Genchat, Places and One-Place Studies

Yesterday I and a few of my +Society for One-Place Studies colleagues took part in #genchat hosted by +Jen Baldwin. What a great hour it was and so informative, with plenty of information and hints for experienced and newbies to the concept of a One-Place Study.

Over the course of an hour we answered via Tweet the following eight questions:

1. What is a One Place Study in the world of genealogy?
2. Who conducts these studies? & Why do people conduct these studies?
3. What is the benefit of a One PLACE study over a One NAME study?
4. What resources are available and unique to a OPS?
5. How do you chose a location? is it important that you live close to conduct a OPS?
6. What tools do you use for your OPS? Does genealogy software help? What else do you put into play?
7. What elements are necessary before you begin? What goes into your overall plan for you OPS?
8. What areas are we all focusing on today? Where is your OPS or where do you think you would have an interest?

Here is the Chatter details embedded for you and further down is some extra resources that might be of interest.

Tweets about "#genchat"

Extra Resources

In December 2013 the Society for One-Place Studies hosted a hangout on area where we discussed the topic of choosing your place

• The Society YouTube Channel
• The Society Google+ Community
• Putting Your Ancestors in their Place by Dr Janet Few and a book review
• The Society for One-Place Studies Website
• Follow us on Twitter #1placestudies
• Connect with us at Facebook
• Our recent blog post - Community Mapping by +Tessa Keough 

GenChat - 13th November 2013

Yesterday Jen over at Conference Keeper hosted another fascinating round of #GenChat at Twitter This time the discussion point was geography.

Now there were a series of questions and I might not have noted them all down in the order they were presented. Apologies for my slackness, I was trying to keep up with the Tweets!

What is Geography?

When I went to school geography was about exploring places and what happens there, why and how and when. All those key questions that really we are, or at least should be applying to genealogy. Geography gives us an opportunity to explore the location of our ancestors, how they lived and worked. It enables us to break through those lists of names and dates and drill down to a depth of more detail.

Understanding Border Changes over time

This is really important. It might be a simple case of a town essentially being in a County. I have a family member who lived in Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire. The town has also been in Oxfordshire. That border change might influence our ancestors lives for lots of reasons. In some cases, towns on the borders of various Countries can overnight find themselves in another Country - look at Countries such as Italy and Switzerland.

At this point there were various resources listed and therefore I am simply going to present them here, at this point I have not had chance to explore them all

• Getty Research
• Institute of Name Studies based at Nottingham University (UK)
• Cymru 1900 Wales Project

Using Gazetteers

There are various opportunities to access these here are a few ideas

• Google Books
• Local Museums and Archives
• Historical Associations
• Archaeological Societies
• Specific archives - mining might have some general information
• GENUKI - UK
• The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers - fabulous, but expensive!
• Centennia
• Ordnance Survey
• Animaps
• Google Maps

What else can you do to understand changes?

Again this is about getting down to the basic roots of a specific place. 

• What sort of trade was there? 
• Industrial
• Rural/Farming
• Mining - coal, tin
• Canals
• Transportation - railway town?

Do you use Timelines to understand your geography?

• When did events happen?
• National, 
• Local
• Global
• This enables researchers to get a sense of time and place within their geographical research area - this could be things like
• Religious changes/Persecutions of religious groups = migration pattens
• Results of wars
• First World War
• Second World War
• Post Second World War - Israel, Palestine, Korea, Vietnam for example
• Yugoslavia
• Monarchy/Presidency
• Economy

Researching at County level

• Understanding terminology - Hamlet, village, town, township, county, state etc
• Wikipedia
• Family Search Wiki
• Local Societies
• Tourist information centers and resources

Political Boundaries - based on natural elements

• Flood plains
• Rivers
• Earthquakes
• Typhoons
• Bush fires
• Other Disasters
• Perhaps a disaster has left a monument  - example - Lockerbie Bombing 1991 This event created not only the monument, and a link between Scotland and the US, but Lockerbie has changed as a result.

Look at the location through the eyes of your ancestor

• Transportation  - no highways - walked across the fields
• Who did they work for?
• Who owned the land - deeds, land records, tithe maps
• Some agricultural labours moved location because of the land owner

Accessing copies of archives? Have you just visited with no agenda?

• Can you obtain copies easily of material?
• Is there a catalog
• Is it reliable or hidden gems!

Other references

Khan Academy

National Archives - WPA Records Group (USA)

Using GenChat

I have to say I rather like GenChat - tweeting for an hour, in sort bursts and this can create a 21st Century conversation! - sharing of information and URLS. This event was held at 4pm UK time which is brilliant, and I hope that more UK participants join in and share ideas and resources.

Here is the GenChat Schedule so you don't miss out on the fun!

GenChat - 31st October 2013

Yesterday I was given a friendly nudge via Google+ and reminded to join in with #genchat over on Twitter.

Usually these happen in the early hours here and I am forced to set an alarm clock and retreat to the study in my pajamas with a cup of tea. Truly, be thankful it does not involve video!

To celebrate Halloween this was a special Gen Chat extravaganza asking

  "What should Genealogy Societies be offering?"

With a question like that I simply had to take part!

The question and discussion (all via Twitter in 140 characters or less) was broken down into several components -

• 1. What do you find that your Society does that is really helpful

I belong to several societies. Several have not embraced the online market well, others have done it and not brilliantly and others have done it and are developing

• 2. Is your Society affiliated to a large state (or equivalent) organisation

Typically, here in the UK, Societies are members of the Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS). The reality is that really if you have an organisation that is perhaps not locality linked, but perhaps specific to a research group and you are attempting to grown your membership outside of the home country then joining organisations such as the FGS in the US would be a good option.

• 3. What would you like to see your Society offer?

Now on this question I am not going to answer it in a direct fashion. I am simply going to list some random thoughts and observations

• Modernisation  -Several of my long term UK societies have just celebrated their 40th birthday.  Firstly Congratulations and thank you to the volunteers and members who have contributed.
• Have those Societies had a review of their Constitutions?
• Is the structure of the Society suitable for a 21st genealogical research world?
• Is that Society retaining members and gaining both new and younger members?
• Succession Planning - For any organisation to continue, progress and evolve succession planning is vital. 
• Do you have a team of volunteers who produce your newsletter? Or is it the case that every time the editor or treasurer steps down you almost have to break someones arm to get them involved?
• Has Mavis and Harold been involved for so long that when they are perhaps forced to slow up, and relax the organisation grinds to a halt?
• Set about looking around the committee table - yes look at the ages of the members, the people who travel some distance to attend, the person who is always late, the person who spends an hour doodling and says nothing. - Are those people needing support, help. Are they bored?
• Volunteers - Do you recruit volunteers constantly or just when the need presents itself?
• The Constitution states that you need X to function, but that does not mean you do not need others. 
• Are you encouraging and engaging others to link into your succession plan?
• Do you say thank you to your volunteers?
• Is the work easily spread? Or is one person buckling under the strain while six others are putting their feet up? 
• Do your volunteers feel valued?
• Social Media - Here in the UK we have an advert on the TV with kids in the back of the car asking "are we there yet?" in that dreadful singsong voice that only someone with no children would hate!
• So ARE YOU THERE with Social Media?
• Twitter
• Google +
• Blog
• Face Book
• Hangouts on Air
• Is the difference between social media outlets and a web page known?
• Do you meet online?
• Committee 
• Members
• Red Tape - Is your Society held back by red tape?
• Was the constitution written years ago with no subsequent updates and a committee meeting of volunteers looking like the board meeting of ICI?
• Embrace Change - 
• The way to survive is to adjust and adapt to change.
• Change requires leadership.
• Do you have a good leader?

Hit the link to be taken to see the Gen Chat Schedule

Further thoughts

The above thoughts are my mine and mine alone. I have been a volunteer to various Societies over the years and believe in giving something back. The statements above are not about young or old volunteers. Genealogy welcomes everyone and is for everyone, but we need to both progress and value those members who have contributed so much, in terms of knowledge, willingness and time.

* Disclaimer - Harold and Mavis are fictional individuals!

Sorting Saturday - Twitter Catch Up

I usually mark tweets that I want to read again or those that list a website as a favourite and then do a sort of those posts at the end of the month. Well, I have been slack and I have not done such as post since the end of April.  Here is the round up of those tweets that I found of particular interest.

1. Word Central - An Exeter based writing group
2. Exeter Writers Short Stories Competition - closing date 31st March 2012
3. Bristol Short Story Prize - closing date 31st March 2012
4. 221B Magazine
5. History Carnival  - The November carnival will be hosted at The Renaissance Mathematicus
6. Thinking of writing to Santa?
7. UK Disability History Month - Celebrating our struggle for Equality 22nd Nov - 22nd Dec 2011
8. Book - The Polio Paradox
9. Join a Facebook Research Community
10. Jersey Heritage Archive Names Search
11. Share History & a remarkable 19th Century Recipe Book
12. History in an Hour - Guernsey Evacuees to Northern England during WWII-  Part One and Part Two
13. History in an Hour - Submissions
14. Book - The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
15. Guernsey Evacuee Diary
16. Book - Post Polio Syndrome - A Guide for Survivors & their Families by Dr Julie K Silver
17. The British Army in North Africa in 1942 - Imperial War Museum
18. Book - The Apothecary's Daughter by Charlotte Betts
19. Genealogy Blogs Organised by Type - courtesy of Geneabloggers
20. Botany Bay Conference September 2012
21. The Quilt Index
22. Australian Historical Association
23. Bletchley Park Roll of Honour
24. English Handwriting 1500 - 1700 an online course
25. Daily Telegraph  - Readers Memories of WWII
26. Great War Hero Weblog
27. Author's Licensing & Collecting Society
28. Letters & Journals
29. Good Mail Day
30. How to download material from Facebook courtesy of The Armchair Genealogist

Sorting Saturday - Twitter - April 2011

March swam into April at fairly rapid speed. My anaemia has made me quite tired, so on those evenings when I am home alone and usually catching up in the blog sphere, I have simply been too exhausted. Instead, I have been mooching in front of the telly, watching repeats of Pie in the Sky, reading and perhaps a little snoozing! - OK more than a little snoozing.

Here is the favourite Tweets for April, I still love that word!

1. First spotted via a post on Ancestor Search Blog - Google Recipe View
2. Sixth annual blogging event for Blogging against Disablism on 1st May 2011 & via Twitter #badd2011  Here are the entries for previous years - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
3. The Official Royal Wedding Site with a link to the photos of the Wedding cake - beautiful craftsmanship!
4. GeniMates, a great site in the making. I was profiled back in March
5. An interesting posting about using a traditional notebook with Evernote
6. Get involved in the Quilt for London project
7. Alerted to this movie, Home by Christmas by genebrarian 
8. For those who took part in the A-Z April Blogging challenge - a set of buttons where you can meet some interesting participants.
9. A Good Pharmacy Experience submitted to DearThyroid
10. Participate with the Department of Health Listening Experience - submit contributions by 31st May 2011.
11. April Organisational Tools, courtesy of DearMyrtle
12. Edinburgh Historic Graveyard Project
13. Thread of interesting posts to mark The Civil War Blog Challenge
14. Several posts on using Evernote - Using Evernote with Etsy, Using Evernote to the fullest & Five reasons to Evernote your life
15. Jamboree Application for Smartphones 
16. Brant County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society
17. Hogs Back Brewery

Sorting Saturday - Twitter - March 2011

The favourites list at Twitter for March has got worse at 95 favourites. That said, March has been a busy month both on and off line and as such I have not spent much time reading those sites marked as favourites as I would have liked. Also I have been poorly, with exhaustion that I blamed on a dodgy Thyroid to find that it was not in fact the cause at all. I am now feeling better and about to plough the saved Tweets, don't you love that word!

1. Stories of migration to Wagga Wagga NSW Australia - information from migrants and to submit details click here
2. I stumbled across a post at the tail end of February. The story of a house which faces demolition in New England. A month later I revisited the blog to see if there was an update. There wasn't but I had a more in depth look at the blog - A New England House Historian - a really interesting site.
3. To celebrate Women's History Month - Fearless Females - I am a little behind on some posts, but will complete the task. It has been very thought provoking and contains a useful set of blog prompts.
4. Back in February Walking with Ancestors wrote of an interest in researching cousin marriages. I said that I had a few in my ancestry. Here is part one of the article
5. Geneabloggers mentioned the site Zoom Village - needs further exploring.
6. Maisie Dobbs by Jaqueline Winspear Readalong
7. Old Time Quilts
8. Interesting article - Has your blog met your expectations?
9. Autoimmune Hypothyroidism - a new post at DearThyroid
10. Launching the Open Genealogy Alliance - more reading required!
11. Do you have a blogging Will? - An interesting post and much food for thought. What would happen to your blog and on line presence?
12. In this post - To Research or not to Research gives rise to a question that many of us to answer. I know there have been moments of my research when I have thought should I?
13. One Place Studies article on Copyright mentioned in February is HERE
14. Thought provoking article - Being British - journal prompt
15. I have been debating for several months whether or not to buy an iPad. Here is an interesting post and comparisons with other designs by alternative manufacturers.
16. Online file storage - Uploadingit.Com
17. File Profiling Tool available from The National Archives - further reading required!
18. A moment of pure sillyness - a library theme book tiles
19. History & Genealogy Handbook 2011 (Australia & New Zealand)
20. Voices of the Past - Heritage Blogger
21. Sites to explore - blogging tools - Zemanta
22. Social Networking site for foodies! - Hot Potato
23. Have you added your blog? - Family History Directory
24. New Genealogical Search engine - Mocavo
25. Is this mole likely to be cancerous? - day job - CPD opportunity!
26. Another day job link - cardiovascular checker - more CPD!
27. Read-a-thon - 9th April 2011
28. Thoughts in Progress Blog - more reading
29. Google search and web history - an interesting post by Geniaus
30. Link between Gilberts Syndrome & Hypothyroidism & Hypothyroidism
31. Norfolk Tours Blog
32. Contribute your ancestral obituaries, or just ones from the newspaper!
33. Top Prescriptions dispensed - Article from The Guardian 15th March 2011 - nothing like a dispensary I have worked it; far too tidy!
34. National Day of Remembrance - 25th April for those of Australia & New Zealand who perished in the Great War. - Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge
35. Census 2011 website & How the Census has changed - Census 1951
36. Great post about Evernote organise research & bookmarks
37. Writing a book review
38. Starting 28th March 2011 BBC1 9.15am - A Hundred Years of Us series of 5 programmes.
39. Back in January I wrote a blog post for One Month before Heartbreak. My post is HERE. This was essentially a campaign to try and protect the benefits of those who genuinely need it in the midst of the coalition clamping down on benefit abuse. Somewhere during the last month or so I missed a note about the 75th Disability Blog Carnival and whilst I am not personally affected, I do think that it a campaign and carnival worth contributing to. After all, not all disabilities are viewable.
40. Tea Appreciation Society - I have a couple of tea related books on my to be read mountain!

Sorting Saturday - Twitter - February 2011

At the of January I wrote about Sorting Saturday with a focus on Twitter. This followed on from a Tuesday Tip that I had posted sometime early January. Anyway, the crux of that post is that I read my Tweets via an iphone and often want to look further at a web page mentioned, or simply see the article on a bigger screen. As a result of this I mark any such Tweets as favourites. At the end of January I had 33 such favourites and I predicted that with February being a short month I would have less favourites. Wrong. At this point a week ago I had 48 favourites and today 66! So that theory went straight out the window. So, I will therefore set myself the task that the last Saturday in the month with be dedicated to Sorting Saturday - Twitter style!

I am still debating if I really can justify an ipad. Stuart has offered to buy me one and I keep saying I am debating if I really should get one. If I get one, it should be the top of the range, as if I am spending that much money I should just go for it, but something holds me back. Perhaps I'll do a post on the ipad alternatives......

1. Climbing My Family Tree was a blog I wanted to explore further, it was mentioned in a One Place Studies tweet for a post on Spain.
2. AnceStories hosts a monthly Scanfest - if I can get the timing right I may stop by!
3. Genealogy Webinars & Genealogy Podcasts - both sound interesting - must have a look & Listen!
4. Foodie Blogroll - I can easily spend an hour or two wandering about here!
5. Book Chatter
6. Thyroid Literary Challenge - I have written a post for this, but not published it as yet. It just needs proof reading. For further reading on the challenge click HERE. The whole of the Dear Thyroid site is good to explore.
7. The new website from the Families in British India Society and a link to the Embarkation Lists from WO25/3503
8. Catching up on a post from Australian Genealogy Journey for the Waitangi Day challenge
9. In from the Cold is a website aiming to commemorate those lost in war whose sacrifice is not recorded on a memorial.
10. Geneabloggers Radio
11. #savelibraries or email to stories@voicesforthelibrary.org.uk for the important work of saving libraries here in the UK.
12. A rather informative article from Dick Eastman about Inheriting illness from our ancestors and a look at some tests available.
13. Back on 11th Feb BBC Surrey had a phone in (I didn't hear it) about the uglier buildings than Guildford Cathedral - Future journal prompt! as the cathedral is 50 years old this year.
14. One Place Studies mentioned an article on copyright and an interesting fact about 31st December 2039. Hope I've not missed the article
15. Another great book blog Cozy Reader's corner
16. @CaroleRiley mentioned SpringPad
17. @GuildOneName mentioned Open Library which does look interesting.
18. Time for a Virtual Genealogy Society?
19. A new site, which at first glance looks very interesting and thought provoking - Social Media and Genealogy & a free webinar on 5th March - Sign Up
20. A blog post - Land Girls - needs a further read of this blog and a future blog prompt.
21. Carnival of Genealogy - issue 103 - Women's History. Deadline is 1st March 2011. Have you submitted your post? DONE!
22. An interesting post on creating an iphone Application. Might be useful......
23. Walking with Ancestors - Is researching what will be an interesting post about illegal marriages and marriages between cousins.
24. Tomorrows Pharmacist Bloggers hosted by PJ Online - a hint of the day job
25. CPD requirements - PJ Online - another hint on the day job
26. A disturbing post of a Cemetery in Chicago - CBS Chicago
27. Another disturbing post about a British Cemetery in India - The Times of India
28. A fascinating article of an American lady who sets about to meet all her Face Book friends. Click HERE to see the blog of the journey. Interesting concept!
29. The Meteorological Office (Met Office) are setting up a Weather Observation Website - an another interesting concept that will in the future have a historical slant.
30. Italian Bloggers
31. The Graveyard Rabbit of Alberta - a new site, but looks like it is going to be good!
32. Dick Eastman's report of Who Do You Think You Are Live - London style!
33. TpstryWeb posted recently that it has been "National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day" - never heard of it, but might be a good blogging prompt as we have a few genealogical pet stories!
34. A really interesting and informative post about copyright on blogs posted as part of the Sunday Salon by literatehousewife.com and Krishna's Books There is a link to the two individual blogs from the link posted here.
35. Article on Post Polio Syndrome - blog prompt and a link into the day job.
36. A sad and emotional post about the US book store Borders going out of business.
37. Posted as part of Sunday Salon a post from Confessions of a Mystery Writer - post called Lets all do the write thing about a charity raffle & fund raising events for the recent disaster in New Zealand.

Silent Sunday - Quilt

I spotted an interesting theme over on Twitter called Silent Silent - here are details. It is a bit like Wordless Wednesday hosted at Geneabloggers.

I don't think I'll participate every week, but we'll see.

Here is my offering for today.

Sorting Saturday - Twitter January 2011

I posted a few weeks ago, as part of Tuesday's Tip that I often read my tweets via my iphone and mark as a favourite any that I want to look at on a bigger screen (see there is another reason why I should buy an iPad!). I noticed yesterday that my favourites in Twitter had increased to 33. Is this a record? I therefore set about today, I know it is not Saturday, but it is the weekend! sorting through the tweets, which reflect most of the month of January. Thankfully February is a shorter month and I will no long have the main distraction which has been the cause of the chaos that has affected me.

1. Disability Living Allowance was a web page that I wanted to read. I had already read it as I wrote a post linking to it about three weeks ago!
2. Allin of Australian Genealogy Journeys wrote about Zotero earlier in the month as a potential candidate for a research log. I have looked at the Zotero website a few times during the course of the month and had reservations. I downloaded the file today and still have reservations. At the point of typing this post the software looks about as clear as mud. I'll keep you posted.
3. This was a link to the online obituary for my Aunt which is documented elsewhere in this blog.
4. A weekly tip on organising genealogy research. Apart from being the best thing any genealogist could do. Researching when chaos reigns is non productive and I should know! there are some really useful links to other similar posts. Including one entitled "In a File or a Pile", alas I am a bit of a piler but determined to get better!
5. A web link for the Twitter page in relation to the day job - Chemist & Druggist which is a reminder to reply to an email sent about a week ago that requires more thinking about! - Email done!
6. Posted by OnePlaceStudies - this was a very useful set of links about a suitable web space to host a one place study. Especially of interest to me as the OPS that I host for Puttenham has not had much luck with web space. Initially hosted at my ISP there were problems with uploads. As a temporary home I moved the data to a Yahoo group, which looked really promising as it had the facility for attachments to be posted to the list and a documents and files section, however, I began experiencing some issues with viewing files that I had created. So the Google Sites suggestion might be worth a go. I don't want to be continually moving the material around. Thankfully I have a domain name for my OPS so I simply move where it points to.
7. A link to the petition regarding the issue with Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - Closing date for the petition is February 7, 2011. -Petition completed
8. An informative post - U is for Under active Thyroid - saved as a memory prompt for something I am working on in the next couple of months.
9. A very emotive posting about the issue with DLA
10. An informative posting about the new Family Search site. A must read
11. From the Dick Eastman newsletter - Digitally Preserving your Family History by Barry Ewell. Contact Barry after 13 Feb for an electronic copy of the slides & handouts.
12. Free Webinar on Virtual Presentations for genealogy
13. Interesting article which acts as a prompt for photographing headstones, heirlooms, books and much more.
14. An interesting view point about a blogger who was approached by a publishing company to use a photograph of her grandmother. I have to say I agree with the approach taken by the person concerned. I was approached before Christmas by a company who saw a photograph that I had taken and placed on Flickr. Nothing particularly special about the photo. I said they could use the photo on two conditions. The first was, as the copyright belongs to me, that they cite me as the intellectual owner and the second, that the company made a donation of £100 to a named Charity of my choosing. The company didn't decline, they simply did not respond as they clearly expected something for nothing!
15. A journal prompt via the Geneabloggers website for Open Thread Thursday for 20th January What's in your research toolbox?
16. This article was shared from Shauna Hicks and is very thought provoking and actually I think kind of sad. I've kept the link to the article as a journal prompt.
17. Old Money is a mobile application. Details from The National Archives and the company who developed the application, where you can also purchase it.
18. Write for a new website?
19. Underground Literary Society
20. Waitangi Day New Zealand challenge (#waitangiblog) - Post written
21. 5 solid ways to get traffic to your blog - interesting article.