-----Original Message-----
From: Margie Phelps [SMTP:MargiePhelps@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 7:45 AM
To: TXFANNIN-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [TXFANNIN-L] Fw: Misconceptions re Genealogical Research
I hope no one minds me sending this to the list, it sounds pretty true to
me.
Margie
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 7:05 AM
Subject: Fw: Misconceptions re Genealogical Research
>
> MISCONCEPTIONS," by Michael John Neill
>
> This is a semi-serious look at some misconceptions that genealogists
(and
> non-genealogists) have about family history.
>
> 1) WE ALL HAVE A FAMOUS ANCESTOR, SOMEWHERE.
> I've got the names of over three hundred of my ancestors and have
yet
> to have any of them qualify as "famous." In some cases, you may want to
> reconsider being related to someone famous. Hard-working, law-abiding
> relatives are nothing to be ashamed of. Try and document your ancestors
> accurately, whether they were famous or not.
>
> 2) THERE ARE NO "EARLY" BABIES OR SHADY STORIES IN MY FAMILY TREE.
> Trace your ancestry completely for six generations and then we
will
> talk.
>
> 3) THERE WERE THREE BROTHERS WITH THE LAST NAME OF [TAKE-YOUR-PICK]
WHO
> CAME TO AMERICA. WE DESCEND FROM THE YOUNGEST (OLDEST, MIDDLE, TALLEST,
> SMARTEST, ETC.)
> If this is true, then the number of families who had three sons
is
> beyond statistical expectations. Check it out.
>
> 4) IMMIGRANTS WERE ALL POOR.
> There's no doubt that the vast majority of them were and came to
> America with only the clothes on their backs. Once in a while though,
you'll
> find one who had a little bit of money and came to America hoping to
make
> more.
>
> 5) LIFE BEFORE 1900 WAS ONE OF BUCOLIC PASTORAL BLISS, DOTTED BY BARN
> RAISINGS AND CHURCH SOCIALS.
> Life before 1900 was hard. No running water, no electricity, no
law
> (in some areas), rudimentary medical care (if any), child labor, and few
of
> life's creature comforts. This only scratches the surface. I'm not even
so
> certain life was "simple." If I want a loaf of bread, I go to the store.
> Great-great-grandma likely did not.
>
> 6) EVERYONE LIKES TO HEAR THE TALES OF "NOTORIOUS" ANCESTORS.
> Not everyone will think the story of great-great-great-grandma's
four
> husbands, two divorces, involvement in a murder, and the running of a
tavern
> should be included in the family history.
>
> 7) CENSUS AGES ARE ALWAYS CORRECT.
> You must be kidding.
>
> 8) OFFICIAL RECORDS SHOULD NOT CONTAIN ERRORS.
> They do. The best way to deal with it is to try and research
around
> it where possible.
>
> 9) GENEALOGISTS ARE ALL RETIRED.
> Not so. There are genealogists out there who have yet to hit
forty
or
> retirement. If you see one who has yet to hit puberty, tell them to
> interview their grandparents now. Most of all encourage them, gently.
>
> 10) GENEALOGY IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL HOBBY.
> Ever tried to read through (and understand) sixty pages of court
> records from the 1840s? I've taken calculus exams that made more sense.
Same
> thing goes for platting property in metes and bounds. Talk about
applied
> mathematics.
>
> 11) MY FAMILY HAS A CASTLE IN EUROPE.
> Some did, but don't believe it until you see it. Don't really
believe
> it until you see the deed, title, etc.
>
> 12) MY ANCESTOR SERVED WITH WASHINGTON, LEE, GRANT, ETC.
> Choose your war , take your pick. There are lots of these
stories.
> Check them out before believing them. Document your ancestor's service,
> accurately.
>
> 13) I GOT IT ON THE INTERNET, THEREFORE IT MUST BE TRUE.
> Nope.
>
> 14) I GOT IT ON THE INTERNET, THEREFORE IT MUST BE FALSE.
> Nope.
>
> 15) I CAN DO MY GENEALOGY ENTIRELY VIA THE INTERNET.
> Nope.
>
> 16) I CAN DO MY GENEALOGY WITHOUT THE INTERNET.
> Possibly, but it really saves time.
>
> 17) THE RECORDS IN STATE Y ARE CLOSING BECAUSE IT WAS POSTED TO THE
> GENEALOGY MAILING LIST FOR THAT STATE.
> Check out rumors before you spread them. Think before you forward
or
> copy and paste this type of information to other people or lists.
[Editor's
> Note: For more on this, see the FGS Suggested Steps for Action in the
Feb.
9
> Ancestry Daily News at:
>
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/columns/dailyarchive/02-09-00.htm#4]
>
> 18) I CAN DO ALL MY RESEARCH ONLY USING VITAL RECORDS, OBITUARIES, AND
> CENSUS RECORDS.
> Goodness! There's a vast treasure trove of other sources out
there
> that you can utilize.
>
> 19) MY SURNAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN SPELLED THE SAME WAY, WE NEVER CHANGED
IT.
> Maybe, but then again, maybe not.
>
> 20) EVERYONE REPLIES TO E-MAIL IMMEDIATELY.
> Some genealogists have non-genealogy commitments, such as family
and
> employment. Be patient and wait a few days before posting a follow-up
> e-mail.
>
> 21) I CAN TRACE MY ANCESTRY IN ONE AFTERNOON AT THE COMPUTER.
> Time for a reality check.
>
> 22) I CAN TRACE MY ANCESTORS IN AN AFTERNOON AT THE FAMILY HISTORY
CENTER.
> (See number 21)
>
> 23) SOMEONE HAS ALREADY TRACED MY ENTIRE FAMILY TREE. I JUST HAVE TO
FIND
> IT.
> That's the tricky part-finding it! Then comes the fun of
documenting
> it.
>
> 24) DOCUMENTATION IS ONLY FOR GENEALOGICAL GEEKS WHO GET CHEAP THRILLS
BY
> ASKING, "WHERE DID YOU FIND IT?"
> How will you ever compare three different birth dates for
Grandpa
if
> you don't know where you obtained each date?
>
> 25) GENEALOGISTS ARE NUTS.
> More likely they are truly focused on their research. However,
one
> correspondent told me that working on genealogy "beats spending all my
free
> time at a bar."
>
> 26) GENEALOGISTS ARE RUDE AT THE COURTHOUSE OR LIBRARY.
> Genealogists are people and a few are rude. Just make certain
it's
> not you. No family historian wants to walk into the courthouse just
after
> the most obnoxious genealogist on the planet has left the building.
>
> 27) GENEALOGY IS BORING.
> You must be kidding. I've learned a great deal about history,
> culture, and myself researching my own family.
>
> 28) YOU OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH THAT FAMILY HISTORY BY NOW.
> Well, I would except every time I find one ancestor I have two
more
> parents to learn about. [Ed. note: Genealogy is a terminal disease.]
>
> 29) THERE IS ONE BEST GENEALOGICAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
> Most have their pros and cons. Pick one that works for you, keep
> alert for new packages, but only change when you have good reason to.
Time
> spent upgrading and upgrading and constantly learning new packages can
be
> spent doing research.
>
> 30) YOU ARE COMPLETELY ADDICTED IF YOU SEARCH THE INGREDIENT LIST OF
YOUR
> BREAKFAST CEREAL FOR YOUR ANCESTRAL SURNAMES.
> This is likely true, but I'm not admitting to this one in
public!
>
> 31) GENEALOGY IS EXPENSIVE.
> The documentation can be expensive. Many will share copies but
some
> will not. Spread it out over time if you don't have immediate resources.
>
>
>
>
>
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