I found this list on Tonia Kendrick’s blog, Tonia’s Roots. I love lists (and memes!)!
Key:
Things you have already done or found – bold type
Things you would like to do or find – italics (NOTE: my blog renders itals as bold and red. Go fig.)
Things you have not done or found /don’t care to.
99 Genealogy Things
- Belong to a genealogical society (Not counting the national ones, I belong to the Upper Shore (Md.) Genealogical Society and the Historical Society of Talbot County. Hoping to join more societies relevant to my own ancestry — in Texas and Virginia, for example.)
- Joined a group on Genealogy Wise.
- Transcribed records.
- Uploaded headstone pictures to Find-A-Grave or a similar site
- Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents)
- Joined Facebook.
- Cleaned up a run-down cemetery.
- Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group.
- Attended a genealogy conference.
- Lectured at a genealogy conference.
- Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society/local library’s family history group. Would do this before attempting No. 10.
- Joined the National Genealogical Society.
- Contributed to a genealogy society publication. Not yet, but I will.
- Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
- Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
- Talked to dead ancestors.
- Researched outside the state in which I live.
- Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
- Cold called a distant relative. (Does cold-messaging on Facebook count?)
- Posted messages on a surname message board.
- Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
- Googled my name (and those of ancestors)
- Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
- Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
- Have been paid to do genealogical research.
- Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research. I’d love to be able to do this, but haven’t found the right formula!
- Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative. Okay, I’m counting this as the same as No. 19.
- Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
- Responded to messages on a message board.
- Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
- Participated in a genealogy meme.
- Created family history gift items. But I have created house history gift items!
- Performed a record lookup.
- Took a genealogy seminar cruise.
- Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space. – Ha-ha — yes, several.
- Found a disturbing family secret.
- Told others about a disturbing family secret (but not all of the secrets).
- Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
- Think genealogy is a passion and/or obsession not a hobby.
- Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person. I would love to do this, but need more time in the day.
- Taught someone else how to find their roots. Would love to teach a course someday.
- Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure. Thankfully, no.
- Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
- Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher. Thanks to dabbling in DNA!
- Disproved a family myth through research.
- Got a family member to let you copy photos.
- Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records. Always
- Translated a record from a foreign language. Will need help doing this someday with German records, I’m sure.
- Found an
immigrantancestor’s passenger arrival record. Not the immigrants, yet, but several native ancestors have traveled abroad and I’ve found their records.
- Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
- Used microfiche. Just did this today!
- Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Used Google+ for genealogy. I’m on there, but I’m not really using it…
- Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
- Taught a class in genealogy.
- Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
- Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century. I have not, but others before me have (thank you!)
- Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century. Ditto, No. 56.
- Can name all of your great-great-grandparents. I wish. I’ll get there!
- Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
- Have found many relevant and unexpected articles on internet to “put flesh on the bones”.
- Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
- Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research. Since my research business is based in an area where I have no ancestors, this happens all the time!
- Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC. I have home field advantage on this one.
- Have an ancestor who came to America as an indentured servant.
- Have an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or Civil War.
- Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
- Can “read” a church record in Latin.
- Have an ancestor who changed his/her name, just enough to be confusing.
- Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
- Created a family website.
- Have a genealogy blog.
- Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
- Have broken through at least one brick wall.
- Done genealogy research at a court house.
- Borrowed microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center(s).
- Found an ancestor in an online newspaper archive.
- Have visited a NARA branch. Only the main one!
- Have an ancestor who served in WWI or WWII.
- Use maps in my genealogy research.
- Have a blacksheep ancestor.
- Found a bigamist amongst my ancestors.
- Attended a genealogical institute.
- Taken online genealogy (and local history) courses. ProGen counts, right?
- Consistently (document) and cite my sources. Lesson learned!
- Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don’t live in) in search of ancestors.
- Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
- Have an ancestor who was married four times.
- Made a rubbing of an ancestor’s gravestone.
- Followed genealogists on Twitter. Follow me! @baysideresearch
- Published a family history book.
- Learned of a death of a fairly close family relative through research.
- Offended a family member with my research. Hope not!
- Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.
- Have a paid subscription to a genealogy database.
- Submitted articles for FamilySearch Wiki. Maybe someday…
- Organized a family reunion. No, but I plan to attend the 85th CORLEY family reunion in Illinois in 2012!
- Used Archives in countries where my ancestors originated.
- Converted someone new to the love of all things genealogy. I think I’ve passed the bug on to a few.