Blog
Episode 3 Elevenses with Lisa – Dealing with BSOs
Live show air date: April 9, 2020
Episode 3 Video and Show Notes
Elevenses with Lisa is the online video series by author, international genealogy speaker, and host of The Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke. Click to watch below, and scroll down for all the show notes from Episode 3. (Dealing with BSOs training begins at the 15:39 mark.)
Download the Handout
Premium Members Exclusive: Show Notes PDF – Genealogy Gems Premium Members can click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode.
Staying Connected with the Grandkids and Friends
During this time of staying at home, we all miss our loved ones and friends. This week I shared an app with you that is great for playing virtually. Here’s what I did with my grandkids.
- Set up a computer, phone or tablet for calling on FaceTime. (You could also use Skype, Zoom or any other number of free services.)
- Download the Draw Something app to a second device – phone or tablet. Since this is a drawing game, a tablet gives you a bit more room to work.
- Friend your grandkids through the app.
- Video call your grandkids on the first device, and then take turns drawing and guessing pictures on the second device.
How Alice the Genealogist Avoids the Rabbit Hole Part 2
Don’t let unexpected genealogical finds send you down a rabbit hole any longer. In this episode I cover concrete strategies for staying focused on what matters most, while not losing track of opportunities that present themselves. You’ll also learn about free tech tools that you can put in place to give you peace of mind, take back those lost hours, and help you be more productive.
Identify BSOs (Bright Shiny Objects)
You can’t avoid danger (to your current research plan) if you don’t know what it looks like! My test will help you determine if what has caught your eye while researching online is a BSO.
How Alice identifies a BSO
Take the BSO Test:
- Does this get me closer to answering my research question?
- On a scale of 1 – 10 how potentially critical is this to my research?
- Am I willing to give up finding the answer to my research question to pursue this?
Once you’ve identified BSOs, it’s time to implement a process for dealing with them so you can stay focused on our research question, as well as return to the BSO to explore its potential.
5 Ways to Capture & Return to BSOs
1. Use a Cloud Note-taking Service
Get yourself a free Cloud note-taking tool (Evernote, OneNote, Google Docs, etc.) and use it consistently. Use the website, software, and/or app to capture unexpected finds while researching.
I happen to use Evernote. If you’re new to Evernote, here’s a quick video that will help explain it to you.
Here’s an example of how I use Evernote to capture BSOs:
- Create a tag in Evernote called BSO.
- Each time you come across something that tempts you to deviate from your current focus, clip it and tag it with the BSO tag. This will allow you to move on with your research plan with confidence, knowing that it will be easy to locate and pursue the BSO later.
- Add additional tags if desired to help you remember what it was about or why it interested you, such as a surname tag.
- Evernote notes can have multiple tags, so use them.
- Annotate the note to provide additional information as to why the BSO caught your eye, and what you plan to follow up on later.
- Evernote will attach a link to the page where you clipped the item to the note. This means with one click you can return to the original source.
Notes tagged in Evernote
The benefit of using a Cloud-based note-taking tool is that your notes will be available to you on all your devices (depending on whether you have a free or subscription plan.) You can add additional information to your notes, and work with them anytime, anywhere.
2. Schedule BSO Time
One of the main reasons we get side-tracked by BSOs while working online is that we are afraid if we don’t look at it right now we’ll lost it or never go back to it. By scheduling time specifically for working on tagged BSOs, you will feel more confident about letting them go while you are working on a research plan.
I schedule my time in the free Google calendar. You can have several different calendars (i.e. categories of types of things you schedule.) Create a “BSO” calendar and color code it so it’s easy to spot. Schedule BSO time and follow up items as future events on your calendar. Set Notifications and Email Reminders for each item.
Scheduling BSO times means you can mentally let them go for now!
Create a “BSO” calendar
Coming in the next episode:
In Episode 4 of Elevenses with Lisa we will cover Mobile Organization. We spend a lot of time on our phones and tablets. Get ready for the best tips and tricks that will help you stay on task.
Mobile Genealogy Organization
Resources
Premium Members Exclusive: Show Notes PDF – Genealogy Gems Premium Members can click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode. (Log in required.)
Become a Premium Member here.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
Please leave your comments and questions below.
Episode 2 Elevenses with Lisa – Research Plans
Live show air date: April 2, 2020
Episode 2 Video and Show Notes
Elevenses with Lisa is the new online video series by author and international genealogy speaker and host of The Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke. Click to watch below, and scroll down for all the show notes from Episode 2. (The “Alice” presentation on research plans begins at the 14:40 mark.)
Download the Handout
Premium Members Exclusive: Show Notes PDF – Genealogy Gems Premium Members can click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode. (Log in required.)
The Live Show is Moving to the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel
Join me for the live show Elevenses with Lisa at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel starting April 16, 2020. (Episodes 1-3 were held on Facebook Live.)
- Go to the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel here.
- Once there click the Subscribe button.
- Then click the bell icon to receive notifications. (This is important because it will alert you by email that a new show has been scheduled or published.)
After “Subscribing” click the bell icon.
- Look for the next scheduled live episode at the top of the list of videos and click “Set Reminder”
Click here to learn more about how to tune in the live show.
The Cookie Recipe
Many of you asked for the yummy cookie recipe I mention in this episode. Isn’t it incredible that a woman in California who was attending my genealogy presentation had a sister with a cookbook from the little town in Minnesota of my mother-in-laws ancestors from 80 years ago that contained the exact family recipe I was in search of? Talk about genealogical serendipity!
Here’s the recipe (I set my oven to 375 degrees):
Sour Cream Drop Cookie Recipe from the 1940s.
TV Viewing Recommendation
I also shared with you that my favorite television series is Good Neighbors (The Good Life in the UK). It stars the amazing ensemble cast of Richard Briers, Felicity Kendall, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington. Sometimes you can catch the series on Amazon Prime, or PBS, but the DVDs are well worth having. (If you decide to order them, we appreciate you using our affiliate link below. We are compensated when you make a purchase, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this free Elevenses with Lisa show.)
Colorize Your Family Photos
We got some happy news during this time of self-quarantine. MyHeritage is granting free access to MyHeritage In Color™ through April 23, 2020. Click the image below to read my article about colorizing your old family photos at MyHeritage.
Click to read more about colorizing your old family photos at MyHeritage.
How Alice the Genealogist Avoids the Rabbit Hole Part 1
Don’t let unexpected genealogical finds send you down a rabbit hole any longer. We’ll cover concrete strategies for staying focused on what matters most, while not losing track of opportunities that present themselves. You’ll also learn about free tech tools that you can put in place to give you peace of mind, take back those lost hours, and help you be more productive.
Follow along with me to learn how Alice the Genealogist avoids falling down the online rabbit hole!
Vulnerability to Rabbit Holes
In order to improve in anything, you have to know your vulnerabilities. When it comes to falling down a genealogical rabbit hole I’ve identified 5 of the most common vulnerabilities:
- Not having a crystal-clear research question
- Not having your next steps mapped out
- Not having a specific method for dealing with BSOs (bright shiny objects)
- Not implementing that method consistently
- No muscle to stick with your plan
We’re going to tackle 1, 2, and 3 above. With these in place I believe you’ll feel confident and take care of 4 & 5!
1. Write a Research Question
Before beginning your research, take a moment to write out your research question or statement. It will help guide you and keep you on task.
Think about what you want to specifically accomplish. State your goal in specific terms:
“Identify the village in Germany where Louise Nikolowski and her family were from so I can locate church records.”
Effective Research Questions
(according to the Board of Certification of Genealogists)
Genealogy Standards #10:
“Questions underlying research plans concern aspects of identity, relationship, events, and situations. The questions are sufficiently broad to be answerable with evidence from relevant places and times. They are sufficiently focused to yield answers that may be tested and shown to meet or not meet the Genealogical Proof Standard.”
Genealogical-research questions:
- clearly describe a unique person, group, or event as the focus of the question
- clearly state what kind of information that you’re hoping to discover, such as an identity, relationship, event, or biographical detail.
Keep this research question in front of you by:
- printing it out and setting it in front of your monitor
- putting it on a “sticky” note on your computer’s desktop (virtually or physically!)
- writing it at the top of your physical or virtual notebook.
2. Map Your Next Moves
Break your primary research question down into smaller, individual research questions.
According to Elizabeth Shown Mills, after analyzing the existing data:
“we prepare a research plan that defines:
- the resources to be explored
- the strategies to be applied
- the individuals who are to be included in that search
- any special circumstances that will affect the project.”
Example Question:
Where is the birthplace of Gustav Sporowski (father of Alfreda) who resided in Gillespie, Illinois in 1910-1918?
Actionable Steps
Here are examples of questions to be answered that support the research question:
Question 1 – Did he apply for citizenship? If so, what is listed?
Question 2 – Find passenger list: what place of origin is listed?
Question 3 – What was listed for other passengers accompanying him? (If any)
Question 4 – Where are other Sporowskis from that are listed in passenger lists?
For each question above, make a list of the resources (records) you need to find to answer these questions, and where you plan to look for them. Track the outcome.
“we prepare a research plan that defines:
- the resources to be explored
- the strategies to be applied
- the individuals who are to be included in that search
- any special circumstances that will affect the project.”
Resources
Premium Members Exclusive: Show Notes PDF – Genealogy Gems Premium Members can click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode. (Log in required.)
Recent Updates: Online Genealogy Records at MyHeritage, Ancestry and Findmypast
At this time of sheltering at home, we’re fortunate that we can continue to pursue our favorite past time at home. Here are some of the latest genealogy records to come online this month. From my family to yours , stay safe and well friends.
The latest genealogy records from Genealogy Gems.
Ancestry
The first two items in this list of new and updated records is important for everyone who is researching their family history. If you had difficulty finding an ancestor in the 1850 or 1860 in the past, now is the time to search. Ancestry has updated portions of these two important census records.
UPDATED – 1860 United States Federal Census
UPDATED – 1850 United States Federal Census
Example of the 1850 US Federal Census.
Speaking of the census, all genealogists are looking forward to the release of the 1950 US census. We don’t have that long to wait now. The 1950 US Census is due to be released to the public in April of 2022. Until then, be sure to read our article answering the most important questions about this census. Read 1950 Census Substitute: What To Use Until its Release Date.
Listen to Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 181 for more about finding your family history in the 1950s.
Let’s continue on looking through the newest records on Ancestry:
UPDATED – South Carolina, Death Records, 1821-1968
NEW – New York, Episcopal Diocese of Central New York Church Records, 1800-1970
NEW – New York State, Extradition Requisition and Mandate Registers, 1857-1938
NEW – South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964
NEW – South Carolina, Chesterfield County, Original Marriage licenses, 1911-1951
UPDATED Berlin, Germany, Births, 1874-1906
UPDATED – Montana, Divorce Records, 1943-1988
UPDATED – Montana, Birth Records, 1897-1988
UPDATED – Montana, Marriage Records, 1943-1988
UPDATED –U.S., Northern Pacific Railway Company Personnel Files, 1890-1963
One of the important aspects of this update according to Ancestry is that “changes were made to improve the performance of this collection. Family relationships such as parents and spouses are enabled to attach to your tree.
Note: This database does not yet include the entire collection of personnel files. Currently, only the file numbers listed in the browse are included. The remaining files will be added to this database at a later date.”
UPDATED – Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018
UPDATED – Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998
NEW – Irish Emigrants in North America, 1775-1825
According to Ancestry, “This present work is a consolidated reprint of two pamphlets by Mr. David Dobson that shed light on more than 1,100 Irish men and women and their families who emigrated to North America between roughly 1775 and 1825. As such, this volume adds to the list of 1,000 men and women compiled by Mr. Dobson in three earlier pamphlets in this series, which were published by Clearfield Company as Irish Emigrants in North America. Unlike the earlier collection, which was derived from a variety of Scottish and North American source records, the persons named in Irish Emigrants in North America, Parts Four and Five, were found primarily in contemporary newspapers in Canada and the United States. Each of the two lists of Irish persons is arranged alphabetically by the emigrant’s surname and, in the majority of cases, provides us with most of the following particulars: name, date of birth, name of ship, occupation in Ireland, reason for emigration, sometimes place of origin in Ireland, place of disembarkation in the New World, date of arrival, number of persons in the household, and the source of the information.”
NEW – Web: U.S., Congressional Medal of Honor Society Recipients, 1839 – 2012
UPDATED – Massachusetts, Boston Archdiocese Roman Catholic Sacramental Records, 1789-1900
NEW – Maine, Piscataquis County, Deed Books, 1838-1902
UPDATED – New York, New York, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909
NEW – Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918
NEW – Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980
NEW – Maine, J. Gary Nichols Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1999
NEW – Maine, Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, 1780-1990
NEW – Maine, Tombstone Inscriptions, Surname Index, 1718-2014
NEW – Maine, York County, Probate Estate Files, 1690-1917
Findmypast
Here are the latest new and updated records from Findmypast, the home of the largest collection of UK parish records online.
Middlesex Baptisms
Unique to Findmypast, these records can reveal details about the start of your relatives’ lives in Middlesex. The collection has been enhanced with over 17,000 new records from the following parishes:
- Hampton
- Hayes
- Hornsey
- Stanwell
“Our thanks go to Cliff Webb and West Middlesex Family History Society for providing these latest additions.”
Cambridgeshire Burials
Over 6,000 burials from Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire have joined the largest collection of British parish records online at Findmypast.
These latest additions join the largest collection of UK parish records online at Findmypast.
Click here to search the Cambridgeshire burial records.
“The burial records date from 1881 to 1925 and have been provided by Fenland Family History Society. You won’t find them anywhere else online.”
Jamaica, Civil Death Registrations
Discover your Caribbean roots with over 1.5 million new civil death registration records from Jamaica. Brought to you in partnership with FamilySearch, these death records can tell you more about your relative’s life and death in Jamaica.
As you trace your Jamaican past, be sure to also delve into these other useful resources:
- Jamaica Birth & Baptism Index 1752-1920
- Jamaica, Church Of England Parish Baptisms 1664-1880
- Jamaica, Civil Birth Registrations
- Jamaica, Civil Marriage Registrations
Dating as far back as the 1500s, our Jamaican family history records are essential for finding out more about your Caribbean ancestors. What’s more, they’ll provide hints for any Jamaican ancestors already on your Findmypast family tree.”
Newspapers
“The Caribbean-themed releases continue in our newspaper collection this week. We’ve added new papers from Jamaica and Ireland and updated a range of others. Brand new to the site are:
- Royal Gazette of Jamaica covering the years 1779-1781, 1793-1794, 1809, 1811-1819, 1824-1828, 1834-1836 and 1838-1840
- Carlow Sentinel covering the years 1832-1920
While the following newspapers have been supplemented with more issues:
- Merthyr Express has been updated with editions from 1871-1897, 1899-1910 and 1912-1945
- Truth has been updated with editions from 1900-1902, 1906-1907 and 1910
- Burton Chronicle has been updated with editions from 1896 and 1899-1900
- Newtownards Chronicle & Co. Down Observer has been updated with editions from 1875-1879 and 1881-1900
- Bradford Weekly Telegraph has been updated with editions from 1869-1878
- South Wales Gazette has been updated with editions from 1894
- Welshman has been updated with editions from 1836-1841, 1847, 1852, 1866, 1878
- Nuneaton Observer has been updated with editions from 1877-1896, 1898-1903
- Sligo Independent has been updated with editions from 1885
We’ve added almost a century’s worth of pages from one new newspaper along with substantial updates to 10 titles from England and Ireland this week. Brand new to the site is:
- Crewe Chronicle covering the years 1874-1887 and 1889-1972
As well as that, here is the list of papers that have had more pages added and the years covered:
- Halifax Evening Courier has been updated with editions from 1893-1896
- Midland Counties Advertiser has been updated with editions from 1854-1875, 1881, 1885, 1892-1896, 1941, 1943 and 1946
- Scarborough Gazette has been updated with editions from 1850, 1855 and 1868
- Newcastle Journal has been updated with editions from 1936-1937
- Huddersfield Daily Examiner has been updated with editions from 1874
- Torbay Express and South Devon Echo has been updated with editions from 1958-1967 and 1969-1972
- Leicester Daily Mercury has been updated with editions from 1926 and 1931
- Harrow Observer has been updated with editions from 1980
- Kensington Post has been updated with editions from 1986
- Newcastle Evening Chronicle has been updated with editions from 1893
Newspapers are a goldmine of information on your family’s past. Not only could you find your ancestors making headlines, but you’ll also get insight into the world they lived in, the kind you won’t find in other records.”
MyHeritage
MyHeritage photos
Now through April 23, 2020, you can enjoy Free and Unlimited Access to MyHeritage In Color™. Read more about that here.
Click to read the Genealogy Gems article.