Heartland Genealogy

Do you have 'genealogy buddies' that you exchange research with? Do you write letters, post on mailing lists or message boards or in any other way make connections with others researching your family tree? Do you belong to a local, regional or national genealogy society? If your answer to any of these questions is 'No' then I encourage you to write those letters, messages and posts and to join a local organization and meet their members. It has been my experience that some of my best breakthroughs have not come from my own isolated research, but from the help of others. When I started researching my family, I was dependent on the U.S. mail to connect me with other researchers. Several times a year, a new edition of Everton's Genealogical Helper ( searchable at MyHeritage ) would arrive. I would sit and study that magazine looking for anyone researching any of my surnames. When found, I would send off a letter to see if we might connect. Occasionally, I would p...

I had the privilege of doing a brick wall consultation with Michael J.Hall , Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer at Family Search this afternoon as part of the Topeka Genealogical Society Conference! I submitted my research for the parents of James Crawford of Preble County, Ohio and the associated same name issues as my brick wall. The primary suggestion Mr. Hall had was to use "indirect evidence". Other suggestions included

The Topeka Genealogical Society Annual Conference is coming. Have you registered yet? Michael J. Hall, a Kansas native, will be the featured speaker on Saturday. Mr. Hall has an extensive background in genealogy, including his current position as Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch. Mr. Hall will present four sessions on Saturday. Over the Flint Hills and Over the Plains: The Value of Military Records and Newspapers Inspring Family Stories: Finding the Grain of Truth Ad Astra Per Aspera (To the Stars Through Difficulty): Kansas Land Records A Little of This and a Little of That: Effectively Using FamilySearch.org On Friday afternoon, there will be breakout sessions Breakout Session 1: 12:30 - 1:20 PM Doughboys of World War I - Dr Richard Faulkner Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall Breakout Session 2: 1:30 - 2:20 pm Fraternal Organizations for Research - Danni Altman-Newell Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall ...