A few years ago, my sisters and I attended a genealogy conference in Boston. Even though the conference was in 2006, I am still reaping the benefits of having attended. Sometimes the benefits come in small ways, such as fond memories when I use the cloth briefcase that was a gift for attendees. Sometimes, they come with greater impact, as when I used knowledge from a workshop to find the name of my great-great-great-grandfather, Rufus Hall. Today’s benefits were somewhere in-between, Cindy and I got a new book and new Internet strategies because of that conference.
In 2006 as we were preparing for the big FGS/NEHGS Conference, my sister Bridgett learned that workshop presenter; Dan Lynch was looking for inquiries to use in his presentation on Ellis Island Research. She quickly e-mailed him a question about our Italian grandmother, Giuseppa Figliuolo’s immigration into the United States. We were so excited and pleased when we attended his workshop, to see that he had used our query to lead off his presentation. We also enjoyed the workshop, however, because he was insightful and entertaining and offered many useful suggestions.
Although in the intervening years, we have not been able to trace her emigration — because of the comprehensive insights and suggestions we gained at Dan’s workshop we know have given the job a thorough effort. Sometimes, no matter how meticulous your research, you will still fail — because either the information simply does not exist, or it was badly mismanaged in one way or another. A good example of this was the 1910 census, which we had searched for years trying to find my Italian grandfather. My great-grandmother, Cecelia Aurigemma Giordano (who lived in another town) was listed as “Chiara Aurigemma” — head of household. My grandfather Vincenzo Giordano was listed as “Giordano Aurigemma.” I always say I found him by accident, but it was not – truly, an accident. It was the result of looking for the same information in a new way.
This leads me back to my original point; conference benefits. I love what the Internet has done for genealogy, but I stick mainly to my Internet comfort zone with a few Web sites. Dan Lynch (conference workshop presenter) has written a book on using the Internet, and Google in particular, and because of our conference experience Cindy ordered it. Well, she received the book today, and called to tell me about it. While we were talking and she was scanning the book (she is a great multi-tasker), I learned some very useful information that will be helpful when I order Italian Family Certificates. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I’ll let you know what else I learn from “Google Your Family Tree” by Dan Lynch.
I try not to harp on it, but I really do feel that the computer is the greatest genealogical help I know of, followed closely by conferences and workshops. Genealogy is a great big puzzle, and you just never know what might nudge a piece into place! Hope you can fill in some of yours this year.
Editor’s note: This regular column is sponsored by the Aroostook County Genealogical Society. The group meets the fourth Monday of the month except in July and December at the Cary Medical Center’s Chan Education Center, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, at 6:30 p.m. Guests and prospective members are always welcome. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501. Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft has been doing genealogy for over 30 years, is a freelance genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader e-mails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com.
