Importance of Multiple Backups

We have all heard many times about the importance backing up your data.  For some this may be a new one but how about keeping multiple backups.  Yes, it may sound crazy but what happens if you only have one backup and that backup fails for some reason.  That has the ingredients for a real disaster.

Over the weekend I was updating and backing up various files.  I was putting them on multiple DVDs and then finally on a Centon 128 GB USB flash drive which was purchased this past January.  Well the flash drive died or crashed; either way it will not work and the files that were on it are no longer accessible.

Fortunately I had backup DVDs from earlier in the year plus what is on the computer's hard drive.  If I lost anything I'm not 100% sure.  But I am lucky that I did not store my data simply on the flash drive.

This particular flash drive was purchased because of its capacity, price, and being completely rubber coated.  They advertise it as being waterproof.  I would never trust that statement.  But it appeared to be very well built.  Looks can be very deceiving.  It might be sturdy on the outside but its insides are definitely lacking.

I have my files backed up but will need to get another flash drive.  I will probably buy two.  Just in case one fails.  I do know that I will be staying away from Centon products.  Also I called their customer support line and no one answers.

Gravestone Cleaning Video

Earlier this afternoon, my wife and I were at Albany Rural Cemetery and we created a short video on how to clean a gravestone. We went to a relative's lot and chose a stone within it and I began to clean the stone and also described why and how to clean it while Michele filmed the demo. The video will be at the end of this blog entry.

I must mention that I am not a professional gravestone conservator; simply a genealogist and descendant from my ancestors who is caring for his ancestors and relatives gravesites as best as he can. I have cleaned numerous gravestones of my relatives and have uprighted and leveled half-dozen others.

I admit that some stones have cleaned up better than others. But whether one gravestone comes out better than the next; they all are in much better condition that before I started.

A picture of the gravestone pre-cleaning is below.

A picture of the gravestone post-cleaning is below.

In two weeks, I will come back to this plot to check whether the gravestone has brightened. The lichens that were growing on the stone were removed and the stone is obviously cleaner than before. Time will tell how it comes out.

Below are two photos where the outcome was great with only one cleaning application.

The original video was shot in HD and was crystal clear but unfortunately the video had to be compressed in order to be uploaded on this blog.  Video quality and clarity were lost.

Online Family Trees

Since I came back to researching my roots I instantly found that the Internet has greatly expanded the reach of the genealogist.  Numerous paid online sites such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Geneanet allow subscribers to search and access their holdings for genealogical gold.  These sites and other web pages also allow their users to upload family trees for either public or private viewing.  These online family trees have both pros and cons to them.

I use all of the above mentioned sites.  My family information is public except for the data on living people.  I will not publicize any vital data on any of my living relatives.  My online tree is public so that I can easily share my information with anyone researching the same families or individuals.  Hopefully my available info will prompt another researcher to contact me.  Some researchers call this "cousin baiting."  Data is posted and other genealogists find it and then contact the tree owner.   I do this to lure other researchers to my tree and perhaps we find common ancestors/relatives and then we can collaborate.  So far I have been successful finding other cousins who are also researching their lines.  Using the MyHeritage site, I have found numerous cousins in the Netherlands who are researching the same lines as myself.  This was accomplished with their "smart matches."

At the same time using the same online sites can have cons also.  The biggest con that I have found is incorrect data on the Internet.  New genealogists need to realize that just because they found their ancestor on the Internet does not make the new found data correct.  The information definitely could be but not always.  There is a lot of misinformation on the Net.  Aside from obviously wrong data such as a child being born well after the death of his/her mother,  I have seen other people's data on websites and they list their ancestors under nicknames.  Perhaps they did not know their ancestor's real name?

Unsourced information is another dilemma on the Net.  Where did the researcher find this information? Did the info come from a marriage record, census record, bible record, or an interview? Another genealogist may want to recheck the record for accuracy or look for other information that might have been missed.

On Ancestry I found incorrect data on some of my ancestors on other researcher's trees.  I contacted the owner's of these trees to explain their error.  Some individuals were very glad to correct their data.  Others simply have ignored my notes to them and the wrong data stays in cyberspace for others to find.  Unfortunately no one except the tree owner can correct or remove the data.

Another dilemma that I have read about and have experience with is other researchers taking your data without giving credit to the original researcher.  On blogs and forums that I read, some researchers are vehement about not posting their family tree online for fear that someone may take their information and use it as their own.  I do not fear that issue.  I welcome anyone to view and use my data.  It would be nice if they did give credit to me in their work; but if they  do not so be it.  I posted many photos of my ancestors on Ancestry and I have been notified numerous times that another user attached my photo to their tree.  I am glad when this occurs but always question myself as to why these people do not contact me for more information.

I have not dealt with this issue yet but I have heard that it can be difficult to delete your online tree on certain sites.  I do not understand why it would be difficult to do this? But that is what I have read.  If I were to guess; perhaps their subscription expired and now they want to remove their tree.  Without having a current account, I would not expect a subscription site to let someone update the account.  I believe that if the account is valid then the user should be able to alter, change, or delete the information at will.  Perhaps I am wrong?

Online Genealogy Courses

There are many ways to learn "how to do" genealogical research; such as taking seminars, heading to a local LDS Family History Center, asking other genealogists, joining a genealogical society, reading a book on the subject, or simply talking to librarian. Whatever you do, you need to start with yourself and your siblings and then start to work backwards with your parents, aunts, and uncles; then your grandparents, etc.

Doing genealogical research is a fairly easy task.  However as time passes and as you learn and as your skills increase you may want to become a better researcher and learn about additional resources and how to use them.  I am at that conjuncture in my research.  I am looking to further my skills and find new avenues for my research.  

In early November I will be taking my first online genealogy course from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.  The course that I am taking is Electronic Resources: Using the Internet.  The syllabus states this course will cover all aspects of using the Internet for family history research, beginning with some of the fundamentals of using the Internet and then moving onto all the many categories of websites that contain potentially useful genealogical information.   

Their courses are relatively inexpensive at $89/course.  Courses last for six to seven weeks.  This is my first venture into online genealogy courses.  The National Institute has a complete curriculum in American, Canadian, German, English, Irish. Scottish, and Australian records.  They also offer certificates in the same fields.  Check out their web page at National Institute for Genealogical Studies for all other details.

As I mentioned this will be my first online course.  I will post a review of my thoughts on their course.  If I decide to take other courses I will review them also.  If anyone has any experience with online courses from the National Institute or any other organization I would like to hear your opinions about them.  Thank you in advance.