It’s been fun to go through the photographs and begin to assemble what I think are family groups, based on the few identified photographs. One of these days I’m going to concentrate on those photographs and get them organized into archival albums.

Another task I’ve planned is to organize the documents. Tillie and W. E. belonged to a couple of fraternal groups. She was a licensed practical nurse, I learned.

When I met her she was a cranky, sick, old lady who didn’t like me for taking her favorite grandson away from her. [We moved to Kansas shortly after our marriage in Oklahoma City, to find better jobs.] Despite her hostility toward me, I’m beginning to warm up to the old girl. Look at the treasure chest she saved and I inherited as the family genealogist!

If you are an aspiring genealogist, or just want to learn what’s new in the field, check out the Transitional Genealogists Forum. There’s usually a lively discussion in progress.

Personally I’m so busy with my current client, I don’t have time for much anything else. We started out with what seemed like such a simple project that has expanded, much like watching kudzu grow. It’s amazing where it has gone!

Mary, who is too busy to be very contrary right now

Who?

Who wrote it? Who is named? Who are the witnesses? Who else is named? Who had a reason to not be truthful? Who has a bias in recording this event?

What?

What is it? What type of document? What does it concern? What clues to other records does it contain? What were the circumstances and consequences of this event?

When?

When was it written? When was it recorded? When in this person’s lifetime did this event occur: infancy, childhood, adolescence, young, middle, old adulthood?

Where?

Where did the event occur? Where was it recorded? Where did you find it? Where does it lead you?

Why?

Why did the event occur? Why was it recorded? Why did you choose to obtain this record?

How?

How will this record advance your research? How will you use it? How does it add to your understanding of your ancestor’s life?

Lesson learned: enter data as you receive it; keep research calendars and databases up to date. Make time for your own family research. I’m my best client!

Over the last few weeks I’ve been reviewing my resume’, life accomplishments, preparing end-of-life documents, etc. I have discovered that  none of my many careers: wife, mother, teacher, artist, museum curator, board-certified genealogist, business owner, that most of it doesn’t count for anything.  As a museum curator, I helped the Smoky Hill Museum, Salina, KS achieve the highest standards of that industry, accredition. As a professional genealogist I achieved  certification by the Board for Certification of Genealogists as a Genealogical Records Specialist.

The only work that matter is that of wife, mother, and Christian. For me, only those things done to further the Kingdom of God will have lasting results.  And while I will continue as a professional genealogist for the near future, my priority will be the work God has set before me–my missionary work through the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

Hope to see you at IGHR.

Mary