I know… another genealogy blog. However, I’d like for this blog to be a little different, something useful to those of you who plan trips to do research in a community (large or small) in which your family settled. Those out of the way places that are holding “gems” of information that might be instrumental for others in discovering that illusive “ancestor”…. Breaking down that “brick wall” we’ve been working on for years with little success, but we do know it is out there… somewhere.
Although there are many sources of genealogical information on the Internet, there are still those of us who find it thrilling to discover an original document hidden away in a courthouse, library, museum, an old house, etc. We really do want to be where our ancestors were. To see places they walked, farmed, made their living, grew their family and were buried. That makes our story real for us.
My wish for THE TRAVELING GENEALOGIST™ Blog! is that it be fun, interesting, and a quick source of information in a central location; information that might help the next person planning their trip to the same town, city, county, state to get the most out of their research time.
This site is intended for those planning a trip to do genealogy research, those who have returned from a genealogy research trip with information to share, and anyone who enjoys genealogy, family and history. We all know there is never enough time to do all the research we’d like when traveling to a new place. We are sure solving a mystery is just around the corner. BEING PREPARED IS THE KEY! So, if this site’s information gives you a head start on where to look, that is the goal.
I’m hoping THE TRAVELING GENEALOGIST™! will be one in which many genealogy researchers, far and wide, will participate in and share their information and experiences with other genealogists: A sort of “Pay It Forward” opportunity. Photos: I think a good photo is worth a thousand words. Was our experience good or not so good experience? What would have been a better approach to our search? Were we able to search out and speak to the people who could provide us helpful information?
If you have been to a small out of the way place to do your research, please share. Photos, pertinent text and maybe a little of what you found that might be helpful. Just enough to give the next person a starting place in their research.
Guest Submitter Instructions
What would you like to know before you arrive at your genealogy research destination?
a) Was your destination (Archives, library, museum, cemetery, etc.) easy to locate?
b) Tips on parking
c) Rules for researching in facility… only pencils allowed - no pens, digital cameras, purses, camera bags? What could you take into the facility to do your research?
d) Easy or difficult access to material.
e) How helpful was staff
f) What records did they have or how useful were they to the information you were seeking?
g) A few words as to whether you were successful in finding your information.
h) Photos - Include a couple of with your submission… “a good photo is worth a thousand words”… front of facility, cemetery, library, etc. Something that gives the next person an idea of what the place looks like.
Email your text and photos of your genealogy research experience to psb43@earthlink.net I will post your contribution to The Traveling Genealogist™ and give you byline credit.
