I need your help

For those of you who do not know I am one year into a six-year doctoral degree in History and Genealogical Studies. My research involves multiple aspects of lineage organizations.

Examples of lineage/heritage organizations are:

• Sons / Daughters of the American Revolution
• Colonial Dames of America
• General Society of Mayflower Descendents
• and etc (there are nearly 500 organizations in the US!)

If you navigate to my page titled Ph.D. Research Questionaire you can read more about the project and find the link to the online survey.

I believe that perspectives from a wide audience would add important context and information to our study and would be a valuable resource for the present research and for any future researchers seeking to study the influence and historical significance of heritage organizations and lineage societies within the United States.

Participants must be over the age of 18 and are assigned a number by the survey program. They will be referred to by that number in the research. At the end of the survey participants will have the opportunity to give contact information if they would like to participate in the interview section of the study. This is optional, and not required to complete the survey.

For analysis purposes, the survey is broken into several sections. Everyone will take the sections covering general demographics, education, involvement in genealogy, impressions of applications for these organizations, uses of DNA with genealogy, and discrimination. After these sections, the participant will select from a group of descriptions that they feel best describes them.

These groups are:

• Historian, archivist, librarian, professional genealogist, or employed with a company that does genealogical work and interacts frequently with persons who perform genealogical research
• Member of a lineage or heritage organization
• Not a member of a lineage or heritage organization
• A paid staff member or volunteer for a heritage organization or lineage society who approves applications for membership or assists prospective members with their applications
• A genealogist/family history researcher (but not a professional) who researches for themselves, family, friends, or others for free

Each of the groups will have a set of questions pertaining to them to gather information on their impressions of heritage organizations and lineage societies. Participants can choose as many groups as possible that describe them.

Thank you for reading this far! I hope you will consider taking part and letting me know your thoughts on this type of research and these organizations.

Lineage Societies: Honoring Your Past with Your Research

What is a lineage society? There are many views, opinions, and thoughts on the subject and each will be different depending to whom you speak. In a nutshell, a lineage society is a group of people who are descended from a person (or group of people) who have come together to celebrate their ancestors.  Sounds simple, right? 

Anyone who can trace their ancestry back to a qualified ancestor may join a lineage society.  Most are open only to adults, with junior memberships available for youths.  There are some children specific societies which are sponsored by adult branches which those youth may join when they reach the age of majority.  However, be aware that there are a handful of societies that are only open by invitation.  Make sure you know if the society you are interested in is open to unsolicited inquires before you contact them.

The cost for membership varies from group to group.  There is usually an application fee and after admittance an annual membership fee.  Each group is different though, so you will need to make sure to check the details for each one you would like to join.  Once you are a member the benefit possibilities are numerous: networking, research partners, access to their private archives and libraries, plus satisfaction that your research has been put to good use.

If you are still deciding what society you might like to join, or if you are just curious about what is out there, here are several places you can learn more.

·        Cyndi’s List for lineage societies http://www.cyndislist.com/societies/lineage  

·        The Hereditary Society Community http://www.hereditary.us/list_a.htm

·        Going In-Depth Magazine, “The Society Pages” http://www.theindepthgenealogist.com/?page_id=6221

·        Family Tree Magazine, various articles

·        Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, various articles

·        Going In-Depth, and online magazine from The In-Depth Genealogist http://theindepthgenealogist.com/

Besides those location don’t forget that word of mouth is also a great resource.  Talk to people you know at other clubs and organizations you belong to.  Particularly at genealogy and historical societies.  Many members of those groups are also members of lineage societies and can give you more details on any group you may be interested in joining.

Many groups have a “contact us” button on their websites.  Electronic correspondence is preferred by most large organizations in today’s world so this should be your first line of communication.  If you don’t hear back from them, and a physical address is given, you can try to correspond with the group through the postal address.  In addition, some organizations are large enough to have a national headquarters and state or regional recruitment officers.  If written correspondence does not work, you have a lot of questions, or you just prefer a more personal connection look for a phone number.  Make sure you are calling the person responsible for recruitment, usually the registrar, when placing the call

The most important step in the entire process is the application. It doesn’t matter that you have all the proof in the world if your application is wrong.  Make sure you receive a copy of the organizations submission guidelines and/or handbook.  While you may be working with a chapter or state registrar, knowing what is expected of you can make the work easier on both of you.  The registrar will be your guide through the process so feel free to ask them lots of questions.

Some important questions you should know the answer to before you start are:

·        Is it a direct line ancestry society or will they accept collateral lines?

·        What types of records do they accept? Many groups will accept applications from other lineage societies, but many more will not.  Some will request copies only of original records but a handful will require the records you submit to be certified.  Make sure you know what is expected!

·        What is the application process? Read all the materials you are given very carefully.  One of the main reasons applications are rejected is because a person did not fill out the forms how the society requested.

·        Do you need a sponsor?  Even if the group you are applying for is not a by invitation only group, they may ask for you to be sponsored by another member.  If this is the case, make sure you questions about how you get a sponsor if you do not already know someone who is in the organization.

As you start the application process, and work your way through the paperwork, I suggest you create a checklist for your ancestor. Keep each generation’s paperwork together, and not mixed in with the others, as you work backwards from yourself.  If you need to keep a separate folder for each generation that’s fine.  Some people keep them binder clipped together or the whole application in an organ style file folder. 

If you really want to be loved, make sure you have complete source citations written on each document. The registrar and the genealogists at the national office will thank you.  Also, type a transcript of any documents that are handwritten in your file. It is a great thing to have for your personal file, but many organizations require this is done before you submit an application. Make your registrar love you a little more by doing it for them already.  Most importantly, make a copy of the entire packet for your records. You never know when something may get lost in the mail.

Further Resources:

FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/

Ancestry https://ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index

MyHeritage http://www.myheritage.com/

FindMyPast http://www.findmypast.com/

Google Books http://books.google.com/

JSTOR http://about.jstor.org/

World Digital Library http://www.wdl.org/en/  

Fun at OGS

This weekend I am speaking, and hanging out, at the Ohio Genealogical Society annual conference.
 It is being held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio which, let's face it, genealogy and swimsuits are an interesting combination.  At least no one has attended (that I know of) a lecture in their swimsuit.

Yesterday I gave a workshop about preparing your papers for a lineage society application. My take away, wow... I can talk for 2 hours straight.  Oh, and that audience participation, while scary for the presenter, makes long lectures more entertaining. It is something that I will have to do again.

On Saturday, I will be talking about one of my favorite places to research, The Library of Virginia.  Such a great place, with so many wonderful resources.

If you are at the conference make sure to say hi!  I am at The In-Depth Genealogist booth and would be happy to see you.

5 Tips for lineage society applications

In the last few years I have applied to several lineage societies.  I started on this odd passion to verify my research through organizations because I wanted to prove to the rest of my family that my grandmother was correct.  We did have ancestors on the Mayflower.  We did have Revolutionary War patriots.  We did have family who helped shape and form our country.  She was not, as many people thought, crazy and making it all up.

By putting my own research to the test I realized how much fun it was to prove to a society that my information was correctly sourced, documented, and thought out.  It is such a thrill!  Now I am helping others with their applications through my business.  It seems I get the same great feeling helping others as I do by completing my own work.

Which lead me to this post.  My 5 tips to help you get ready to submit an application to the society of your choice.  I hope they help!

1.       Find a society that means something to you

I don’t know about you, but if I don’t have a vested interest (or well, any interest) in something I am not going to participate as often or really want to do things with the group.  While it is cool to wear the ribbons, sashes, medals, and whatnot for an organization I strongly feel that you should want to be an active member of the group before you join.  Maybe you like their education mission.  Perhaps it is their outreach programs.  Or it could be their stance on a historical issue.  Whatever is the reason, it should be more than collecting another ribbon.

2.       Understand the application requirements and procedures

This is the main reason applications take forever or are rejected by a society.  Please, please, please make sure you understand the process, the application, and what you have to do before you start to submit anything.  Most groups will have you work with someone who is the person in charge of new applications.  Get to know them.  Bake them cookies.  Do what they tell you to do.  They are there to get you IN the organization.  So, do all you can to help them.  Ask and answer questions.  Get them the papers needed (even if you think they should have everything they need) in a prompt fashion.  Let them know how the process of getting documents is going.  Ask them for help even.  Most are very enthusiastic genealogists and love doing research too.

3.       Organize your paperwork by generations

This may seem like a no-brainer but the easiest way to keep your information for an application packet organized is by sorting them by generations.  However you want to do that is up to you.  I like to paperclip each generation together.  A friend of mine takes a large hanging file folder and places a regular file folder for each generation in it.  For my folders I place a check list on the inside with what documents I need for each generation.  As I collect those documents I check them off.  That way it is very easy to see at a glance what I do and do not have.

4.       Create full source citations

You will never get away from source citations.  Ever.  Many societies have a very specific way they want the sources cited, so be aware of that before you write on any documents you turn in.  What I tend to do is ask the person I am working with if they would like me to place citations on the papers.  If they say no I create a source citation list that I include with the application packet.  That way when they do the final paperwork and create the societies specific source citations they have all the information available to them at their fingertips.

5.       Make transcripts of all handwritten documents
Yeah, I know.  Transcripts are a pain.  However, you want someone to love you quickly and for years?  Make a transcript of all the handwritten documents you turn in.  Many societies require that a transcript be submitted for all documents that are handwritten.  Some don’t, but they like it if there is one.  Take some time, make a transcript.  Besides, you never know.  You could find a new clue to your family that you didn’t see before!