Genealogy

11-June-2018
 On Saturday-9-June the Bogota Public Library held a workshop on how to start creating an ancestral history for ones family. This was presented by Library Director Chelsea Coleman, who explained fro ideas to start a family history search. She started by telling the attendees that the best way to start was to begin with one's self. Ms.Coleman said to start with the people of your family that you know and have talked to. The next step is finding information about their relatives. This can be anything from stories that are recalled from the past, which could then lead to names and dates that could help the search process. Ms.Coleman listed some online  website, both free and paid sites, that could locate names father in the past. Even with modern technology electronic research  may only be able to to so far in to the past. During the 20th and 21st Centuries government record keeping grew and improved. But when going back over 100 years churches and other religious organization may have a better history of record keeping. Birth, Baptism, Weddings, and Death are more likely be the better avenue for search about the past.
  Ms.Coleman suggested that even using computers to create a family history, writing information down in a dedicated note book would be an easy way to keep searches organize. A notebook could easily be brought family function, or to other locations where information could be found. This is also something that can be shared with other with out the need to give away passwords to accounts. Other popular online site can also be useful in finding paths to explore. Facebook will have thousands of names, but can  also narrow the search guidelines by adding place name to a person of interest.
   There will also be a need to example searches to Foreign Countries. Living in a Country founded and continue to grow with immigrants places out side the United States may provide important links. While Ellis Island is one of the most famous entry point into the US in the 1800's other Cites including Boston, Philadelphia  New Orleans, San Francisco,  Seattle, and other where also key entry points. Government site like the National Archive https://www.archives.gov/  could help in finding much government information from tax record to Military Service.
  Some important rules Ms.Coleman recommends anyone should follow is try and use as much Hard  Facts as possible, actually dates, names, and statistics. be sure of were the information is coming from, official, or personal source, that can be verified. Some Soft Fact may help to open new lanes of searches, but may also be subject to the tellers memories. Oral Histories and Photographs, in conjunction with other resources could confirm some findings, or prove that a lead may not be useful. And now with the growing use of DNA testing this offers another source for information. Is could also lead to the need to explore different Counties and regions that may not have been considered at the start of one's search.  One of Ms.Coleman final suggestions is to stay focused on one or two person at a time. While these should lead to more discoveries the more wider the search some information may be unnecessary.  Talking  with Family, Friends, or even neighbors and coworkers of Family may also prove new insights and prove some interesting stories. This is not something should be done quickly, and at time it may not be easy, but could interesting and enjoyable. And one more important step is to share any information with other Family members. So they can learn about their past, and give future generation the opportunity to add to it as well.
   The Bogota Public Library is currently conducting a survey to learn how to improve the services the Library provides. Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bogotalibrary  to take part in this survey.

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