This
task is great way to be prepared when you are ready to take your research on
the road. Even though you can find a lot of information on-line, you still
can’t find everything and your research may need to be taken from the computer
to the actual resource center, whether, courthouse, library, or cemetery.
I
have started a research folder, where I have place on-line indexes that I have
found, but need to look at the actual document to see if they are truly the
person I want. For example, I might find a marriage index record that doesn’t
list the parent’s names, only the bride and groom and thus I need to view the
record to see if their parents are the one I think they should be, or to find
out who their parents are.
Also,
I will sort the information that I am wanting by county, and can determine if a
road trip will be worthwhile based on how much research I will need for that
county and the distance of travel. Most of my research is in Wisconsin but I
live in Arizona. So when I go back to visit Wisconsin, I can determine which
county will help my efforts the most, and perhaps the remainder will have to
wait until another time, or find someone else to help with the lookup; such as
a distance relative who is also researching that line, or through “genealogy
acts of kindness”.
The
information contained in these travel-friendly research binders can be stored
on laptops, iPad’s, Tablets, or even smartphones. I have my entire tree stored
on my smartphone through a program. Not only does it have ever person in my
tree, but also my sources and notes. Even though I can’t modify or add to the
tree through the smartphone, the information is there for me to review quickly.
I also have my tree sync with Ancestry.com and I can view it from any computer
anywhere. I can also update or add to the data through Ancestry.com.
Personally, I don’t like doing it this way, because I can’t cite the source the
way I like, but I still have this option. I also, have my genealogy tree
database stored with Dropbox and can access from anywhere. As long as the
computer has my genealogy software on it, such as my laptop, I can update the
information quickly. I don’t have to worry about moving it to my desktop,
because the next time I use my desktop, the current information will be found through
Dropbox.
As
for note taking forms, most smartphones, iPads and Tablets have ways for you to
take notes. You can then use those notes to input your information into your
Genealogy Program when you get home, if you don’t have a laptop. I find
traveling with a laptop isn’t as easy as traveling with my iPad. My iPad holds
a charge must longer, can do more with taking pictures of documents or books.
My smartphone has an application where I can “scan” documents and books.
The
main thing I learned about today’s task; is to be prepared when traveling by
bringing along all your information and your to-do-list (otherwise known as
your research goals).
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