Asking for Help

From time to time I get very general queries that are impossible to answer or would take hours to answer well.  And, too often, when I reply with details, the person never writes again.  Have they found it helpful?  Are they willing to make a donation to the organization I am volunteering with?  Hard to tell.

The queries are sent pretty innocently, but they generate a LOT of work. It sometimes takes an hour to answer properly.  Or more. 

So, in the interests of putting this down in writing once - and hopefully being able to refer inquirers to it - here's my suggestion list.

1. Enter what you already know (including citing sources) into a genealogy database (I recommend Brothers Keeper; but Legacy, The Master Genealogist and Reunion are also very good ones).
2. Print our a report known as a Pedigree Chart so you have a clear accounting of vital dates and places that are known.
3. Use it to determine which branch/person you want to pursue information on
4. Buy a copy of GRANDMA 5 (it has a shareware copy of a genealogy software on it, so you may want to do this first) and see how it can extend what you know/want to know
   - Canadians will want to buy it from the MHSA bookstore (link at upper link of this page
   - Use the category links at the right for more info about GRANDMA
5. Meanwhile, interview/consult all known elderly relatives - they'll have a ton of knowledge that's likely not written down anywhere else than in their diaries, letters and books - and which may get destroyed when they pass (you can save the content this way at least; even better, try to preserve the documents in an environmentally responsible location such as an archives as well)
6. Consult Tim Janzen's website or the Mennonite Genealogy Data Index for possible sources of information that fit the timeframe and geography of the person/branch that you are pursuing
7. Join a local genealogy society or a Mennonite history society and use the local resources that are likely to tie into your family that they have
8. Start writing for government or church record copies that may help you document events (the links to Tim Janzen and the MGDI will be very helpful here; and don't forget to donate for the time they spend on your request)
9. Join a Mennonite discussion group like the CAN-MHSA, or Menno-Rec-Roots to learn the language of genealogy, how others ask and answer questions, and then introduce yourself and your specific questions about brick walls that you've encountered

And, if you want to learn more and faster ... get out and volunteer at your local genealogy or Mennonite history society.  You'll get some dedicated training in responding to queries, get regular access and depth of knowledge regarding their in house resources and paying for the access through fair, sweat equity.

And, if you want to read what a professional genealogist has to say about getting started - with hints/tips, please see Brian Hutchison's Getting Started (16 easy chapters online).

In Kinship,
Judii