FAMILIA-L Archives

From:
Subject: [FAMILIA] Are You up to Date?
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:41:38 -0700

Information Series on Genealogy %%%%%%%%%%%
This article is another of a series that I will present to the group for
information, education, or to enlighten.
List Administrator
_____________________________________________________
Are You up to Date?
by Paula Stuart Warren, CG
My Mom, Patricia (Hanley) Stuart, passed away on 8 January 2008 while I
was teaching at the annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I remember
exactly when I received the call from my sister, Linda. I was eating a
hot fudge sundae at JB's in the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel with a friend while
another friend was massaging my neck and shoulders already tight from
stress and not enough sleep. Mom always did things on HER own schedule!
That night I stayed up ‘til the wee hours of the morning writing Mom's
obituary and a tribute to her.
It got me to thinking. Whether you use paper to record your family
history or a software program such as Family Tree Maker, are you
up-to-date? I mean, have you entered all recent family data, logged those
cute new family additions, added marriages and spouses, checked for your
family in the Social Security Death Index, gathered obituaries, funeral
cards, and even prepared questions for the next family gathering of any
kind?
Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched
My apologies to whoever created that phrase as I am tailoring it. Today,
we add other events to the basic three--born, married, and died.
Adoptions, step-siblings, foster children, engagements, partnerships,
commitment ceremonies, marriage contracts, divorces, burials, cremations,
and memorial services are also important family events to be documented.
I am always asked how to include things that don't fit the genealogy
software fields; notes and memo sections are great for that. Genealogy
software continues to evolve to include more such events and some allow
for tailoring of event and relationship labels.
Genealogists, Obituaries, and Tombstones
As a genealogist, I wanted to include as much detail as my Dad could
afford for the paid obituary. I had tears, but also had some nice
memories as I wrote. I wanted to include both birth and death dates, her
parents' names, her high school and graduating year, that her sister had
died five years previously on the same date, marriage date, and the names
of all children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well
as her wonderful caretakers. My family added her main doctor's name. Be
sure to have someone else review your writing.
The tombstone is out of my control as far as extra details because it is
a military headstone in Fort Snelling National Cemetery due to my Dad's
WWII Army Air Corps service. However, a genealogy friend told me about
the tombstone she already ordered for herself, with all the life details
to make it a future genealogist's dream. Have you thought about your own
family details for obituaries and tombstones? Many genealogists have
already begun their own obituaries. Whenever I see an obituary that
mentions the word genealogy or that the person is a member of ABC
Genealogy Society, I smile. If you write at least part of the obituary,
the word genealogy is more likely to be spelled correctly!
Family Group Sheets
A friend told me it took two years to add her mother's death date to the
genealogy software she uses. I haven't been able to do that yet. But,
what if something happens to you? Who will enter the details for future
genealogists? Will they remember Cousin Nancy's death date and place or
will your second cousin's son who died young be added?
Funeral Guest Books
Have you asked family members to either save these for you or to allow
you to make photocopies? On the photocopy, make notes as to who each
person is and the family connection if there is one. My grandmother had
old funeral cards and programs that gave me some family details. We are
also making notes on the sympathy cards so everyone knows if the sender
was a relative, friend, or co-worker.
Social Security Death Index
When was the last time you checked the Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
for your less-common surnames? Check it for those distant cousins you
last corresponded with in 1992 or elderly relatives you have not been in
contact with. Check the SSDI each time it is updated. Armed with a date
and the place, you can begin a search for an obituary.
Your Holiday Notes
Make time to review the holiday letters, notes on greeting cards, and
photos you received from family over the past few months. Middle names,
graduations, weddings, births, places of residence, names of colleges,
and other details can probably be gleaned. Be sure to add the source of
the details you add in case Aunt Dorothy mistyped a date. Even these
things need to be verified.
Even If It Is Difficult
As the historians of our families, it is important for us to ferret out
the details and add them to our family history. It might be difficult,
but wouldn't our jobs be easier if earlier generations had added such
details to their own records. We can set an example for the rest of our
family and for future generations.
Pay Attention to Details
If you did read this column fully, you would be able to put together a
good picture of my family. Names, dates, places, relationships have been
mentioned. You could take these details and do a lot of searching on
Ancestry.com and other websites. For much of your own family details from
a death record or obituary, you might easily find birth dates, siblings,
children, marriage dates, divorce dates, cousins, and ancestors. Now go
back and review your own family's 2007 pictures, graduation, birth, and
marriage announcements, and holiday letters again. What clues did you
miss?

This thread:

• [FAMILIA] Are You up to Date? by