Family, ho!

My family history project has been slowed gently down by waiting for the software to arrive.   I consulted three genealogists about what software to buy and each told me they had a different favorite, or product they used personally. I downloaded two different try-out versions, watched several product videos, and then went with Family Tree Maker from Ancestry.com.  None of my sources picked Family Tree Maker for themselves but each said it was a good product to use. It has the functionality I need, the interface is sharp, the back-up from Ancestry.com is important to me.

In the meantime… I’ve had time to start reading. For one thing, I’m reading a manual to Family Tree Maker 2008 cover to cover. Wow. I am learning so much stuff. I’ve also efficiently read two standard “Intro to Gene” books and one other title on writing your family history. Reading efficiently means I read the table of contents carefully, read the chapters I want, and skim those I don’t think I really need. Of course, this can lead to more careful reading. Then I photocopy key pages or ideas I may need later- like a chapter on family interview techniques or the U.S. census schedules 1790-1920 so I know what was asked when – and I’ve started a binder of these materials.  I’m using EndNote to keep track of my “regular”  reading (historical but not genealogical research).

I don’t usually read reference or software guides cover-to-cover. I mean, that’s why there’s an index, right? But I’m getting a very “careful” feel for this project – careful as in I’m working carefully. I’m the type who figures things out as I go and only refers to the index or help sections when I  have to. It’s faster for me to figure something out for a second or third time than to learn it going in. (Tell that to Stonetree, where I go begging when I can’t figure out one thing or another on Facebook on my own.)

My mom has done the research I’ll be basing my family history project on with her friend B. My first steps will be do to a survey of living family members, collecting dates of their own lives as well as family stories and family legends, and also do the data entry for the research my mother did as a place to learn about genealogical evidence as well as about my family.

My brain is working its way gently along the edges of a larger project.