Week 35: Disaster (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2023 Version)

The theme for Week 35 is "Disaster." (I want to point out that this theme was chosen long before any of the catastrophic events that we've seen in the past few weeks.) Disasters come in many forms. They can be personal or they can affect an entire community. You can also have a disaster in your research. Click here to check out all of themes for 2023.

The current surge of both natural and not so natural disasters unfolding around the globe prompts my reflection regarding the safeguards in place for my extensive genealogical research.

This topic resonates strongly within the genealogy Facebook groups I’m part of , where the practice to establish backups in triplicate is heard consistently. Many years ago, I initiated a practice of monthly backup onto an external drive of all my files, both genealogy and not genealogy related.  Although my academic background in computer programming taught me the significance of data preservation, my adherence to diligent backup practices left much to be desired.

The lesson of backup’s importance was learned in the must grueling manner. A fateful day brought forth the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death,” an indicator of impending doom. Ultimately, my only recourse laid in reinstalling the operating system and all software, a process that regrettably carried the weight of a six-month-old data backup. The toll encompassed half a year’s worth of genealogical exploration. While not conducting research on a daily or even weekly basis at the time, relinquishing six months of meticulous work was an arduous blow.

In the aftermath, I embarked on an expedition to explore online backup systems. Selecting a suitable candidate amongst the many options available, I adopted a regimen where my computer automatically underwent nightly backups. The initial instance backed up the entire system, tailored to the specific folders earmarked for preservation. Subsequent nightly backups exclusively encompassed files that had undergone modification or were newly added. 

My exploration also led me to embrace “Dropbox”. This service enabled access to essential files not just from my desktop, but my laptop or any computer that has internet access.  My online backup system extends its protective service over my “Dropbox” folder. 

Despite these measures, I persist in a monthly backup of my genealogical materials onto a portable hard drive. This precautionary action stands as a defense against the improbable event of the sudden disappearance of my online backup solution. Though the likelihood appears remote, caution compels this redundancy.

Occasions demanded retrieval from the online backup system; instances where accidental deletion led to the realization that the file held value, or when computer malfunctions intervened. The failure of a portable hard drive necessitated the acquisition of a secondary unit. Presently, rotation approach has been established; two portable hard drives, interchanged bi-monthly to encompass monthly backups. 

Even, my physical genealogical records have undergone scrutiny. Scanning and incorporation into the computer genealogy folders has been the primary directive. Although significant strides have been made, a backlog of unscanned documents remains. Paper readily accessible online, is selectively discarded after scanning. For example, a newspaper obituary clipping involves seeking the digital version, which is subsequently preserved along with it’s web address, allowing the disposal of the original print version. In instances where online versions are elusive, a scan secures their representation with the digital folders and the original is manually filed into the appropriate paper file folder.

Preparedness for an array of disasters is a must. While the hope is to evade catastrophic occurrences, the readying oneself is paramount. Personal experience has borne witness to the ramifications of faulty portable drives, system crashes or the inadvertent deletion of invaluable files. 

Recommendation is to initiate proactive disaster preparedness over lessons learn the hard way.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!