Category: How To

PODCAST Episode 7: I Wish You Were Dead

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn
Ancestry, Best Practices, Death Records, Documents, FamilySearch, How To, Patreon, Podcast, Podcast episode

I hate Valentine’s Day, so this holiday episode is all about death records. They rock my world. The focus is on Social Security and county-level death records, featuring my favorite: DEATH CERTIFICATES! Learn about the 6 W’s of assessing the purpose and value of a record before you ever use it, and then we’ll talk … Read More “PODCAST Episode 7: I Wish You Were Dead” »

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PODCAST Episode 5: Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch (with transcript)

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn
Accessible, Ancestry, Ancestry.com, Best Practices, Courtesy, Documents, Family Lore, FamilySearch, Find-a-Grave, How To, Keys to Genealogy, Patreon, Podcast, Podcast episode, Show Notes, Tips and Tricks

“Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch” is about the pros and cons of using Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, the two main family tree sites used by the majority of researchers I know. Each has assets and drawbacks, but they’re best used together. And get a load of my fan hot spots! All kinds of folks are tuning … Read More “PODCAST Episode 5: Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch (with transcript)” »

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PODCAST Episode 3: Folklore, or Just the Facts, Ma’am (with transcript)

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn
Accessible, Best Practices, Courtesy, Documents, Family Lore, FamilySearch, Find-a-Grave, Folklore, How To, My Discoveries, Names, Patreon, Podcast, Podcast episode, Reparational Genealogy, Show Notes, Tips and Tricks

“Folklore, or Just the Facts, Ma’am” is for EVERYBODY. If you’re doing research for yourself, or helping someone new start their own, this episode will help you to understand the whys and hows of using folklore-gathering skills to jumpstart your tree. I discuss a few examples of how folklore has helped me, and how asking … Read More “PODCAST Episode 3: Folklore, or Just the Facts, Ma’am (with transcript)” »

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Folklore, Genealogy, and the Holiday Season

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn 2 Comments on Folklore, Genealogy, and the Holiday Season
Best Practices, Courtesy, Family Lore, History, How To, Tips and Tricks

So many festive events, so little time. While it is VERY bad form to work on your laptop while sitting on the couch in the middle of a holiday meal or party, it is possible to add to your family tree during the joy and mirth surrounding the Christmas tree or the Hanukkah bush. In … Read More “Folklore, Genealogy, and the Holiday Season” »

Exciting Announcement: Podcast!

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn
Ancestry, Best Practices, FamilySearch, How To, Keys to Genealogy, Names, Podcast, Reparational Genealogy

We are working on a new podcast! It will feature nitty-gritty information about best use of different types of resources in online research, best practices, and best evidence (aka genie hygiene). It will help you to go from paper to people, to gain an understanding of your ancestors’ lives and make them less abstract than … Read More “Exciting Announcement: Podcast!” »

Digitally Gathering Family Lore

Posted on By Carolynn ni Lochlainn
Ancestry, Best Practices, Family Lore, History, How To

Over Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, I’d like to encourage everyone to take advantage of family gatherings, or technology, or both, to talk with family elders and record valuable stories about your ancestors. Ways to do this: • Write a list of open-ended questions to start discussions, like “What do you remember best about life … Read More “Digitally Gathering Family Lore” »