Monday, September 19, 2011

Another Meme-99 Genealogy Things Meme

There seems to be a couple memes going around right now. It's a good way to evaluate your own skills and maybe point out what needs to be worked on. I saw this one at Valerie's Family Cherished blog, which originated a few years ago at Becky's kinexxions blog.

Things you have already done or found- bold type
Things you would like to do or find- italics
Things you have not done or found / don't care to- (or that I know hasn't happened in my family).



  1. Belong to a genealogical society (a couple, but am thinking of adding a couple more)
  2. Joined a group on Genealogy Wise
  3. Transcribed records
  4. Uploaded headstone pictures to Find-A-Grave or a similar site
  5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents)
  6. Joined Facebook
  7. Cleaned up a run-down cemetery
  8. Joined the Geneabloggers Group
  9. Attended a genealogy conference
  10. Lectured at a genealogy conference (someday-it's a goal)
  11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society/local library's family history group (again, it's a goal)
  12. Joined the National Genealogical Society
  13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication
  14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society (I'm sure eventually)
  15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery (Mapquest---argh!!)
  16. Talked to dead ancestors (with varying degrees of success)
  17. Research outside the state of which I live
  18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants
  19. Cold called a distant relative (very nerve wracking--I had sweaty palms!)
  20. Posted messages on a surname message board
  21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet
  22. Googled my name (and my ancestors, I love Google!!)
  23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness
  24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it
  25. Have been paid to do genealogical research (my dream!!)
  26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research (again, my dream!!)
  27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative
  28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals
  29. Responded to messages on a message board
  30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion (I don't need for this to happen!)
  31. Participated in a genealogy meme (Woohoo!!)
  32. Created family history gift items (Hhmmm...the holidays are coming)
  33. Performed a record lookup
  34. Took a genealogy seminar cruise (this would be fun!)
  35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space (HA!)
  36. Found a disturbing family secret (not yet)
  37. Told others about a disturbing family secret
  38. Combined genealogy with crafts
  39. Think genealogy is a passion obsession not a hobby
  40. Assisted finding next of kind for a deceased person (think Unclaimed Persons)
  41. Taught someone else how to find their roots
  42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure
  43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology-sometimes it's borderline but it's a great way to learn
  44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher
  45. Disproved a family myth through research (not yet)
  46. Got a family member to let you copy photos 
  47. Used a digital camera to "copy" photos or redords
  48. Translated a record from a foreign language (not yet, still wading through things on this side of the pond)
  49. Found an immigrant ancestor's passenger arrival record
  50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer
  51. Used microfiche
  52. Visited the Family History library in Salt Lake City (on my top 10 list)
  53. Used Google+ for genealogy 
  54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors
  55. Taught a class in genealogy
  56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century
  57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century
  58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century
  59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents (only on my mom's side)
  60. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer
  61. Have found many relevant and unexpected articles on internet to "put flesh on the bones"
  62. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills
  63. Help someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research
  64. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC (I really really want/need a field trip to DC!)
  65. Have an ancestor who came to America as an indentured servant (a rumor, but haven't found the document proving or disproving it yet)
  66. Have an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, or Civil War
  67. Taken a photograph of an ancestor's tombstone
  68. Can "read" a church record in Latin
  69. Have an ancestor who changed his/her name (my husband does though--boy it's frustrating!)
  70. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list
  71. Created a family website
  72. Have a genealogy blog
  73. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone (I wish I had this problem!!)
  74. Have broken through at least one brick wall (not yet but I'm hopeful)
  75. Done genealogy research at a courthouse
  76. Borrowed microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center
  77. Found an ancestor in an online newspaper archive
  78. Have visited a NARA branch 
  79. Have an ancestor who served in WWI or WWII
  80. Use maps in my genealogy research
  81. Have a blacksheep ancestor (not yet)
  82. Found a bigamist amongst my ancestors (again, not yet)
  83. Attended a genealogical institute (went to IGHR last June and plan to go again next year)
  84. Taken online genealogy (and local history) courses (Boston University course--it was great!)
  85. Consistently (document) and cite my sources
  86. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors (this would be so fun!)
  87. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes (more or less)
  88. Have an ancestor who was married four times
  89. Made a rubbing of an ancestor's gravestone
  90. Followed genealogists on Twitter (not for a while, but I have in the past)
  91. Published a family history book (not ready yet, but someday)
  92. Learned of a death of a fairly close family relative through research
  93. Offended a family member with my research (not yet, but there's still time)
  94. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts
  95. Have a paid subscription to a genealogy database (um, a few....ssshhhhhh)
  96. Submitted articles for FamilySearch Wiki
  97. Organized a family reunion
  98. Used Archives in countries where my ancestors originated
  99. Converted someone new to the love of all things genealogy (not yet)
So there you have it!! How about you??

1 comment:

  1. Wow! OK, Wow, a lot of stuff there. Holy cow, I've got a long way to go. I didn't realize just how much of a rookie I really am. I am glad a friend turned me on to these genea-blogs. You have all opened my eyes to so many new things that I can't wait to get to. Thank you for that. Can't wait to go back to Ireland or England or Scotland. I know some new things are going to be on my must do/visit list. Great post, thanks.

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