Category Archives: genealogy research

Beware Junk Genealogy – Don’t Rely on Research of Others…Validate Sources!

GSQ Blog Posted on by

Lately I received an email questioning the validity of my family tree, based on a belief that a photograph of my paternal great-grandmother Ida Parker was in fact a photo of a woman named Mary, the emailer’s great-grandmother; the evidence for this assertion was having been told (as a child) that the photograph was great-grandmother Mary. Upon seeing the photograph in my family tree the emailer felt compelled to enlighten me.  And to claim a new branch of her family … Continue reading

Short on time?

GSQ Blog Posted on by

I’m always wondering whether I can use a short period of time effectively for genealogy, so I was pretty happy to see this article come up during the week. You may have already seen it if you keep an eye on GSQ’s Facebook page.   Mostly, I’m keen to use time during my lunch break at work effectively so, as much as I like the idea of the writer’s first tip – scanning and labelling photographs (or documents) – this … Continue reading

Timelines – the interest and pleasure they can give

GSQ Blog Posted on by

Just over a year ago, only a few months after I had joined the Genealogical Society of Queensland, I attended an Information Session on Timelines that was held at GSQ. At the time I was new to my family search and was deeply engrossed in obtaining birth, death and marriage certificates and was satisfied enough just to place each ancestor in the context of  where they had been born or died or who was married to whom and where they … Continue reading

Researching place

GSQ Blog Posted on by

I have been trying to get back into some particular research for the last few weeks. I even have a pile of library books waiting for me, which I have renewed already. Twice! But there is something stopping me from opening the books, some kind of block. Maybe it’s time related. If I start reading, I’ll have to put it down too soon to do something else, like go to work, or drive a child to sport, or sleep. Maybe … Continue reading

Treasures in the Trove – May 2015

GSQ Blog Posted on by

“Peoples is peoples”, I said as we moved through the Q&A session of Shauna Hick’s recent presentation “Finding Your Ancestors in Asylums”.  I could see agreement in the faces and body language of those assembled as I went on to acknowledge that our forebears are much more than names and dates.  They could be complex, multi layered personalities, who held values, espoused opinions and lived out morals that we may struggle to understand or are very different from our own. … Continue reading