If you use Excel and make columns for each field that you would on a database like ACCESS it will work just as well and is not as complicated to learn. ACCESS is more for businesses and professionals that have the time to study exactly how it works. I took a class that was taught about ACCESS and found it difficult to remember all the ins and outs of the program. Maybe you have the time to spend learning it I didn't. I only did what I needed to pass the class and that part was only a small section so I didn't learn it very well. -----Original Message----- From: Caroline House [mailto:mscldy@dcn.davis.ca.us] Sent: Friday, August 07, 1998 11:13 PM To: GEN-ROOTERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GEN-ROOTERS-L] Research Standards What kind of data base are you planning on using. I tried Access and was less than 100 percent excited about it. do you think I just need to work with it more until I figure out how to make it do exactly what I want, or do you know of one specifically for genealogy that is good? Thanks, Caroline PJ and Bob wrote: > Caroline > I also keep and collect any info that I come across with any of my surnames > on it or at least my main lines. I have made email folders for each surname > and collect data that way. Some day I intend on building a data base with > the info and where it came from,,that way I have it if I need it and > hopefully I can help others who may need it or at least tell them who they > can contact. > Pj > - > > ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== > And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron,which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life;which waters are a representation of the love of God. 1 Nephi 11:25 > > listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com -- >From the desk of Caroline House http://house.simplenet.com/mom ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron,which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life;which waters are a representation of the love of God. 1 Nephi 11:25 listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com

Documentation is so very important. For several years my (Bingham) ancestors accepted the year of 1798 as the birth of my gggggrdfather. A relative doing research accepted it but in ding his own research found a birth record for a Willard in 1799 thinking it was the same man submitted it to AF as the same person. Now if he had down just a little more searching he would have found 4th ggrdfather to be born in 1793 according to the vital records found on the IGI. I learned early on not to accept what others have done as gospel. You will be sadly mistaken later. I use the rule of thumb "in the mouth of two or more witnesses shall my word be established." -----Original Message----- From: Oels' house [mailto:phibev@micron.net] Sent: Friday, August 07, 1998 2:07 PM To: GEN-ROOTERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GEN-ROOTERS-L] Agreement! Diane Wrightsman wrote: > I, too, spent years trusting the work of others, not documenting, not > thinking it was necessary in order to get my ancestors temple work done. Only recently, when I pulled some r-e-a-l-l-y bad stuff from the Ancestral file, have I realized what mistakes I could have made. > I agree wholeheartedly with Diane's position. When I am working with others who are just beginning their research, I always speak of the dual-nature of the project: Family history and genealogy. Family history to get recorded for future generations all those neat stories about ancestors. Genealogy to look carefully and determine how much of family history is really family tradition! Case is point: I and some fifteen cousins grew up hearing about the four brothers who came to the US from Sweden, changing their name after their arrival in order to gain employment. On closer examination, it turned out that between us we had a total of six names for four brothers! Searches of the parish registers in Sweden have thus far only turned up two of the four/six and the mother is now dead. Sooooo, unless great-grandpa married again and had sons with another wife, it looks very much as if our family "history" will need to be rewritten. Also, it appears from the records we have looked at that at least one of the sons changed his name before leaving Sweden. BUT without the history" we wouldn't have known what to look for. Or where. The parents and the children whose records I have located in the parish registers in Sweden have had their work completed including the sealing to the parents. The brothers whose very existence is still in question are listed at the end of the family group sheet with notes reminding everyone that they need to continue looking for these sons. No temple work will be done until I find them even though 16 of us "know" about them. As the first and only member of the Church in my family (excluding my immediate family), I feel a tremendous urgency about this work. I also feel accuracy is important. However, from the eternal perspective, how important is it if grandma was born on the 15th of May or the 14th? Maybe always operating prayerfully is the key? Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. Beverly in Idaho phibev@micron.net ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== We believe in being honest,true,chaste,benevolent,virtuous,and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul -We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous,lovely,or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these. 13th Article of Faith listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com

Thanks Robin

If you take off the last two areas of that URL you will find that you can connect. http://www2.kbyu.byu.edu/ancestors/teachersguide -----Original Message----- From: OBrienlu@aol.com [mailto:OBrienlu@aol.com] Sent: Friday, August 07, 1998 1:38 PM To: GEN-ROOTERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GEN-ROOTERS-L] A Challenge for YOU Dear Dianne, Como esta usted? I tried to put the http (hypertest transfer protocol) address for BYU on my favorite places by clicking on the hyperlink but it was not found. Help. This is a great challenge for all of us to take!!! :-) Thank you. Lula in Layton ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== We believe in being honest,true,chaste,benevolent,virtuous,and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul -We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous,lovely,or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these. 13th Article of Faith listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com

I've tried this and I still get error or something. jacboni@aol.com (Bonnie Ferguson)

I am doing something wrong. I will read all these wonderful sites to help with genealogy research and then go to the web and put in the URL and I get error or chech URL or something like that and I am getting discouraged. I tried AZDEE@aol.com same thing or roots surnamelistrsl-info@genealogy.org and get the same results. HELP!!! jacboni@aol.com (Bonnie Ferguson)

Caroline, I am probably the worst at documentation. I have thousands of names in various databases with no record of where the info came from. I do have a filling cabnites with copeis of various amounts of info, abut it now need to be enterend into my puter. time comsumping. Info that I copy from the internet, books etc I put in one of two places now. If it is a paper copy I file it in a filling cabnet, unter the surname of interest, it it is a disk copy I do the same on disk. Right now I am in the porcess of going through old records etc and make notes on puter files. ____ Linda Harris 1872 Regents Park Ct Marietta GA 30062 770 578-0105 Researching in eastern NC and VA and southern PA

What kind of data base are you planning on using. I tried Access and was less than 100 percent excited about it. do you think I just need to work with it more until I figure out how to make it do exactly what I want, or do you know of one specifically for genealogy that is good? Thanks, Caroline PJ and Bob wrote: > Caroline > I also keep and collect any info that I come across with any of my surnames > on it or at least my main lines. I have made email folders for each surname > and collect data that way. Some day I intend on building a data base with > the info and where it came from,,that way I have it if I need it and > hopefully I can help others who may need it or at least tell them who they > can contact. > Pj > - > > ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== > And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron,which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life;which waters are a representation of the love of God. 1 Nephi 11:25 > > listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com -- >From the desk of Caroline House http://house.simplenet.com/mom

Caroline I also keep and collect any info that I come across with any of my surnames on it or at least my main lines. I have made email folders for each surname and collect data that way. Some day I intend on building a data base with the info and where it came from,,that way I have it if I need it and hopefully I can help others who may need it or at least tell them who they can contact. Pj -

I worked at a data center that entered onto a master tape Ancestral File records for the Church. When we found obvious errors--i.e. all children born in the 1700s except one in the 1900s. We were not allowed to make the correction, or to notify the submitter of the error. Thus, there are many errors, but lots of clues. Charlotte utdoody@xpressweb.com

I sent a couple of posts last week that never got there, so here goes. I'll try again. I must have done something wrong twice before, but maybe this will be better. I wanted to give some support for the internet research, but I'm sure the thread is over. Anyway, I do approve. About today's letter. I agree that many of us in the past have been just plain sloppy in our research. I am trying hard to raise my standards and learn to do proper recording and documentation. I think the idea of working together to improve our research is an excellent one. What shall we do first? I know that my biggest problem right now is keeping track of odd bits of information that may someday be useful. I need a way to keep it, sort it and find it. For example, with a family name like Johnson, it is difficult to know which Henry and which Robert I am looking for. I am collecting all the Johnsons I can from the localities I know my ancestors lived in. I figure someday, some of the odd pieces will fit. I am struggling to find a system that will work for me. Maybe this isn't the kind of problem you had in mind, but I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has an idea or suggestion for me. I used to use RDF on the old PAF, but I want something better. I think it was on this list that someone mentioned the cost of obtaining all the documentation. It is not absolutely necessary to have a hard, certified copy of everything. A copy or a transcription along with a statement of where the original is seems okay to me. Caroline House mscldy@dcn.davis.ca.us -- >From the desk of Caroline House http://house.simplenet.com/mom

> >As the first and only member of the Church in my family (excluding my >immediate family), I feel a tremendous urgency about this work. I also >feel accuracy is important. However, from the eternal perspective, how >important is it if grandma was born on the 15th of May or the 14th? >Maybe always operating prayerfully is the key? > >Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. > Beverly, Thank you, these are my thoughts exactly. I try very hard to be accurate. But sometimes things do not always end up the way we want. I wish you the best in solving the mystery of your four/six brothers. Grins, Kaye One never knows when one tiny piece will pull the puzzle together.

Hi everyone! What I do to record my research is I make up research logs on my computer that say Date/Source/Notes. There's a space underneath each subject. I have one for each person I am researching for. I take them whenever I do geneology. I always make sure to write down whatever I do, so that, like Annette said, I don't redo what I've already done. I hope this helps anyone with ideas. Bye! Olivia Stewart newfundler@yahoo.com P.S. I just want to thank everyone for being sooooooo nice. I love this list! _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

I will throw in how I keep some of this stuff organized. Maybe if we share it will help us all find what works for us. I keep two files for each county I work in. One says "do" the other "done". I tape to the outside of each "do" file an alphabetical list of all the names I am researching in that area. In the file I keep printouts from the library catalog. I write my notes right on the paper. If I copy something, I staple it to printout. In addition to anything I find, I write on the page what surnames I checked in the source. Later I don't have to worry about did I not find a name or did I forget to check for it. I find this process saves time. I often get caught up and forget to write the sources. Now I don't have to. Filing by county instead of surname helps me because I like to research many collateral lines so I have many families in the same area. As far as writing letters to people I've learned two important things. 1)Always ask the person if he can refer you to someone else if he is no longer doing research and 2) Include a self-addressed, stamped envelop (if you don't there's a good chance you will get scolded!) Heidi dpetty@juno.com Researching ELLIS (MA,NY,MI, WI, IA, ND) and HERRICK (NY, WI, IA) _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Sandi, Thanks for the nice things said about our Family History Centers. All of us are volunteers, some have been around a long time and some of us are new. We do the best we can. All of our materials and info are donated. Most of our patrons are not members of the church, and 99% of them are the greatest! We do get a few who demand all kinds of things that are not possible for us to do, and we do have some dishonest people who try to steal films, books, etc. But our reward is to help someone find something they have been searching a long time. Like yesterday, a lady was using a swedish dictionary to find out what some words meant so she would know what she was looking for, and I handed her a pamphlet on that country and lo, and behold, as I was explaining what was in the pages, there were the exact words she had been trying to find. She let out a gasp and grabbed my hands and WOULDN'T let go. She just couldn't believe it and was so appreciative, and went on to have much success. Now, I'm referring to the Family History Centers around the world and not the Salt Lake Library. When you combine the two, you will find many friendly helpers who definitely know what they are doing, and you also have more information in one place than anywhere in the world. We appreciate YOU, because it's people like you who help to add to our information and help us link families together. Thanks again, from one who helps others out of pure love. Linda Kay Tom & Sandi Sladek wrote: > Jim, > I am one of the non-church members on the list, and I wanted to > tell you that you were a little too harsh on yourself. I've only been doing > my family research for about 5 months, but the LDS library in Utah has a lot > of great info. on how to start. I have a Family History Center near me, but > have also taken gen. classes at the college here. The first and MOST > important thing I learned was to write down my sources, rather I found > something or not. Always keep track of where and what you've researched. The > main library in our city has loads of information, just for your > researching. I started out wanting > to know enough about my ancestors, so that they were real people to me > instead of just names and dates. I try to find out their occupations, and > what community organizations they belonged to, so it helps me know what some > of their intrest were. Its not easy, but it is more satisfying when you sit > down and read it, its more like a family history than just a text book with > names and dates. Good Luck to you. And I want you to know that some of the > volunteers at our FHC are the nicest people I've ever met, and always > willing to help. There's always a few that are just putting in their time, > but overall I think their a God send. > > Sandi > > > ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== > And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron,which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life;which waters are a representation of the love of God. 1 Nephi 11:25 > > listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com

Jim, I am one of the non-church members on the list, and I wanted to tell you that you were a little too harsh on yourself. I've only been doing my family research for about 5 months, but the LDS library in Utah has a lot of great info. on how to start. I have a Family History Center near me, but have also taken gen. classes at the college here. The first and MOST important thing I learned was to write down my sources, rather I found something or not. Always keep track of where and what you've researched. The main library in our city has loads of information, just for your researching. I started out wanting to know enough about my ancestors, so that they were real people to me instead of just names and dates. I try to find out their occupations, and what community organizations they belonged to, so it helps me know what some of their intrest were. Its not easy, but it is more satisfying when you sit down and read it, its more like a family history than just a text book with names and dates. Good Luck to you. And I want you to know that some of the volunteers at our FHC are the nicest people I've ever met, and always willing to help. There's always a few that are just putting in their time, but overall I think their a God send. Sandi

Diane Wrightsman wrote: > I, too, spent years trusting the work of others, not documenting, not > thinking it was necessary in order to get my ancestors temple work done. Only recently, when I pulled some r-e-a-l-l-y bad stuff from the Ancestral file, have I realized what mistakes I could have made. > I agree wholeheartedly with Diane's position. When I am working with others who are just beginning their research, I always speak of the dual-nature of the project: Family history and genealogy. Family history to get recorded for future generations all those neat stories about ancestors. Genealogy to look carefully and determine how much of family history is really family tradition! Case is point: I and some fifteen cousins grew up hearing about the four brothers who came to the US from Sweden, changing their name after their arrival in order to gain employment. On closer examination, it turned out that between us we had a total of six names for four brothers! Searches of the parish registers in Sweden have thus far only turned up two of the four/six and the mother is now dead. Sooooo, unless great-grandpa married again and had sons with another wife, it looks very much as if our family "history" will need to be rewritten. Also, it appears from the records we have looked at that at least one of the sons changed his name before leaving Sweden. BUT without the history" we wouldn't have known what to look for. Or where. The parents and the children whose records I have located in the parish registers in Sweden have had their work completed including the sealing to the parents. The brothers whose very existence is still in question are listed at the end of the family group sheet with notes reminding everyone that they need to continue looking for these sons. No temple work will be done until I find them even though 16 of us "know" about them. As the first and only member of the Church in my family (excluding my immediate family), I feel a tremendous urgency about this work. I also feel accuracy is important. However, from the eternal perspective, how important is it if grandma was born on the 15th of May or the 14th? Maybe always operating prayerfully is the key? Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. Beverly in Idaho phibev@micron.net

The Ancestral File explains right on it that none of the information has been verified against official records, but it does give you something to go by, and if you make a verified correction, please send it to the AF so they can correct it on the next addendum. The information they receive is only as correct as the person sending it. They need your help, and in that way you are helping everyone else to be as correct as possible.Linda Kay Diane Wrightsman wrote: > First - what is an onry LOL? (I get onry, but not LOL). > > I, too, spent years trusting the work of others, not documenting, not > thinking it was necessary in order to get my ancestors temple work done. > Only recently, when I pulled some r-e-a-l-l-y bad stuff from the Ancestral > file, have I realized what mistakes I could have made. > > I am now in the process of almost starting from scratch, at least regarding > documentation. Thankfully, many other researchers out there working on my > lines were more dedicated and exacting than I, so my work will be easier > thanks to them. > > But what we have done is not all bad or corrupted for lack of > documentation! My great-grandparents and their 7 children are sealed as a > family unit, even though I can't tell you the name of the cemetary where we > found their baby's gravestone. They, in turn, are still sealed to their > parents, even though I was unable to copy records in Jackson County, MN. > > What am I trying to say is that, our work has not been for nothing. But we > need to improve our methods so that those that research after us will not > have cause to doubt what we have done. > > Love you all! > > Diane in Austin > > ==== GEN-ROOTERS Mailing List ==== > If you wish to change to the digest list send an email to GEN-ROOTERS-D-request@rootsweb.com and in the body of the message put the one word SUBCRIBE > To unsubscribe form the list (L or D) send an email to GEN-ROOTERS-(L or D according to which one you are receiving-it is on the top of the emails you receive)request@rootsweb.com put the one word message in the body of the letter-- UNSUBSCRIBE > > listowner questions to AZDEE@aol.com

Hi All, In case you all need forms for Research Logs, Family Group Sheets, Pedigree Charts, Children's Family Tree, Census Forms for every census I thought I would send the links so you would know where to look. For various forms go to: <A HREF="http://www2.kbyu.byu.edu/ancestors/teachersguide/charts- records.html">Ancestors Charts and Records</A> For The Census Forms go to: <A HREF="http://www.familytreemaker.com/00000061.html">Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Printabl...</A> For the 20 Ways to Avoid Genealogy Grief go to: <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/20ways.html">20 Ways to Avoid Genealogical Grief</A> Just click on the blue (if it comes that way) and it will take you there. Be sure to bookmark the site in case you ever want to go back for more forms. 1.Always note the source of information that you record or photocopy, and date it too. If the material is from a book, write the name, author, publisher, year of publication, ISBN or ISSN (if it has one), and also the library where you found it (or else photocopy the title page). Occasionally you'll find that you need to refer to a book again, or go back to great aunt Matilda to clarify something she told you. 2.Talk to all your older-generation relatives (before they're all gone and you're the older generation!) Even a distant relative can be a goldmine of information about your ancestors. 3.Make photocopies or keep backups of all letters and e-mail messages you send. This will save you from wondering which of your correspondents' questions you've already answered, and which of your questions they have or haven't answered. 4.Don't procrastinate in responding to letters or messages you receive. If you don't have time to write a detailed reply, send your correspondent a quick message or postcard to acknowledge receipt and tell her/him approximately when you'll send them a more complete reply. Then be sure to write back as you've promised. These are questions 1-4 on the 20 ways page. I know some of you just have email and very little access to the web so I will include what we are talking about so you can keep up. If you need forms and can't get them, let me know and I will send them to you by snail mail if necessary. I want all of you to have the opportunity to see and share all that we discuss. Anytime you have a question or need a link for something or whatever please ask. Take Care, Dianne

How about sharing these web sites with us. Would love to research them. It sounds like it would be a great help. Niki