Digging for Ancestors is Released

PRESS RELEASE

Digging For Ancestors book release announced by The In-Depth Genealogist

December 6, 2013; Utica, OH: 

Our very own, Michelle Roos Goodrum has been working with The In-Depth Genealogist to take her many blog posts, articles, and research experience in land records to develop a guide and extensive case study.  The book is chock full of step by step explanations and analysis of many documents and includes great resources.  The chapters in this book are adapted compilations of the early “Timeless Territories” articles published at The In-Depth Genealogist (http://www.theindepthgenealogist.com), related writings from her personal blog, The Turning of Generations (http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/), along with new material and useful resources. As you read each chapter, consider how the material, examples and methodology might relate to your own research questions or situations.

Check out the Table of Contents contained in the book:

Introduction
Quick Start: Top Ten Tips
Getting Started with Land Records Research
Using Deed Indexes and Deeds
Transcribing Documents: Quick Answers to Why and How
Understanding Extracts and Abstracts
What are Dower and Dowry?
Using the BLM in Your Research
Baffled by Legal Property Descriptions?
Let's Talk: State Land States
A Look at Cash Entry Files
Examining a Homestead File
Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems
Cemetery Deeds: They're Land Records, Too
Three Reasons to Visit the Old Family Home
Google Earth: See the Past in the Present
Fun with Land and Property Records

Appendix A: Resources for Land Records Research
Appendix B: Township Grid
Index

Digging for Ancestors is a great resource and we hope that you all will gather at your computers in December to put in your own order.  The book is currently offered as a PDF for just $9.99.  Within the next few weeks additional formats will be available including Kindle and Nook. Best of all, we’ll also have a paperback version that will be 8.5” x 11” in full color for $29.99.  Simply go to http://theindepthgenealogist.com/idg-products/ to get your copy!

For more information, please contact Terri O’Connell.

My Summer "Vacation"

Just a few official days left of summer and I am beginning to see just how absent I have been from the blogging scene these past few months. It's not that I haven't thought about it. It's not that I haven't started several blog posts only to be interrupted by life. Family has taken over as happens from time to time.

What has been going on you ask?

First, our oldest daughter graduated from the University of Colorado which was cause for much celebrating and traveling since we do not live in Colorado. Also, since our ancestors lived in Boulder, Colorado, where she was living, I took some extra time to do my "genealogy thing" as another family member calls it.

We also had a couple of big family events in other parts of the country which allowed us to have some fun, big family get togethers. I won't bore you with all the details but it is always fabulous to get our families together.


Photo credit: Office

Then both of our adult children decided to move. In the same month. Yup. So who do you call on when you're in college and need help moving? You got it. Mom and Dad. So July turned into a crazy busy month, first because of the above mentioned family events and second because of the moves. Our youngest was moving within the same town so that was relatively simple but physically exhausting. Let's just say I survived! And I am eternally grateful for her football player friend who helped move her bed!


Snoopy Happy Dance
from media.photobucket.com

Our oldest daughter, the college graduate, moved from Boulder to Salt Lake City. She loves school so much she decided to go to grad school in SLC. I'm still doing the Genealogy Happy Dance over that choice! I will miss Boulder but who can be upset over having to visit your kid in the Genealogy Capitol of the World? eh?

Finally, there is this little construction project going on. I won't bore you with all those details either.

There has been some genealogy activity in my life these past few months. When Mastering Genealogical Proof came out, an opportunity presented itself to take part in an online study group with the book's author, Tom Jones as mentor. He not only helped us learn more about genealogical proof but also trained us so that we could mentor our own groups. I learned a great deal from studying the book, doing the exercises and, discussing online. Now I am mentoring a group and continue to learn more both from going through the book again and the online discussions we are having.

If you want to really understand genealogical proof and learn how to apply it to your research, I heartily recommend both the book and the GenProof study groups. There is no cost (other than the cost of purchasing Mastering Genealogical Proof). If you are interested, you can learn more at Angela McGhie's blog, Adventures in Genealogy Education. Angela is the organizer of the GenProof study groups.

And that leads into another summer (and continuing) genealogy activity. I volunteered to help Angela with the ongoing waiting list and registration for the GenProof study groups. It's been an easy way to volunteer and something I can work on almost anywhere (so long as there is internet access).

My best genealogy news is that I took a Genealogy Road Trip a few weeks ago! Both daughters were in need of some things that could not be shipped so I took a cross country (more like a cross the west) road trip and turned it into my own personal Genealogy Road Trip. All I am going to say is that it exceeded my wildest expectations! My goal is to write a mini series about it soon. Stay tuned!

That's about it for my summer "vacation." I hope your summer went well too.

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum

The In-Depth Genealogist Needs Your Help!

The In-Depth Genealogist has asked me to share the following with my readers:

Your friends at The In-Depth Genealogist will be attending RootsTech 2014 in Salt Lake City!

We’re excited, and we’re already making plans. In fact, we will be presenting a session there as well, and we have a favor to ask of you, our readers. ...

Terri O’Connell, Executive Director, and Jen Baldwin, Director of Operations, will be co-hosting a discussion on the topic of
Online Trees: The Root of All Evil?

We want to know what you think! Please take a few minutes to complete a survey on this topic, so that we can be better prepared for this event.

Looking forward to seeing you there!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NZTJCRJ"

It's only 4 questions and will take less than 30 seconds. Trust me, I know.

Saying Goodbye to Google Reader

It's not exactly a tearful goodbye. Frankly, it's time to move on and hopefully I'm finally ready. After asking for advice from fellow genealogists on Facebook and playing around with various products, I've settled in. At least for now.

I'm in love with Flipboard and have been for a while. Using Flipboard can only be described as a beautiful experience. Especially for the photography blogs. But I have some reservations. I'm having trouble making changes to the Reader feeds that I imported when I use my ipad. I wanted to do some re-organizing and haven't figured out how to do that without re-subscribing to the couple hundred blogs I read. I do love the magazine feature though. I'll definitely be sticking with Flipboard.

Feedly is another reader I liked. It was easy to switch over to and so far pretty easy to use. Plus all of my tags came over from Google Reader as well. I liked that. Thomas MacEntee mentioned being able to use alerts in Feedly in his blog post the other day. That caught my attention so I'll be looking into that feature too.

Now we'll see what happens in a few days when Reader goes away. I'm hoping I've done everything correctly. Are you ready?


© 2013 Michelle Goodrum

Five Reasons to Attend a Genealogical Institute

Image Credit: stock.xchng.com Collegiate 2

In January, I attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy(SLIG), for the second year. A fantastic experience once again. Genealogical institutes are an excellent way to further your genealogical education and experiences. Here are five reasons to attend one. Warning: after conferring with numerous attendees, I’ve concluded genealogical institutes may be addictive!

1.       First and foremost, they provide in-depth and extensive instruction on a particular subject and/or time frame. For example, 1780-1840, military records, advanced methodology, southern research, or producing a family narrative. If you are looking to increase your knowledge and skill level in a particular area, a weeklong institute is an excellent way to go.

2.       The instructors are among the best in the business. Typically a course or “track” has a coordinator who does most of the instructing during the week. Several other experts will run other sessions over the course of the week.

3.       The networking opportunities are endless with attendees and instructors. Since you will be spending every day for an entire week with the same group of people you get to know them, their experience, knowledge base and connections. One of my classmates is with the Daughters of the American Revolution and was able to provide advice, assistance and direction on who to contact regarding issues I’ve run into with my application.

4.       Lasting friendships develop when you spend the day with the same people all week.

5.       I repeatedly observed genealogists helping genealogists. Discussions held over lunch resulted in new leads to follow. One classmate looked up some records in her area of expertise for another classmate. An instructor provided key advice to a student on a genealogical problem. It was invigorating atmosphere to be a part of.

In the case of SLIG there is a big bonus reason to attend. The Family History Library!

Here is a list of institutes with links to their websites for more information.

·         Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)  held in January. Registration opened June 1. Some of the courses has waiting lists but there are still seats left in quite a few.

·         Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Samford, Alabama held every June.

·         Genealogical Institute of Pittsburg (GRIP) in July.

·         National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) held in Washington DC every July.

·         Forensic Genealogy Institute was held in April in Dallas, Texas.

I hope you will be able to attend one in the not too distant future.

URL for this post: http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/2013/06/five-reasons-to-attend-genealogical.html

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Little of This and That

Photo Credit: Boulevardrider

Well, I'm still paddling along with my head above water - barely. So I thought I'd just touch on a few items today to kind of get caught up and hopefully get back into the blogging groove a little more.

• A while back Aillin of Australian Genealogy Journeys gave The Turning of Generations an award for the 21st Century Organized Family Historian series (21COFH). I chose not to pass it on however but just want to say it was much appreciated.
• Speaking of the 21COFH, I'm planning on continuing it at some point in the future. In the meantime however, I'm working to put together a compendium of the series from 2012.
• One thing I'd been meaning to do for some time was join Kiva. I made my first loan a few weeks ago and am excited to be helping a businesswoman in Equador.

Well, that's it for today. Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend if you are in a place that celebrates.

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum

And She Comes Up for Air...

Photo Credit: Boulevardrider

Are you ever so busy you feel like you are doing the dog paddle trying to stay afloat? That's the way it has been around the Goodrum household the past several months.  In a good sort of way. Since I finally have time to come up for air, I figure it's time for an update before all my wonderful readers leave.

Here's the top six reasons, Letterman style, why blogging here at The Turning of Generations has been sparse:

6. Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in January. Several hundred avid genealogists descended for an entire week on Salt Lake City to learn from some of the top experts. I took Josh Taylor's, "1780-1840 Out of New England....." and came away with some excellent tools for researching in that time period. I may even be on the verge of a major breakthrough in one of my lines.

5. Income Taxes. Ugh. Nuf said....except....are yours done?

4. ProGen. That's the 18 month program where we study the book Professional Genealogy..... compiled by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Several of the assignments over the last several months have been lengthy and time consuming. As our adult kids would say, intense. Every minute has been worth while. More on ProGen in another post.

3. In-Depth Genealogist. What little blogging and writing I have done has been for The In-Depth Genealogist blog and the "Timeless Territories" monthly column for the Going In-Depth online digital magazine. 

2. Continually playing catchup from reason number 1-see below. Laundry, mail, packing, unpacking. UGH.

And the number one reason for not blogging....

Tons of family activities. With 2 college age kids active in a college sport and music, there have been numerous opportunities to see them this year. Finally, with aging parents, there are additional demands and opportunities. I don't want to bore you with TMI, so let's say it's all been great stuff going on.

 

Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I'll have more in upcoming posts. Promise!

URL for this post: http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-she-comes-up-for-air.html

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Premier Issue of Going In-Depth has Arrived

It's here! The In-Depth Genealogist's beautiful new online magazine, Going In-Depth, is out. The editors have outdone themselves. In this issue are articles by Thomas MacEntee, Gena Philibert-Ortega, yours truly and many more. Check it out.

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Party Time - 3rd Blogiversary

Today is the 3rd blogiversary for The Turning of Generations. Thank you to all the well wishers who posted comments earlier today!

It's been a great 3 years of blogging about family history and we've accomplished a lot. I'm particularly pleased with the success of the 21st Century Organized Family Historian. Both from the perspective of the organizing of the Family Archive I have been able to accomplish and the participation of all the Wonderful Readers out there in blog land. We all learn so much from each other!

Little did I know that beginning this blog would lead to an opportunity to write for The In-Depth Genealogist. What a great group of writers and editors we have over there. The team has made some major changes and additions since the first of the year. If you haven't checked it out or subscribed to the newsletter, I encourage you to do so.

I'm still attempting to get caught up from the holidays and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy last week. Rest assured there will be more coming soon.

Thank you for stopping by!

© 2013, copyright Michelle Goodrum