Technology has also helped advance genealogy research in a number of interesting ways. Last month I attended a Duke family meeting in Varina, VA among members of the Duke family of Charlottesville (descended from Thomas H. Duke, born circa 1825) and the Richmond-Varina family (descended from James Duke born circa 1830) who found one another through the Duke DNA project. One of my Duke cousins (we have a common g-g-grandfather in Thomas H. Duke) was a direct match with two of the Varina male Dukes who attended (common g-g-grandfather James). We had about 45 Duke family members there all of whom are directly related via male ancestors based on Duke DNA matches. We haven't isolated the common male ancestor before Thomas H. and James Duke, but found each other through DNA data and are jointly working to find the common male ancestor.
JDS
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, Nov 3, 2010 1:52 pm
Subject: Re: Is Genealogy Dead?
I don't think that it is dying, but there appears to be a great change in who
oes it. I know that at 67, I am one of the youngest members that attend meeting
t my research area based historical society when I happen to be in town (and I
ive 500 miles away, so can't volunteer to keep the doors open). I have just
otten highspeed internet service, so can now begin volunteering for various
ndexing projects in which I am interested over the web, but that's another
tory. I think that many people doing research now do it mostly online, and if
ncestry or Footnotes, etc. don't have what they are looking for, they assume
hat it doesn't exist. Also, a great many people are, like me, doing research in
reas where they don't live so, even if they were interested in volunteering,
ren't physically there to do so. And I suspect that most, also like me, aren't
nterested in volunteering where they live because it's not where they are from
nd their interest lies. As for keeping Rootsweb going, I would be happy to do
omething, but am not in any way computer savvy enough to know how to help
aintain a website, etc. If I had the knowledge, it would be different, as I
ove & use Rootsweb a lot.
I suspect a lot of the problem is that younger people are extremely busy, and
lder ones lack a lot of technical skills that would make us more useful--on the
ther hand, a lot of people my age can still read handwriting, which appears to
e a dying skill.
We do need to somehow make people aware that they need to register changes in
heir email addresses if they have queries out there--I believe that if you are
member of Rootsweb, they automatically route answers from an old email address
o a new one, but of course, you have to be registered.
But genealogy isn't dead at my house: I spend hours on the computer every day
orking on organizing and entering 40 years of research and surfing the web. I
ust returned from a week's "research vacation" in Virginia which included 2
ounty clerk's offices and the Library of Virginia, and am planning another trip
o Connecticut, so we are still out there.
Anne Gwaltney
-----Original Message-----
From: "Huffstutler, Eric S." <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Nov 3, 2010 11:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-HIST] Is Genealogy Dead?
In the past I posted the question "Is Genealogy Dead" because of
seemingly lack of interest these days. Then I got a flurry of responses
but not about a year later, I again pose this question.
I do so because I have talked with history research departments that
handle genealogy in various cities in other states as well as my own
experiences and can say that:
1) Volunteers have become a dying breed.
2) Websites are not maintained on a regular basis as in the past which
include old URL addresses and/or dead links within pages and no new
materials added. Even a leader like Rootsweb is a mess.
3) Websites like RAOGK have people listed but you rarely receive a
response from anyone now - mainly because their email address has
changed due to their backing out being a volunteer and cycles back to #2
above.
I feel that within the past 20-30 years the hobby has died out. the
generation interested has retired and packed their work away or has
themselves died and the following generations have zero interest in
things "old". Have no family bonds as those in years past prior to the
computer age. And basically could care less (the general attitude of
people in the work force today).
What is one to do for those of us who wish to continue finding lost
relatives from afar and rely on the Internet?
Eric
* * *
This E-mail, along with any attachments, is considered confidential and may
ell be legally privileged. If you have received it in error, you are on notice
f its status. Please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this
essage from your system. Please do not copy it or use it for any purposes, or
isclose its contents to any other person. Thank you for your cooperation.
* * *
To ensure compliance with Treasury Department regulations, we inform you that,
nless otherwise indicated in writing, any U.S. Federal tax advice contained in
his communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be
sed, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the
nternal Revenue Code or applicable state and local provisions or (2) promoting,
arketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed
erein.
Disclaimer Version RS.US.1.01.03
pdc1
______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
______________________________________
o subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
ttp://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
