Through Contemporary Eyes: Using Newspapers to Investigate the Past

PILGRIMS, PIONEERS & ALIENS

By Diana L. Smith

Join in on Genealogy and Expand Your Reach

Part I - Societies
Fall 2001

Many people think of genealogy as a very solitary hobby - but the benefits of networking and community can make a considerable difference in your success. Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of participation in "group genealogy" ... In Part I: we'll look at membership in societies. Subsequent columns will address conferences, subscriptions, newsgroups, chats, reunions.

And, yes, just like everything else - you get out what you put in, so we'll look at what you need to put in to benefit.

Genealogical societies come in several "flavors", each with its own advantages and style.

Local societies. The benefits of membership in a local membership are the most dependent on what you put in to your membership. Local societies generally concentrate on a county or less. Many of these local chapters are affiliates of a state society as well.
- A typical society meets monthly with presentations by local area speakers on a wide range of topics - this could be anything from the very basics of genealogy presented by a chapter member to how to read a will presented by a local attorney. Not every presentation will be of interest to every member ... but that is not your primary purpose in joining (although it is one of the important ones).
- Your primary purpose in joining is to interact with others who share your passion for genealogy. It's a forum in which you can share your frustrations and your 'eurekas' - and someone will sympathize, empathize or cheer with you.
- A second purpose is to obtain assistance from others in overcoming the inevitable brickwalls genealogists encounter. If you are researching in the area, this may be in the form of finding obscure resources, sharing common ancestry research, or (if you are not a local member) visiting local sites on your behalf, such as cemeteries. Most societies offer inexpensive or no-fee research assistance (or at least printed queries) to members, so the membership fee is worthwhile.
- You will also want to participate in societies to learn new or improved techniques. By participating in your local society you will be able to observe what others are discussing, ask questions, and - if you participate in the chapter's research efforts - you will learn by doing. This is often research in areas that you would not otherwise try, so it can be a valuable learning tool.
- Most chapters have newsletters published periodically. The size and scope varies widely, but nearly all will mention local activities in genealogy (meetings, workshops, other organizations making related efforts) as well as discussions of available local resources. In addition to the queries mentioned above, you will want to read it for the news included. For example, the chapter newsletter may be the first you hear of a newly-published book with abstracts of cemetery inscriptions for every known cemetery in the area. If you are several states away, a copy of this book could save countless hours of fruitless searches. The newsletter may also mention correspondence received - which just might be from someone researching the same families as you ... another new contact!
National or Regional Societies. These cover a broader geographic area, usually have a larger membership, and thus include more general topics. The meetings, however, often take the form of annual conferences with classes and workshops on a wide variety of topics. These include state societies, the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies(FGS) and the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).
- The newsletters for these organizations are more magazine than newsletter, with scholarly work from outstanding researchers. Reading these just to find your family mentioned is certainly the first priority for most of us ... but read them also for the inspiration on solving difficult problems. Both NEHGS and NGS publish magazines well-known for their attention to good documentation and careful research. If you want to learn, you can learn here from the best.
- The local or regional workshops offered by these organizations are wonderful opportunities for a day of learning from knowledgeable speakers on basic topics. [Even if you are not a member, it pays to look for their workshops in your area - if they are coming, it is worth your time to attend. Depending on the fee differential, you may also want to join and attend at the member's price - remember, you will be getting the other membership benefits mentioned.]
- State or national conferences are fantastic opportunities for fellowship, education, and exposure to the latest in resources and research aids. NGS and FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) both have annual national conferences (4-5 days) with speakers, workshops, vendors, luncheons, and hundreds of other researchers who may be looking for you. State conferences range from 1-3 days and may be in a different part of the state each year. NEHGS, NGS, and other national or regional organizations offer regional conferences in various parts of the country during the course of the year. Make the most of your attendance at these conferences - plan carefully which presentations you want to attend, make sure you visit the vendors and carefully plan your purchases - you won't want to go home without something critical to your research, but you also don't want "day after" regret for purchasing something inappropriate. If you aren't sure - pick up literature on the item and find out whether there is a way to order it or buy it locally. If you do this, however, make sure that you follow up ... or put these items on your "wish list" for the family to get for your birthday or Christmas.
Ethnic or Specialty Societies. There are many different reasons for these societies, which may range from a local African-American society to the national Palatines to America. In addition, lineage societies such as Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the Confederacy may be included in this category.
- Lineage societies (DAR, SAR) often offer the opportunity not only to meet with others who have lineage with something in common with yours, but also are frequently involved in charitable or service activities, which provides an opportunity to give something to the community in cooperation with others of like interest. If you think you may qualify for one of these organizations, request the materials and READ THEM CAREFULLY. The instructions are often very specific as to required documentation, so you will want to make sure to do it right the first time. By the way, several states have established lineage societies as a subset of the state organization - descendants of Civil War soldiers or pioneers (early settlers) in the state, for example.
- Ethnic organizations can be extremely helpful in overcoming the blocks peculiar to a specific ethnicity - for example, the Palatines to America newsletter points out resources helpful in getting to information in German-speaking areas. This is also an excellent way to find someone who may speak the language if you don't, as well as information on the availability and use of finding aids peculiar to your ethnicity. They will also often include articles dealing with the culture and life in the area, so you can get an idea how your immigrant ancestors lived before migrating.
- To find a society with the focus you want, check out the resources at the end of this article, search on Cyndi's list by the country or ethnicity, try FEEFHS for Eastern European societies, or query on your favorite search engine by genealogy and the country or ethnicity of interest. Note that there are also organizations for all sorts of other specialties - such as the Flagon and Trencher (for descendants of Tavernkeepers), organizations specializing in Mennonite, Melungeon, or Germanna settler research.
One-Name Societies. There are may organizations dedicated to a specific surname. Some of these limit their scope to descendants of a particular person or couple, while others include anyone with the surname of interest. Variant spellings are usually included as well. Some of the common features of one-name societies:
- Nearly all have a newsletter. The newsletter will generally include queries, new research finds, articles about ancestors, news about members, and resources.
- Some have meetings or reunions - the frequency varies, depending on factors such as the geographic range of the membership, size of the organization, time available for the organizer(s). When these reunions are held, they may include presentations by experts on the background of the family or home community, charts of the relationships among members, displays of memorabilia owned by various family members, and sharing of research information.
- Most have a database which is used to try to match members to others researching the same ancestors. This can be a fantastic benefit -- if anyone else is actually looking for your family.
Computer-Assisted Genealogy Interest Groups. Large cities may have a special group with a focus on computer-assisted genealogy. These groups vary widely on their scope and activities, but the common purpose is to share information among individuals using computer technology to aid in maintaining their genealogical records. Most have meetings with presentations on major genealogical software programs; some will also have workshops where various programs are available for hands-on testing and comparison. To find a group in your area, contact the local genealogical society, LDS Family History Center or public library.

You can benefit from any of these. The trick is to select the organizations that are of the most interest to you and plan your membership. Some you will want to join and remain a member long-term; others you may wish to rotate as your research interests shift. For example, you may want to maintain memberships in your local state organization, NGS and NEHGS for the ongoing access to their periodicals and conferences. Then you should join a local society for the personal contacts and educational opportunities. As your research focus shifts, it is a good idea to join the local society (and possibly the state society) in the area you are researching. These memberships may be long-term, or you may join a different society every year or two as your focus shifts with the migration of the family. The scope and number of chapter memberships is up to you - but I strongly recommend at least one local chapter to get the idea of what they can do for you..

PILGRIMS, PIONEERS & ALIENS

Further Reading (please!)

Web Sites:

Books and Magazine Articles:

Other Resources: