Generations Cafe

Identity in genealogy is more than having a name. It's understanding and identifying other aspects of a person's life.  Recognizing these additional pieces of information can make your research more accurate and give you a better understanding of your ancestor. In this episode, Amy reviews why identity is more than a name, how it plays out in our research, and gives a real-world example on how it all fits together.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/17.

If you've ever thought about starting your own genealogy blog, but didn't know where to start, this is the episode for you.   A little planning goes a long way toward having a successful genealogy blog. Amy walks you through the steps including: - defining your "why" - finding your blog's focus - choosing a name and URL - planning your first posts Amy also shares tips from other experienced genealogy bloggers.  Find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/16

Organizing your genealogy can feel overwhelming. Professional organizer and genealogist Janine Adams shares her tips for coming up with a system that is best for you; how you can painlessly make the transition from paper to digital; and the role of backups in your organization system. You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/15

Better genealogy research often comes from better research habits. In this episode, Amy shares five habits to develop to improve your genealogy research.  The show notes for this episode can be found at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/14

Black newspapers are indispensable for African-American genealogy. They also provide context for the area where your ancestor lived, regardless of their race.  In this episode, Tim Pinnick explains how community columns were used to market these newspapers and what a boon they are for our research.  Tim also explains how you can benefit from African American newspapers even if your family lived in a town that didn't have its own black newspaper.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com

012 - Connect With Cousins Without a DNA Test

You want to share your genealogy with your family, but they'd rather do anything but listen. Sound familiar? Learn some strategies that will keep your family members engaged when you talk about genealogy. (Hint: consider what you're talking about. Is it the discoveries or the genealogy research?) We also discuss why you shouldn't assume that your bored relatives aren't interested in family history.  You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/11

FamilySearch is one of the largest genealogy websites and has billions of records. But there are 5 sections of the website that you might be overlooking.  You'll discover how to use FamilySearch to get grounded in researching in a new place (even in a different language), how a collaborative tree can be of benefit, why you should use the FamilySearch catalog even if you aren't planning a trip to the Family History Library, and more.  The show notes with links and screenshots: AmyJohnsonCrow.com/10

World War I research is often overlooked in American genealogy. In this episode, David Allen Lambert shares tips for researching the "doughboys," whether they shipped out or stayed state-side during the war.  You'll learn why a draft card doesn't verify service, ways to get around the fire at the National Archives, and special resources for those who didn't come home.  You'll find the show notes with links to all of the resources mentioned at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/9

008 - Tips for Scottish Genealogy

Southern research has its challenges. Ari Wilkins of the Dallas Public Library shares an oft-overlooked resource: plantation records.  Ari tells how this collection was put together, where to find the records, and what you'll find in them.  These records are useful whether your ancestor was enslaved, a wealthy plantation owner, or a member of community. Research in a burned county? You want to use plantation records, as these records weren't at the courthouse!  Show notes: AmyJohnsonCrow.com/

Citing sources in genealogy isn't just for the pros. But it can be confusing figuring out what to cite, especially when you're using something online. In this episode, Amy shares 3 reasons why you should cite your sources, including how they can help you convince cousins who won't change their incorrect tree. You'll also learn the key to creating a citation, no matter what kind of source you're using -- online or offline. The show notes for this episode are available at amyjohnsoncrow.com/6

Colleen Greene, an expert in Mexican genealogy research, shares tips for finding your ancestor's hometown in Mexico (which is important for finding more records) and reviews major record groups that you'll need to use.  Colleen also explains Hispanic surname patterns and how she works through all of the variations when she's searching online.  You can find the show notes (complete with all of the links and resources mentioned in the show) at amyjohnsoncrow.com/5

DNA has unlocked so many genealogy problems. So with all of the possibilities, why aren't your DNA matches answering your messages? It turns out there are several reasons they aren't answering. Some of them revolve around why that match took the test to begin with. It might not be for the same reason you did.  Fortunately, there are some things we can do to help improve the odds of getting a response from those genetic cousins we reach out to.  Show notes for this episode: AmyJohnsonCrow.com/4

No matter what kind of source you're using in your genealogy research, there are certain things that you should do with it.  In this episode, you'll learn 4 things that you should do with each source you use (as well as get a quick review on what a source really is).  Show notes can be found at amyjohnsoncrow.com/3.