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Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Sale - Everyday Genealogy Calendar - $9.99

The Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar is on Sale for $9.99!

Starting today and through Sunday night you can purchase the Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar for $9.99!

That is less than 3 cents a day for 365 tips, suggestions and hints to help in your genealogy research.

Visit our website:

http://www.everyday genealogy.com

or

Amazon

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Research on the Go - Using Your iPhone or iPad

Are you wondering what to buy with that iTunes giftcard you got in your stocking? Sure you could down load something from the newly digitized Beatles catalog but will that help with your genealogy research?

Why not buy something that will help or inspire you and give your genealogy research a jumpstart? Everyday Genealogy is also an iPhone/iPad application! You can make notes,bookmark the tips that you want to research later and then delete them from the'To Do' list when complete.


Just go to the iTunes store and search for Everyday Genealogy OR you can click on the title of this article.



Your ability to research is only limited to the technology in your hand!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Name Tags - What Would Emily Post Say?

Name tags, something so basic but so elusive. I had vowed after my mother-in-law's family reunion 2 years ago I would never attend another family event without a bundle of name tags in my purse. My husband told me that it would be 'odd' to ask people to wear them. So there I was at my husband's Great Aunt Theresa's 100th birtday party this weekend and not a name tag in sight.

I have to admit as a genealogist I was ill prepared. I should have printed out Family Group Sheets so I could jot down notes as I met and greeted folks. Instead I attended as just another family member ready to congratulate Aunt Theresa on her longevity. And of course there was not a name tag in sight.

I had thought to bring my camera so all was not lost. I took pictures of all the guests so with some help I managed to put names to all the faces. And, as usual I found gaps in my database when I tried to match the pictures to names.

So, I was thinking maybe name tags would be more acceptable if they were mailed out with the invitations?

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Sideways Research for People and Places

Genealogy Glossary

Sideways Research: Investigating your ancestors' brothers, sisters and extended families.

This is the tip of the day for June 5, 2011 in the Everyday Genealogy Calendar. Sideway research is the topic of many articles and genealogy presentation, but does it just pertain to people?

The majority of my paternal research takes place in Barrington, Illinois. Notice I did not mention a county. That is because the town of Barrington is divided by Cook and Lake County. Unfortunately once you get the 'lay of the land' it is easy to make asuumptions that are wrong.

Case in Point: Fred Schwemm built two houses in Lake County in the early 1900's and can be found in the 1910 through 1930 census records. He cannot be located in Lake County prior to 1900. Why? Because the original family homestead was in Cook County!

In this case "Sideways Research" means looking in neighboring counties and states if you cannot find an ancestor. In truth Barrington actually touches 5 counties, so I have become an experty on most counties in Northwestern Illinois.

What inspired this posting is the Lake County Illinois Blog. It is a wealth of history about the county and the people of Lake County (some of them may have lived in Cook County at some point!) If you click on the title of this article it will take you to their site.

Everyday Genealogy is still available at http://www.everydaygenealogy.com. If you use the promo code BLOG you will receice free standard shipping.

Have a great holiday
Pattie


Collecting and Preserving Family Recipes

What would a family event be without Grandma Mary's cucumbers or Shirley's sweet potatoes? And no matter where I go or what deli I eat in, my mom's potato salad is best.

What will happen to these recipes? Are they written down? Has anyone tried to recreate the dish from the recipe?

Many of these dishes are made from memory and without exact measurements. One of the funniest holiday memories I have is my husband trying to record his mom making fudge. Every time she would add a 'sprinkle or hand full' of an ingrediant he was there with a measuring spoon! I was not sure he would leave the kitchen alive!

Use this holiday season to start collecting recipes. You will find that many people will be delighted that you asked! Some will also realize that they have never written down the recipe.

And of course there will be those that say there is no way they could record the recipe because they 'just make it'. My husband can attest to that, he still is trying to get that fudge recipe from his mom!

The Everyday Genealogy Calendar (and iPhone app) has more ideas about how to put together and publish a Family Heritage Cookbook. Click on the title of this entry or check out our website: http://www.everydaygenealogy.com


Saturday, December 18, 2010

A Genealogists Christmas List

During this busy holiday season we have lists of presents to buy, cards to send and things to be done around the house.

What list is missing? A list of questions to ask during those holiday visits. During the holiday season you have the chance to talk to relatives you see infrequently. This is also the chance to brainstorm with multiple relatives about parts of family stories that do not add up or that you do not remember. This could be your chance to break down brick-walls over cookies and hot chocolate with members of your family instead of researching alone on the Internet!

Make that list questions and check it twice.

Visit http://www.everydaygenealogy.com for more hints and suggestions to help in your genealogy research. Use the promo code BLOG for free shipping!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Christmas Cards and Family Newsletters - Find Them and Transcribe Them!

There are times when research help is literally at our finger tips or at least sitting in a box or closet.

My mailbox is filling up more and more each day with Christmas cards. The majority of them only have a signiture but some have notes or newsletters from family and friends.

They may contain a one page update on a family vacation or on who graduated from high school. If you are lucky they may also have which relatives attended the graduation party. Was there an aunt or cousin who wrote pages about her families activities during the year?

Do you save them year after year?

More important did your cousin,aunt,mother or grandmother save them?

The July 25 tip in Everyday Genealogy suggests finding which family members may have kept their old Christmas cards. Once found ask if any had enclosures or handwritten updates on family events. If the person who kept them doesn't remember ask if you can go through them.

If you are lucky enough to find notes or newsletters be sure to transcribe them. You never know when a casual remark in a Christmas card can knock down a brick wall.

Today is FREE SHIPPING DAY - so use the promo code BLOG and get free shipping @ http://www.everydaygenealogy.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Holiday Traditions From Around the World

Enhance your genealogy research and involve the younger generation by exploring holiday traditions.

Understanding how previous generations celebrated the holidays in their ancestral lands will make the past seem more relevent. Follow this link for more details http://theholidayspot.com/christmas/index.htm

The Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar provides hints and tips for your research. Visit http://www.everydaygenealogy.com for more details. Use the promo code BLOG for free shipping and handling.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Ice Storms, Snow Storms and the Next Generation of Genealogists

I remember the winters growing up in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago as if they were yesterday. Ice storms, snowstorms and those beloved snow days.

WGN TV and radio would let everyone know if their school was closed. Ray Raynor would read the list of schools that were closed since there was 'scroll' at the bottom of the screen. And if it was in December we might be treated to "Hardrock, Coco and Joe".

Passing these stories on to your children or grandchildren is a way to help bring them into the world of genealogy. They might be surprised to find out that television was only in black and white "way back then".

Getting the next generation involved in genealogy is a topic highlighted in Everyday Genealogy - the Desk Calendar. Visit: http://www.everydaygenealogy.com

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Gifts Ideas for Genealogists

Trying to find the perfect present for the genealogist in your life?

A pencil box from your local dollar store can become a portable desk that can be kept in a car, tote bag or utility bag. Fill it with a few essential supplies and earn the gratitude of your genealogist friend or relative.

More ideas like this are sprinkled through out Everyday Genealogy - the Desk Calendar or iPhone Application.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Enter to Win a FREE Everyday Genealogy Calendar

Suburban Woman is giving away 3 Everyday Genealogy Calendars for just posting a comment to their blog!

You must post your comment by December 17th to qualify.

You can click on the title of the article or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.suburbanwoman.net/blog/?p=639

Good Luck!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists

Do you make New Year's resolutions? How many times have you resolved to quit smoking, start a diet or join a gym? How many times have you kept these resolutions for more than a week or a month? Did you even make it through an entire day?

Why not make a New Year's resolution that you want to do anyway? How about making some genealogy New Year's resolutions? In the month of December Everyday Genealogy (The Desk Calendar) is peppered with resolutions to help you continue your research all year. Start the year making resolutions you want to keep. Plus, feel good about yourself because you actually kept a resolution!

Here is a preview:

1. I resolve to join one new genealogical society this year.

2. I resolve to pick one record type, for example land records, to concentrate on this year.

3. I resolve to catch up on my filing and get rid of clutter.

Visit http://www.everydaygenealogy.com to purchase the calendar with helpful hints and tips to keep your genealogy research going forward. As an added incentive you can use the promotion code BLOG for free shipping.

Happy Holidays
Pattie


Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar