The Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society welcomes interested genealogists at all stages of research. Whether you have been searching out your family tree for a long time or are just getting started, the Genealogy Society can be an invaluable source of information and support in your search.
Anyone who has taken on genealogy research knows the importance of organization. Where to begin? A practical first step could be reading some “how-to” genealogy books, including one called “Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher” by Drew Smith. (This book is available at the library).
This wonderful book is a great guide to sorting and organizing genealogy material, whether you are organizing your materials into folders or binders, or doing your research and storage via new methods of technology.
Genealogists who prefer to do research via technology will find his book especially interesting, as it talks about new software that can handle acquiring, preserving and organizing information. Two products suggested were Evernote (www.evernote.com) and Microsoft OneNote (www.one-note.com). Both of these products can be used with Windows, OS X, Android, and iOS systems. Drew Smith’s book would be a handy source because he uses Evernote through the book so readers can follow along and do so as well. Another possible book to source for this system is “How To Use Evernote for Genealogy” by Kerry Scott.
Evernote can handle a variety of files including text, images and emails.
Another avenue that Drew Smith explores in the book is setting up a blog to make your information visible to many people at once. One site mentioned is Google’s Blogger (www.blogger.com) to get you started. He suggests that blogs can be used as a research log, handy because they are more readily accessible than a binder or notebook.
The author explains that he has been using computer technology since he first began his own genealogy research in the 1990’s. But he says that even though many genealogists may have begun their research prior to genealogy software for personal computers, they can still learn and use the many products now available to simplify and preserve research.
Mr. Smith also mentions that whatever form of research you prefer, whether paper or technology, books are an essential tool for reference and education in genealogy. And if you are very organized, you can even catalogue your books with the help of LibraryThing (www.librarything.com). While some may have been using a spreadsheet to keep track of their books, a lot of typing is involved to enter each book. With LibraryThing, more recent books can be entered just by typing in the ISBN and LibraryThing will fill in the rest of the information. Amazing!
No matter what form your research takes, all genealogists have the same ultimate goal: to find, record, and preserve family history. Genealogists are all interested in the history of their family because it tells us who we are and where we came from. All this information shapes who we are, giving us a clear picture of where we fit in the timeline of our family.
Every family has a story: discover yours with the help of the Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas making new family memories!
