GenFriends: Beginning Genealogy~ What We Wish We Had Known!

In this episode of GenFreinds, the panel and I talk about how we began our genealogy journeys and our tips and advice for those who want to avoid making the mistakes we did!
Our discussion is not just for beginners since we all find ourselves creating our own brick walls from time to time!

Watch as Melissa Barker, Bernice Bennett, Shelley Murphey and I share what we wish we had known when we started researching our ancestors!

Lack of education is a major factor in making mistakes no matter how long you've been researching.
GenFriends has addressed that topic in the following posts:
GenFriends~Genealogy Conferences-News, Learning, Fun and More!
GenFriends~Virtual Education for Genealogists
GenFriends~Favorite Books for Genealogy Research

Share what you wished you had known! We'd love to hear from you!
What advice do you have for genealogists of all levels?

Contact our panelists:
Bernice Bennett-Geniebroots.com
Melissa Barker-A Genealogist in the Archives
Shelley Murphy-Family Tree Girl
Cheri Hudson Passey-Carolina Girl Genealogy




                                                                                                        Spread the word!
                                                                                      Click on the button below to tweet!

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to my youtube channel and follow the blog!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Beginning Genealogy~Starting Off Right

Announcing my new online class via The In-Depth Genealogist Academy starting April 1st!

"Beginning Genealogy~Starting Off Right"

The desire to discover our ancestors continues to grow in popularity with the addition of online trees, genealogy TV shows, and the popularity of DNA tests.  How do we begin to create our family tree and know we are researching the right lines and adding the right people? How do we know where to look for the information we need and if it is correct? The process can be overwhelming.

Beginning Genealogy ~ Starting off Right will teach the basics of beginning your genealogy journey. During the four-week class, we will learn how to start, understand terminology, organize your research, avoid common mistakes, and learn what types of records are available and where to find them.

Homework will provide an opportunity to begin the process of building your tree by putting the concepts into action as we move through the class.

Whether you have never filled out a pedigree chart or have been researching for a while with Cheri’s help you will build the confidence and skills you need to climb your family tree!

Here's what we will be learning during the 4-week class:

Pre-Class

Ice Breaker: Welcome Video. Student introductions.

Week 1-Starting the Journey

Building Your Tree and Staying Organized

Week 2-Knowing Where You’re Going

Mapping Out What You Need and Where to Find It.

Week 3-  Staying on Track

Working Your Plan and Avoiding Pitfalls

Week 4- Stopping to Smell the Roses

Understanding Your Discoveries

Final Summation Video

End of class review

Each week there will be a video to watch, a lesson to read and homework to help you put the principles into practice. Homework will not be graded but turned in for positive, helpful feedback.

I am excited about teaching this class! Won't you join me?

Sign up today using this link

---->.http://idgacademy.com/classes/beginning-genealogy/

Helping you climb your family tree,

Gettin' By With Help From Our Friends~Caitlin Gow

Today's Tips come from our Aussie friend, Caitlin Gow~

Tips from a young Genealogist
I started doing genealogy when I was 18 in 2009. Over the years, I have discovered that there are things I should have done from the get go. I did not have anybody to learn from or ask questions, so I was kind of doing my own thing. I guess that means these tips are directed more so at beginners, and are focused on things I wish I had known back then.
- Record your sources – that place where you get your information from. It makes it a bit difficult when you start working on an ancestor you haven’t paid much attention to, and discover that you have information you collected way back when but cannot remember where you found it. 
- Source Citations for genealogy related information can be confusing at first. Don’t over complicate things. Start off with the most important details. If you were to read your source citation a few years later and understand where that record came from, you’re all good. 
- Don’t believe all the information on the internet – that goes with anything though doesn’t it? Not all family trees you find on the internet are 100% true.  
- Research Genealogy Groups on Facebook – I wish I had thought of that when I started. You can ask questions & talk to others. Big help! 
- Research Genealogy Societies in your local area and the areas your ancestors came from. They can help with accessing records, giving advice, and often host seminars and other fun stuff. This also allows you to meet other genealogists! Socialising with other genealogists is one of the best things ever.

 Caitlin Gow, 25, is the author of the blog Genealogically Speaking. Based in Brisbane, Australia, she has a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from Griffith University. She is an avid supporter of using social media fro genealogy. She loves encouraging other young people to learn more about their family history and using her "detective skills" to solve mysteries.

Thanks for the great tips, Caitlin!

Are we kin? Need help with your research? Please contact me.

Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!