52 Weeks To Better Genealogy – Challenge 52

I'm a little late to this game but  figure I may a well jump in head first.

I didn't really have a goal for last year except for occasionally getting on Ancestry.com and looking around for new bits of info and going through all the stuff my father had done previously.

My father hadn't done much on genealogy over the last few years and unfortunately at this point may not be able to do much more.  Going through his files I have learned that organization was not his strongest point.  I'm finding scraps of paper with odd notes and markings that I cannot figure out and he can't recall what some of them mean.  So I plan on throwing all his work out and starting over.

Not really, because he did collect a lot of information over the years and I have been able to go back and verify that what he did find is correct.

We have a lot of the basic facts and what I'd like to focus on is actually finding out about the people and their lives.  Essentially I want to fill in the basic skeleton I currently have.  Eventually, I'd like to find one particularly interesting person and write an article or perhaps a book about, but this is getting a bit ahead and probably should go on a 5 or 10 year plan.

I would also like to visit some other libraries or archival institutions most likely some in Arkansas this year in the hopes of finding more details about some of my ancestors.  Also, I really want to attend the NGS convention this year but right now I'm not sure I'll be able to so I plan to look  into more regional gatherings here in Texas.

Finally, I have ordered the first disc for the NGS home study course and am ready to get started on the program.  I almost feel like a kid getting a brightly wrapped gift at a certain time of the year! 

Tombstone Tuesday-Zephaniah T. Webb

Zephaniah T. Webb (Oct 14, 1826-Mar 21, 1906)
Inscription: Z. T. Webb
Old Baptist Cemetery
Pope County, Arkansas

Time to get serious

Now that the holidays are pretty much over, it is time to get cracking.  I have never been one for New Years resolutions, but this year I have decided to make a few.

1. Explore the world of genealogy in more detail.
     I do ok with the basics, finding census info in Ancestry.com and the like.  This year I plan on visiting
     other archives, libraries and county clerks offices.  I also want to participate in some conferences/
     conventions this year and complete the NGS home study course.

2. Get a laptop so I can take it with me when I visit a library, archive, conference etc.
     I am just trying to decide between an Apple or PC.  My first computer was an Apple and I loved it. 
     Since then I've had several PCs but think I'd like to make the switch back.  If Apple products weren't so
     expensive I'd of bought one by now.  I'll be ordering the NGS course this week, so I plan to decide on
     what to get before it arrives.

3.  Find the time to sit down and maintain this blog. 
     I really enjoy reading other blogs and would like to add something to the blogging community.

4.  Get out on my bicycle again.
     I haven't been on my bike very often the last couple of years and would like to make it a weekly thing
     once again.  Nothing clears my mind like a short 40-50 mile ride.  It also prevents me from having to go
     out and buy new larger pants.

All in all, I think these goals are very do-able, and now that I have written them down I am less inclined to blowing them off after a month or two.

Road to professionalism

My long term goal is to become a professional genealogist.  I am planning on taking the NGS home study course and hopefully can order the first part next week. 

Currently, I am reading Professional Genealogy and am just about finished with chapter 1.  I have looked into doing the ProGen course but as of right now think I'll wait until I finish the NGS program.

Family names

I am currently working on these family lines:
Autrey
Webb
Sample
McFadden
Peyton

My first post

Within the last year or so, I have become more interested in doing genealogy.  The more I get into it, the more I want to do.  I'm currently planning on taking the NGS home study course and plan to order the first CD next week.  I was planning on starting after the new year, but frankly am getting anxious.

I have found reading the various bogs very helpful and it has encouraged me to try my hand at it.  I'm not sure I'll add much to the conversation but it may help me organize my thoughts and encourage me to keep going. 

Some of the goals I have in mind that I hope this will help with include:
     Filling in some gaps in my family tree
     Learning about all the resources available and how to use them effectively
     Find interesting stories about my relatives rather than just dry facts that you get from the census etc.
     Finding an interesting enough ancestor (or person) to eventually write a book about
     Start attending functions, conventions and meetings
     Travel and visit various archives and libraries to gather more information
     Eventually become a certified genealogist

That should be enough to get started.