The Certification Question

Over the past few years, I've considered becoming a certified genealogist more often. About six months ago, I decided to go "on the clock" and start the actual process this summer.

free image from www.clipart-library.com

In pursuit of this goal, I took the BU (Boston University) genealogy course this past fall. I also took other classes, watched webinars, read articles, and listened to podcasts. Although I would have participated in many of these learning experiences anyway, I took part in some of these specifically with the goal of certification in mind.

Since I've started this journey, genealogy has become more of a job and less of a passion for me. Although I often enjoy it, it's become a part of my day I feel I "have to" do instead of something I want to do.

I recently realized how much stress this is causing me and joy it is stealing from me. So, I have decided not to pursue certification at this time.

A few things I've learned in the process:

• I prefer helping others informally with their research then doing it formally and writing a research report
• I enjoy blogging and want to do it more consistently 
• I LOVE teaching through presentations and want to pursue more of these opportunities

I still hope to become certified in the future. But, for now, I am happy to concentrate on the parts of genealogy I love: researching, blogging, and teaching! 

Course Review: Excelsior's Practicum in Genealogical Research with Melinde Lutz Byrne

Excelsior College Courses:

Excelsior College offered two new genealogy courses this summer: "Practicum in Genealogical Research" with instructor Melinde Lutz Byrne and "Genetic Genealogy" with instructor Dr. Blaine Bettinger. I signed up for the practicum and am proud to have completed this intense, advanced course a couple of weeks ago. It appears the courses will be offered three times a year: fall, spring, and summer. And, they hope to add additional courses soon.

Cost:

Each of the courses are 15-16 weeks long and are priced like college courses at $1,595 each. However, members of several societies (NEGHS, NGS, and APG) receive 10% off. And, I was fortunate to have signed up with a 20% discount after watching the intro video. 

Course Prerequisites: 

Although the site says this advanced course is intended for "experienced genealogists and researchers who are seeking to gain advanced skills to resolve open genealogical problems" and that the prerequisites are "genealogical research experience or instructor approval," the instructor has shared other criteria at other times. Most students should have taken the Boston University ("BU") genealogy course or ProGen or have lots of experience as an advanced genealogists. I believe I was the only student who had not completed BU or ProGen. And, though I finished the course successfully, I think it was harder for me and I took more time than other students.

Time Commitment:

The site says the weekly time commitment is "7-8 hours per week." I started the course spending 20-25 hours per week. Once I realized I didn't need to be as picky about the citations and that I shouldn't do as much outside research, I started averaging about 15 hours per week. This is a huge time commitment and it was hard to complete all the assignments during the summer.

Working Ahead:

One thing that made the completion of the assignments possible is that, for the most part, you can work ahead. You can access most of the assignments from the first day so you can work around vacations or other commitments. The exceptions are the few times when you work together in groups or the assignment involves another student's paper so you must wait for the paper to be ready.

The Course Consists of 8 Modules:

• Planning Solving Methods
• Predictable Bias
• Evidentiary Gaps
• Provenance in Evidence Evaluation
• Report Structure
• Research and an Ethical Compass
• Assembling the Evidence
• The Total is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts

A Typical Module:

Each module lasted 2 weeks (though I understand the course will be shortened by a week this fall). For most modules, you turn in 2 assignments each week, though some weeks only have a single, bigger assignment. One of those assignments is usually presented to the entire class for discussion while the other is presented just to the instructor for evaluation. Besides the assignments, you also are expected to respond thoughtfully to at least 3 of your classmates posts. And, there are two optional online class "chats" each week for one hour each. 

Each module starts with a lesson where you learn about the topic. The assignments are related to the topic and might include vidoes (TED Talks) or research and articles by other researchers. The last part of the course works towards your final project where you work on one of your own "brick wall" cases and present it as a paper to your instructor and your classmates.

What I Learned:

With often two writing assignments per week, I learned to write as a genealogist. Often, we would be told our paper had to be two pages or less. My first paper's first draft was five pages long and I had to pare it down to two pages! I learned how to trim the excess and focus on what was really important. I have not written "research papers" for a grade in decades and this was an incredibly valuable experience.

All of our work had to include citations. Though I understand the importance of citations, I have not been working with them and it was a cause of stress at the beginning of the course. But, eventually I had a system down and it almost became easy! I just added quick citations as I wrote and "polished" them before I handed in my paper. My citations still need a lot work, but just including citations in my writings is a huge improvement for me!

We also spent time almost every week reading sections of BCG's Genealogy Standards. We probably went over each section two or three times. I had never even read this small book from cover to cover, but now I am quite familiar with the standards! We used these standards to analyze other people's writings and determine whether or not we felt the met the GPS (Genealogy Proof Standard). 

Was It Worth the Cost?

$1,595 is a lot of money for most genealogists, though the course can be taken for $1,435.50 with one of the above mentioned memberships. Is it worth the cost? For comparison, I will use GRIP, the week-long Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, which I have attended the past 3 summers. 

Early bird tuition for GRIP is $425. If you stay in a single room, the cost is $350 for room and your meals for a total of $775. Since I live in Texas, I also need a plane ticket which costs about $300. So, my total is about $1,075. 

At GRIP, I spend 4 1/2 days in a classroom with other students listening to several teachers speaking in depth on a specific topic. As in most classroom situations, I learned both from my instructors and from my classmates. All three of my courses have offered homework, though some of it has been more relevant and helpful than others. 

On the other hand, I spent 16 weeks in the Excelsior class. The homework for each module was relevant and I received feedback not only from my teacher but also from my classmates. I also got to review my classmates' work and see how they handled the problems differently and study their writing: several of my classmates were superb researchers and writers. For 16 weeks I averaged 15 to 20 hours reading over the instructor's lessons, watching videos, reading both published and unpublished research by other genealogists, studying Genealogy Standards, and reading my classmates' work. And, of course, doing the in depth assignments! It was a tremendous learning experience.

Yes, the Excelsior Practicum was expensive. And, I know many genealogists won't be able to afford it. But, if you can, I think it is worth the cost and the time and you will likely become a more advanced genealogist because of it. As with most endeavors, though, you will get out of it only as much as you put into it!

If you have any questions about this course, please ask! You can leave a comment on my post or email me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net

Starting a Family Heritage Book

Two years ago, I traveled to Kansas to visit with an aunt and uncle and view the incredible genealogical collection they'd inherited from my Great Aunt Beulah, the one who got me interested in genealogy in 1998. A couple of months ago, I discovered my dad had also inherited a large amount of photos and other items from his mother. Between the two of them, I imagine we have hundreds of photos and other old documents for this family. 

Years ago, my dad and his Aunt Beulah created this composite family tree. The primary couple, Emil Peters and his wife Myrtle (Coppenbarger), are my great grandparents. So, on this tree I have photos of not only two great grandparents, but also four great, great grandparents, and seven great, great, great grandparents! 

This week I started a new course through the Family History Writing Studio. It's an 8-week course called "Creating a Legacy Family History Book." Basically, we will be learning how to use MyCanvas to make a digital family history book that can be printed out and shared with family members.

During this course, I will be focusing on a book about my great grandparents, Emil & Myrtle Peters, the center of this amazing photo tree. I'm a little overwhelmed at the size of this project, but I'm excited, too. As I work, I'll share some of the photos and stories here, as well as sharing the process. This week, we are learning about MyCanvas and how it works. I also want to get a better idea of the items I have so I can decide what I'll be including. Time to get started!

A Genealogy Course Review: "AGS: The Basics"

This week I enrolled in, and completed, the course offered by NGS titled "AGS: The Basics." This course must be passed before being allowed to take more advanced courses. The second course, "Guide to Documentation and Source Citation," is also a prerequisite to other courses.

While being given six months to complete this online course, I easily completed it in about three hours. Each of the four modules is set up with the same format: you read about a topic, then answer a series of questions. For each of the seven quizzes, you must score a minimum number of correct answers before being allowed to proceed.

Free Clipart from Clipart Panda

There are four modules in this course:

• Getting Started - which includes family group sheets, pedigree charts, sources, citations, and computers 
• Creating a Research Plan - which explains what a research plan is and how to use it
• Home Sources - which deals with sources you might find at home including Bibles, military papers, and photographs
• Family Traditions and Connecting with Others - which covers how to deal with family stories, family relationships (for example, what is a second cousin once removed?), conducting interviews, and contacting others through social media and other means

My biggest complaint was the price. For members, the course costs $45 and for non-members it jumps to $65. This is a lot of money for such a short course! 

I was also totally surprised that I was able to finish the entire course in about three hours. When given six months to complete it, I expected it to be a lot more involved! 

Lastly, more than ten years ago I started the Home Course through NGS, which I never finished. That course was heavily about actual research and you handed in assignments for grading and review before proceeding. I was expecting "hands on" work, and not just quizzes about what I'd read. 

I do plan on signing up for the next course, "Guide to Documentation and Source Citation," which I expect will be a lot like "The Basics." But, I'm hopeful that the courses past these prerequisite courses are hands on and include assignments which are actually graded. 

Staying on Campus at GRIP

Summer is basically over as school is back in session this week. I had a wonderful summer with lots of travel, but it's nice to be home now and getting back to a more regular schedule.

Unfortunately, with all of the craziness of summer, I haven't been blogging much! So, I hope to rectify that and blog regularly.

One of my trips this summer was to Pennsylvania where I spent a week at GRIP: the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. In this post, I'll share about my dorm room experience. In later posts, I'll share about other aspects of my week at GRIP.

Bold Hall at La Roche College

This is the main door to Bold Hall: the dorm room where many GRIP students and teachers make their home for the week. Since I'd been to GRIP before, I didn't have to wonder about where to go. The first stop is through these doors where we started the check in process and got our room assignments. (The rooms are reasonable with private rooms costing $330 and double/shared rooms costing $275. This includes your meals for the week!)

Room showing one of two beds, one of two dressers, refrigerator,
microwave, and one of two 'closets'

Although last year I stayed in a room by myself, this year I roomed with one of my friends I'd made last year: Jill. Jill actually picked me and another lady up at the airport and drove us to La Roche College. At check in, we got our room keys, class notebooks, name tags and more. Then, Jill and I got our luggage and headed up to the 3rd floor.

When we opened the door to our room... it was HOT! Now, Pittsburgh was having their hottest day of the summer at that point. I think it was around 90 degrees. But, our room's air conditioning was definitely not working. Our room was a lot hotter than the hallway. It was unbearable.

Bathroom area - plenty of space to store toiletries for two

We went back to the sign in desk to 'complain' and were told that a lot of the rooms on the 3rd floor were having a/c issues and someone was on their way to fix it. At that point, we decided to wait until after dinner to try to move in.

After dinner, we met one of the custodians in the hallway and he'd 'bled' our line and said it was better. It did feel a little cooler. By bedtime, it was bearable, though still slightly uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, as we were getting ready for class the next morning, our room started getting warmer. By lunch time, we knew our a/c was definitely not working. Before dinner that evening, we got new rooms on the first floor. It wasn't fun packing everything up to move down 2 floors and to the other end of the building. But, we were thankful for the a/c!

Frustratingly, the staff was never able to get our internet connection working properly in our new room. While taking classes with homework, that is definitely an issue! We ended up doing our homework either in the main building or on Bold Hall's first floor's common area.

Adding to the frustration of this year's a/c and internet issues, last year I had a similar problem with the a/c in my room. Like this year, they couldn't get my a/c fixed and I had to pack up all my belongings and move to a different room on the second day.

Oh, and the beds? Not comfortable! My first bed I felt like I was sleeping on chain mail. My second? More like a trampoline. I didn't get a good night's sleep until the 3rd night when I finally was tired enough that I had to sleep.

Will I stay in the dorms again?

The answer: probably. Although I've been frustrated with both the a/c and internet issues, having a room so close to the classes, dining room, and even other friends is a definite plus. But, I wish they could get these issues fixed!

5 Dorm Room TIPS

1. Bring your own pillow. One is provided, but it is very flat and not very comfortable.
2. Bring your own sheets. Then, use the sheets provided as a mattress pad.
3. Bring your own blanket. One is provided, but it is kind of stiff and not fluffy. Also, if you 'happen' to get one of the cold rooms, you might appreciate having two blankets!
4. Bring an extra bath towel, hand towel, and washcloths. You are only provided one of each for the entire week.
5. Bring your own toiletries. It's a dorm room, so nothing is provided but the toilet paper. You might even bring your own toilet paper!

Guest Interview with Michael D Lacopo: author, lecturer, and "Hoosier Daddy?" blogger

On Saturday, I returned from my second summer at the week-long genealogy institute in Pittsburgh known as GRIP: Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. This year, I enjoyed a course taught by Michael D. Lacopo, DVM and Sharon Cook MacInnes, PhD titled "Pennsylvania: Research in the Keystone State." 

While trying to decide which course to take, I recognized Dr. Lacopo's name from his blog, "Hoosier Daddy?" I wondered how this Indiana native could be an expert on Pennsylvania research. I was pleasantly surprised!

Michael, a former veterinarian, now works full time as a genealogy researcher, writer, blogger, and lecturer. He has graciously allowed me to interview him about his first experience teaching at GRIP, Pennsylvania research, and his fascinating blog. 

Dr. Michael D Lacopo with me and two other friends at GRIP
July 2015

You co-taught “Pennsylvania: Research in the Keystone State” last week at GRIP in Pittsburgh. What did you enjoy most about the experience?

Anyone who has seen me lecture knows that I get rather excited about the topic of genealogy, especially my Pennsylvania ancestors. And of course, the biggest complaint I receive of my teaching style is that I speak too quickly. But it’s all a manifestation of my excitement and passion. So I think the biggest enjoyment for me is sharing my knowledge and experiences and hoping that my enthusiasm is contagious. Any hey, we’re all colleagues with the same kind of goals. We all “get” each other. Who else spends a week in the summer in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh learning about courthouse research in Pennsylvania?

 

How long have you known your GRIP co-coordinator, Sharon Cook MacInnes, and how did the two of you decide to teach a course specifically about researching in Pennsylvania?

I believe Sharon began publishing her Early Landowners of Pennsylvania book and CD series in 2004. I was made aware of her presence then, and we met shortly thereafter at a national genealogy conference. Of course, the shared passion for Pennsylvania research made us very quick allies. The credit for the birth of the Pennsylvania GRIP course lies squarely on Sharon’s shoulders. She proposed the course to the administrators at GRIP, and started the ball rolling. She asked me shortly thereafter to join forces with her. I eagerly accepted.

While the course focused on research in Pennsylvania, many of the techniques would be valuable for research in any state. Are there unique aspects of researching in the Keystone State?

You are exactly right! When I discuss finding treasures in manuscript collections, I can highlight certain Pennsylvania repositories, but we ALL should be digging into those types of records regardless of where our ancestors lived! My teaching style is more of a “thinking” style. I will show you how to access things, and I will help you think outside the box, but it is up to you to do the digging. I want people to be broader, more creative thinkers. There is an enormous amount of information out there for us to find, but if you are constantly thinking surname, surname, surname, you are going to miss it all.

I think the lecture I gave on the county courthouse offices of Pennsylvania and the records found within them was the most Pennsylvania-specific lecture. I mean, really, who doesn’t raise an eyebrow in confusion when you talk about Prothonotaries and Courts of Oyer and Terminer? Even now, Microsoft Word tells me all those are misspellings. It makes Pennsylvania a “scary” state to research for newcomers. The terminology does not make sense intuitively for those walking into their first Pennsylvania courthouse to do research.

For those who are researching their Pennsylvania ancestors but aren’t able to travel to the state to do research, can you share a favorite site or tip?

I tell all genealogists that they should hug an archivist every day. There are tremendously amazing things nestled in archival and manuscript collections. Not only are they grossly underutilized, but they are usually within the jurisdiction of archivists and librarians who LOVE to share them with people. So although it takes travel to access the things you find in archives, I do love poking through the online finding aids of the Pennsylvania State Archives or of the Genealogical and Historical Societies of Pennsylvania. I can also spend hours throwing random search terms into ArchiveGrid to see what goodies are lurking in other repositories.

You live in Indiana where you write your blog, “Hoosier Daddy?” While living out-of-state, how did you become an expert on Pennsylvania genealogy?

I have said this to people before, and I try to do it without sounding too flaky. Although born and raised in northern Indiana, I have always felt at home in southeastern Pennsylvania. Although I have poked around the entire state doing research, the bulk of my Pennsylvania ancestors are in the corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Many of them are colonial Germans, and they reach out to me. They are my “favorite” ancestors, and I cannot give you a real reason why. I have been fascinated with the 18^th century immigration of Germans to Pennsylvania since beginning my research in 1980. It doesn’t hurt either that Pennsylvania didn’t experience the record destruction of, say, Virginia. So it has spoiled me.

You’ve left your blog readers with a cliffhanger as you’ve been recounting the tale of searching for and finding your grandfather. How are your house repairs going? And, do you have an idea of when you’ll be able to continue telling your incredible story? 

Let me just tell my readers this… there is a LOT more to the story. Finding my grandfather seems like it was a wild ride, but you have no idea what you have in store for you! From the history behind my grandfather’s life, his own amazing journeys and adventures, and the aftermath of the reunion, the story rivals any work of fiction you can pluck off the shelf at the nearest bookstore. But now that I am dealing with the living, and the here and now, there are unique issues regarding how I tell the story. That is one hurdle.

The second hurdle is that the story is still unfolding. I keep uncovering tidbits of my grandfather’s past that he has kept secret to all those in his life. As genealogists, we all understand the concept: “let me find one more thing…” We research and research and research, and we postpone writing. I need to deal with that.

And thirdly, the last blog ended with the destruction of my office and home from water. The office is back in working order, but the remainder of the house is not. There are still insurance battles, re-flooring, and remodeling in my near future. Combined with travel and lectures, it has significantly cut into my writing time. The light is visible at the end of the tunnel, but all I can do now is beg a wee bit more patience from my readers. I should be back at it very soon.

It will be worth it.  J 

NGS 2015 Conference Lectures at Home: Methodology Techniques

For the past two years, I've bought the video recordings offered by the NGS convention as I haven't been able to attend in person. This year, they offered two tracts: "The Immigration & Naturalization Process" and "Methodology Techniques." Both tracks include five lectures presented by some top genealogy speakers. I believe they are still available for purchase and viewing until August 16th. 

I've now finished watching the 5 "methodology" lectures and wanted to share some things I've learned from each:

The Time of Cholera: A Case Study about Historical Context by Alison Hare

A fascinating story about the lecturer's ancestor who died in the London cholera epidemic of 1854. An amazingly in depth study of the cholera epidemic and its victims in the area of the Broad Street water pump.

Original map by John Snow showing the clusters of cholera cases in the London epidemic of 1854.
The pump is located at the intersection of Broad Street & Cambridge Street. Image in Public Domain.

How will this change my genealogy going forward? I want to concentrate more on uncovering the stories of those ancestors I've already discovered and less on finding more ancestors. Every person and every family has a story. I want to uncover those stories! 

The Problem-Solver's Great Trifecta: GPS + FAN + DNA by Elizabeth Shown Mills

A great example of "reasonably exhaustive" research (which sounded pretty exhausting to me!) and of using GPS, FAN & DNA in combination to solve 4 generations of female ancestors. 

How will this change my genealogy going forward? Her example of using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the DNA passed from a mother to her children, was the first time I've really understood how mtDNA could help answer genealogical questions. So, I think it's time to do some mtDNA testing so I'll be prepared when I figure out how it might be helpful in my own research.

Forensic Genealogy Meets the Genealogical Proof Standard by Michael S. Ramage

This lecture introduced me to "forensic genealogy" which is fascinating! This kind of genealogy research is used when there are present day legal implications. In this case study, Ramage was searching for the unknown heirs to an estate valued at $22 million. 

How will this change my genealogy going forward? Ramage spent a lot of effort separating the identities of two men with the same name and many similar details. His use of a timeline to help in his research was a great reminder to me of this underused tool!

When Does Newfound Evidence Overturn a Proven Conclusion? by Thomas W. Jones

Jones went over a handful of cases where a previous conclusion was overturned. In each case, a complete use of  the five criteria of GPS would have prevented an erroneous conclusion.

How will this change my genealogy going forward? I need to go back through each of my generations and apply GPS consistently!

Using DNA as a Genealogical Record by Angie Bush

This lecture started with an overview of DNA and its applications to genealogy. Afterwards, several cases where DNA was used as evidence were described.

How will this change my genealogy going forward? DNA is a great tool, but GPS is a 'must!' If you find a DNA match with another person, this doesn't guarantee a specific relationship. Make sure the other person's tree has been researched correctly, too, using GPS!

"Complex Evidence" Webinar by F Warren Bittner: A Case Study Demonstrating GPS

I'm a member of Gen Proof Study Group 37 which is currently studying Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones. We are learning about GPS or the Genealogical Proof Standard and have each chosen a research question which we are using throughout the course.

Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, blogged about a Webinar a few days ago. The Webinar, which took place tonight, was "Complex Evidence" by F. Warren Bittner. I was a little afraid it'd be over my head as it was hosted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, but it was perfect for me!

He started with explaining the "goal of genealogy" and going over the 5 parts of GPS. Then, he discussed the Evidence-Evaluation Standards including sources, information, & evidence. This was a wonderful review, but the best part of the presentation was his case study.

His main point, in my opinion, was that many genealogy research questions cannot be answered by a single, direct piece of evidence. Instead, you need complex evidence, which he defined as being "established by multiple strands of indirect evidence combined to establish identity and prove relationships."

What I really appreciated was how he went through many pieces of evidence (he showed us about 30 pieces relating to one research question!) and discussed the following with each:

1. Is the source original, derivative, or authored?
2. Is the information primary, secondary, or unknown?
3. Is the evidence direct, indirect, or negative?
4. What is the complete source citation?

I'll share my research question for my class and how I would answer these questions based on what I've learned both from my Gen Proof class and Bittner's webinar.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Who was the father of Catharine (10 Apr 1804 in PA - 18 Feb 1889 in Clinton Co, PA) who married Adam Close (1797-1865)?

John Longwell will (cited below), page 1

Evidence #1: Will of John Longwell, 1892, which lists his sister, "Catharine Close."

1. SOURCE: derivative [it was copied into the will book]
2. INFORMATION: primary [he would have first hand knowledge of his sister named Catharine Close]
3. EVIDENCE: indirect [it doesn't specifically answer my question]
4. SOURCE CITATION: John Longwell (1892), Mifflin County Will Book 7: 298, Armagh, Pennsylvania.[Unfortunately, I have a lot of sources that I have never cited and don't have complete information to write a source so I'll have to write what I have on this one] 

[By the way, something very interesting about John Longwell's will is the fact that he lists his 6 sisters... who are all deceased! But, he didn't have any children and I think he actually is intending the money to go to the heirs of his sisters.]

The BCG site says this recording "may be available online at a later date." If you get a chance to listen to this lecture, I'd highly recommend it! And, you can follow the SpringBoard blog to find out about future presentations.

P.S. The BCG site now has this webinar, and others, available to view "on demand" for a small charge. 

SNGF: Your 2015 Genealogy Education Plans

It's time for some more Saturday Night Genealogy Fun! Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings hosts this weekly challenge. This week's challenge concerns our 2015 Genealogy Education Plans.

The "Fun" is in two parts this week:

Part 1: Describe your genealogy education plans for 2015

1. The Write Stuff: Build Your Family History Writing Skills with Lisa Alzo

I am currently participating in a 6 week online course called "The Write Stuff" coached by Lisa Alzo. This course is designed to help you write your family stories. I'm guessing it'll be offered several more times this year. We have weekly homework and meet once a week online for an hour.

2. Gen Proof Study Group 37

I am also currently participating in "Gen Proof Study Group 37" which studies Tom Jones' book, Mastering Genealogical Proof. We have weekly homework and meet weekly on Google+ hangouts for discussions besides having discussions throughout the week. I'm sure there will be other sessions offered this year.

3. GRIP - Law School for Genealogists with The Legal Genealogist, Judy Russell

I attended GRIP in Pennsylvania last summer for the first time. I am giving myself one week during the summer to travel and GRIP is my choice again this summer, though I'm starting to consider a week in Salt Lake City instead... I've never been! It's a hard choice!

4. Boston University Online Certificate Program

I plan on taking Boston University's 16 week program in the fall. I understand this program will take 20-30 hours of homework per week, so it will be intense!

5. Legacy Family Tree Webinars

I have a subscription and will watch some of the archived and new programs as they become available. These webinars are by many top genealogists and the new webinars are usually offered free for a week! There's a wide variety of topics and a large number of archived webinars avaiable.

6. Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) Webinars

I live in Texas, but find a subscription to SCGS worth the free webinars. I first joined to watch the Jamboree videos!

7. NGS 2015 Family History Conference Live Streaming

With a daughter still at home, I have limited time to travel. So, I really enjoyed being able to watch some NGS lectures at home last year! This year, they are again offering two tracks to watch at home and I'll be buying them both: The Immigration & Naturalization Process and Methodology Techniques.

8. Extreme Genes and Genealogy Guys podcasts

I really enjoy both of these shows and have started downloading them so I can listen to them either while working around the house or while running errands. I gave some examples of things you can find on "Extreme Genes" on my blog recently.

9. Subscriptions to National Genealogical Society Quarterly magazine and Family Tree magazine

I need to read both of these more faithfully! I might see about switching to the paper edition of NGSQ as I don't really enjoy reading it electronically.

10. Various blogs

I spend several hours a week reading various genealogy blogs which I follow on Bloglovin'.

11. DearMyrtle's Videos

I have just recently watched several of Ol' Myrtle's videos and have found them very useful! One was about creating a graphic for your blog which I used for "Our Stories" and another was about AncestryDNA matches that don't have hints! I also viewed her "G+ - Tweak your profile" video today and updated my Google+ profile! I'm going to keep my eye on what she's doing as she has a lot she can teach me. You can find her videos on her YouTube channel. (P.S. I would LOVE to do her GenLaw Study Group! I hope she does it again maybe this summer... I'm just too busy with my other classes right now!)

Part 2: How much time do you spend on genealogy education? and why?

I spend 20-30 hours a week, perhaps half of my genealogy time, on education at this time. Although I've been doing genealogy for over 15 years, I've come to a new season in my life where I have a lot more time to pursue this passion. I want to do it 'right' and I still have a lot to learn. 

Why? I do hope to become certified within the next 3-5 years, but I don't think I'd do it to take on clients. I am a teacher and could see myself doing some kind of teaching. But, primarily I want to be certified to know I'm researching at a high standard of excellence. 

Home from GRIP 2014!

Last night I got back from GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh) in Pittsburgh where I attended the "Intermediate Genealogy" course. What a neat week!

GRIP was held at La Roche College in the outskirts of Pittsburgh. It's a very nice, small campus. The building on the left was the main dorm building and on the right is the building where we had classes, meals, larger gatherings and even Maia's Books. As you can see, it is only a short walk if it rains - which it threatened to do but never did! In fact, the last two days were BEAUTIFUL with temperatures in the 60's in the mornings and highs only in the 70's! Gorgeous!

I stayed in a "double" room in the dorms, but used it as a private room. The rooms are a nice size for a dorm room and have a microwave, fridge, & a private bathroom! You can bring an ethernet cable and access the internet for free. Unfortunately, the a/c in my first room was broken and I ended up changing rooms after two days because they couldn't find a part. This room had actually been kind of dirty (hair in the bathroom drawers & some kind of gooey stuff in the cabinet under the sink). The second room was cleaner, but it was a handicapped room so I had less storage space. The beds weren't very comfortable and the pillow was very thin. They provided us with linens & a towel, floor towel, hand towel & one washrag (yes, one for the week!). Thankfully, a friend who lived in town brought me some more washrags!

Each day included several breaks and sometimes we would sit outside or walk around and enjoy the flowers and benches that are scattered around the college grounds. This amazing hibiscus was as large as a dinner plate!

Next door to the college is Sisters of Divine Providence, which I believe is a catholic church and convent. The first morning I slept with the windows opened since I didn't have air conditioning and I heard the chimes at 6 am, but I didn't hear it the other mornings when my windows were shut. We took several walks on these beautiful grounds.

We found a series of statues which, I was told, were the Stations of the Cross. As a protestant, I wasn't familiar with these though I've heard that phrase before. The angel is holding a cross which says, "In Cruce Salus" which means "salvation in the cross." Their are 14 stations which depict events of Jesus' crucifixion from his condemnation to being laid in the tomb. I wish I would have taken a photo of the station where Veronica wipes the face of Jesus & his face is left imprinted on her veil. I have written about the artwork of "Vernoica's veil" on another blog.

At the top of a hill was a beautiful cemetery for the nuns. I was amazed at how long many of the nuns lived, and also how many died each year. Often, there were four or five a year! I'm wondering how many nuns live in the convent, or if this is where some go to retire.

On the Sisters website was a neat article about the six pioneer sisters who immigrated from Germany in 1876 to teach German immigrants first in Ohio and later in Pittsburgh. As a genealogist, I loved how the article on the site ends: "The difficulties the pioneer sisters faced were many--insufficient housing, insufficient food, the challenges of learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and more. Through it all, they maintained a firm trust in God's providence."

First Evening at GRIP!

I'm now in Pennsylvania at GRIP (Genealogical Research Instituted of Pittsburgh) where I'll be taking the week-long course, "Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper", taught by Paula Stuart-Warren along with Debbie Mieszala and Joshua Taylor.

I got a private dorm room and it's pretty nice though a little dirty and my air-conditioning isn't working. I'ts about 8 pm, though, and it's cooling off and I have my window open so I should be OK through the night. And, I hope they get it fixed tomorrow!

I'm on the 'meal plan' so I get three meals a day in the cafeteria. Tonight we had salad, chicken parmigiana, ziti & marinara sauce, garlic bread, green beans & some dessert. It was pretty good for cafeteria food.

We also had our opening session where we met the coordinators & the teachers & some door prizes were given away. And, no, I didn't win any!

I've met several people and am enjoying hearing their stories. I also met Karen from "Karen's Genealogy Oasis" as I was walking back to my room from getting a snack!

My class starts at 8:15 and I have to get breakfast first. It's an hour later here so 8:15 will feel like 7:15. It's a good thing I'm an early riser!

2014 Jamboree Sessions Online...FREE!

Southern California's Genealogical Society presented the multi-day Jamboree last weekend. I wasn't able to travel there, but planned on watching some of the 'live streaming' videos they were offering for free. But, my schedule didn't allow it. Well, they are offering them FREE online until July 5th! Then, later this summer they will be offered to members on their site. (Membership is $35 per year.) 

If the above link doesn't work, I found it by going to the Jamboree site and then clicking on the "watch on livestream" button which is near the green "follow" button. 

The 10 session available are:

• Denise Levenick: Dirty Pictures: Save Your Family Photos from Ruin
• Dr. Maurice Gleeson: Ireland and the Slave Trade
• Dawn Thurston: How to Write a Personal History that Captures Your Interesting Life
• D. Joshua Taylor: Resources of the DAR: Beyond Revolutionary War Soldiers
• Cyndi Ingle: The Internet: A Genealogist's Printing Press
• Dr. Maurice Gleeson: Researching Your Irish Ancestry Online
• Bennett Greenspan: The Future of Genetic Genealogy
• Michael Leclerc: Researching Your New England Ancestors
• Judy Russell: Rights & Responsibilities
• F. Warren Bittner: Elusive Immigrant!

Going to GRIP in July!

This week I signed up for my first genealogical institute! It's called GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh) and will be in late July in Pittsburgh. I'm taking Paula Stewart-Warren's "Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper."

Besides the daily classes and the evening lectures, we will also have one evening where we can spend time researching at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. About half of my family comes from Pennsylvania and I've never been there before, so I hope I find something at this library!

I'll be sleeping in a private dorm room and eating cafeteria food. I'm excited to learn, make friends, and spend an entire week devoted to genealogy!

Do we share common ancestors? I'd love to talk! Please write me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net