a newly developed numbering system for genealogical purposes.

My son and I have discussed for a long time the possibilities of a numbering system for our genealogical records.  The most prominent systems available to us as genealogists is, of course, derive from the Ahnentafel system which dates back to Michael Eytzinger in 1590.  I recently spend time looking at William Dollarhide's combination of the Ahnentafel and Henry systems -- in particular, Terry Cole's adaptations of Dollarhide.  In truth, none of the systems we discussed, "invented," or tried out seemed to be what we had hoped for.  A RootsTech workshop on the Ancestral Lines Paring System, attended by my son, has changed that.

Happy 2nd Blogiversary!

On 4 February 2010 I took a bold step into an unknown future by establishing "Stardust 'n' Roots" and publishing my first post. In these two years I have published 149 posts -- not a spectacular number (Randy Seaver. probably does that in a month) -- with more than 12,000 pageviews over the two years.
By far, my most popular post has been "A Hobbyist's Genealogy Manifesto." Blogger stats indicates that it has received 550 pageviews, equal to the next two most popular combined ("Location! Location! Location! A Question Answered" and "Name Collecting - 'Mythology' or the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Option").

I have been fortunate to have posts listed as "best" or "favorite" of the week by Randy Seaver's Geneamusings, Greta Koelh's Greta's Genealogy Bog, Ruth Blair's The Passionate Genealogist, and Elizabeth O'Neal's Little Bytes of Life. What an honor! Thanks! Then it was almost more than I could comprehend when I found my blog listed among Randy Seaver's "Best of Geneablogs for the Year 2011"  (based on the number of times listed in Randy's "best of the week").

Even more astounding is where the blog is being read. Blogger stats indicates that there have been page views from: United States, Russia, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Latvia, Ukraine, France, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Sweden, South Affrica, Guatemala, Kuwait, Ireland, Italy, Egypt, Nigeria, Slovenia, Turkey, Singapore, and New Zealand. Put it on the Internet and it is truly available everywhere.

I was surprised to find that a Swedish blog (iFokus) had a brief post dedicated to my "Sometimes Less is More!" post. He not only recommended the content of the post, but suggested that Swedish bloggers might use the post to improve their English reading skills.  Thankfully, Firefox had a translation of the Swedish ready for me.

When I began this venture, I never expected this kind of response. I am both amazed (actually, befuddled) and honored by the response. Thanks to all who have taken the time to read one or more of my blog posts. And special thanks to those of you who have taken time to leave comments. A few "cousins" have come forward and I now count a number of you as my genea-friends.

My birthday wish for all of you: May your searches uncover new resources on a regular basis, may your source citations be accurate and up-to-date, may bricks start to fall from your brick walls, and my your ancestors prove to be as kind to you as you have been to me! Blessings on you all!

Off to Salt Lake City and RootsTech!

This morning the adventure begins.  In about three hours, I leave for Salt Lake City.

Tomorrow I will spend the day at the Family History Library.  In the evening my son, Russell, will join me.  Together we will have three jam-packed days of RootsTech 2012 - he, mostly in the "developer" track; me, mostly in the "user" track.   We will have Sunday to compare notes, do some strategic planning, and maybe even spend time at FHL.

I look forward to meeting up with a couple members of the US Records Study Group and a goodly number of Geneabloggers, as well as other genealogists.  Here's to a great week for all!

The Bucket List GeneaMeme

Jill Ball writes: "I invite all genealogists and family history freaks to join me by sharing your bucket list of events, places, people and resources you would most like to experience before you leave this mortal earth."

The list should be annotated in the following manner:Things you would like to do or find: Bold Type
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type
You are encouraged to add extra comments after each item 

I am a kinda "bloom where you are planted" person.  In my 71+ years, I have had so many extraordinary opportunities and experiences, that it is difficult to even think about a bucket list of things that I would want to add.  Moreover, new experiences and opportunities keep presenting themselves to me.   So, with that caveat in mind, here's my list -- 

 1.    The genealogy conference I would most like to attend is RootsTech 2012 and NGS 2012.
        (I am registered for both this year.)
2.    The genealogy speaker I would most like to hear and see is Elizabeth Shown Mills.
       (I hope to be in one of her workshops in Cincinnati at NGS.)
3.    The geneablogger I would most like to meet in person is... actually, too many to list.
        (and a lot of them will be at RootsTech 2012)
4.    The genealogy writer I would most like to have dinner with is Thomas MacEntee.
       (Thomas has such an open, caring, and helpful spirit, I'd love to pick his brain and listen to him talk about genealogy and life.)
5.    The genealogy lecture I would most like to present is....
6.    I would like to go on a genealogy cruise that visits....
      (Cruises don't interest me.)
7.    The photo I would most like to find is Jacob Bartel (Barthel)
       (Jacob Barthel is my 2g-grandfather. My given name is Barthel. I know very little about Jacob. He is a brick wall.)
8.    The repository in a foreign land I would most like to visit is Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg - Generallandesarchiv Karlsruhe
      (I believe this is the state archive that would have the most information regarding the region of Baden from which my German Brenner ancestors came.)
9.    The place of worship I would most like to visit is  the Chapel at St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado.
10.    The cemeteries I would most like to visit is Forest Rose Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio (and other cemeteries in Fairfield County, Ohio).
        (Great and 2g-great grandparents come from Fairfield County, Ohio.
11.    The ancestral town or village I would most like to visit is Adelshofen, Baden (now Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany).
         (My 2g-grandfather, John Brenner, came from Adelshofen. He is the first of my direct line Brenner ancestors to arrive from Germany (in 1856).
12.    The brick wall I most want to smash is Macob Bartel (Barthel)
         (See #7, above.
13.    The piece of software I most want to buy is....
         (I have a preference for open source software.)
14.    The tech toy I want to purchase next is probably a Flip-Pal scanner (or maybe an iPad 3)
         (I would prefer an Android tablet, but got my iPad early on before the Androids hit the market. I have too many iPad apps that I would have to abandon (or re-purchase) if I made a switch now.)
15.    The expensive book I would most like to buy is....
         (If it is not in ebook format, I'm not interested.)
16.    The libraries I would most like to visit are 1) Family History Library (Salt Lake City, UT); 2) Historical Genealogy Department, Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, IN); and Midwest Genealogical Center (Independence, MO).
17.    The genealogy related book I would most like to write is....
         (I'll stick to writing blog posts.)
18.    The genealogy blog I would most like to start would be about....
         (I currently have one public and one private genealogy blog. That's enough for me!)
19.    The journal article I would most like to write would be about...
         (See # 17, above.)
20.    The ancestor I most want to meet in the afterlife is my great-grandaunt, Julia Huffman (nee Brenner)
    (See: “Stardust Stories - Julia (Brenner) Huffman, Truant Officer”)
 

My RootsTech Strategy

Thomas MacEntee has posted an Open Thread Thursday topic: What is Your RootsTech Strategy?

If you are attending RootsTech, what are your plans to not only participate in sessions and experience the Expo Hall, but to also report on the happening via social media? Will you post to your blog each day or several times a day?  Will you give a recap at the end of RootsTech? Or will you use social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter? And what are your goals in attending RootsTech?

Since there are two questions (over-all plans and reporting plans), I'll try to answer both. 

Abundant Genealogy - Week 4

Week #4  --  For which free offline genealogy tool are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.  (Thanks to Amy Coffin and Thomas MacEntee.)

This week's question was a bit more difficult for me since I have done most of my research online.  Without any doubt, I am most grateful for 1st cousin once removed, Dana Jack Bode.  His research (done mostly in the days of pencil, paper, notebook, and film-based camera) is the foundation of my work.  However Dana, while offline, is not a resource that others can access. 

Abundant Genealogy -- Week 3

Week # –  Free online genealogy tools are like gifts from above. Which one are you most thankful for? How has it helped your family history experience? (Thanks to Amy Coffin and Thomas MacEntee.)


Once again, it would be easy to list resources such as FamilySearch.org or Heritage Quest or all the Google tools.  But that would be too easy.  Instead, I thought I'd probe a little more deeply.  I have two free resources to suggest: