That scream of glee coming from the San Francisco bay area recently is actually me doing research for an historical novel. I’ve got some confederates in Tennessee who are aiding and abetting me and the cyber connections are hot with our enthusiasm.
It’s so much fun to research history this way–with friends–but also when it is simply, so easy.
When I started my genealogical research in 1995, our family owned two computers. Both spent most of their waking hours keeping America safe for democracy as my husband and three sons wiped out aliens and other potential invaders. They also played games like Civilization and Colonization, “history, mom, see?” but I felt pretty sure most of the time they were vigilant shooters in various galactic realms.
When I could get on, I wrote, put together newsletters and kept the checkbook. One day I brought home a Family Tree Maker program and began to imput genealogical information. Fascinating how the computer could keep track of it so much better and more efficiently than I could!
Life changed in early 1997 when my brother convinced us to “get e-mail for heaven’s sake.” We signed up for AOL.
What an amazing experience that was: the excitement and thrill of that “hee-haw” sound logging on to the telephone lines. And look at all the things you could do: check out real estate in Washington D. C. (we were due for orders out of Hawai’i), send messages to friends and relatives and, what’s this? meet fellow genealogists?
In those ancient days, we used clogged phone lines to access the net. It could take a long time to log on and I spent hours on line because I had people researching the same family lines.
One in particular, a single Physics professor in Louisiana was hot on the trail of the same folks. We’re related somehow, but figuring that out seemed too intimate with a stranger, so I just egged him on as he dug up article after census record after family history. It was so much fun to log on at 5:15, Hawai’i time, and read the latest dispatches from the deep south as the sun rose over the Koo’lau Mountains. One weekend, he drove all over the southern states visiting libraries and historical centers. Together we pieced together the information he found into one satisfying whole.
The joy of having someone to share the information with, to consider angles and work out the puzzle, became addicting and a sheer pleasure.
I’m having the same fun with my new confederates, but now the tools are so incredibly powerful, I can’t help but scream in glee. You’ve heard it before, but the items available on the Internet are stunning! Census records I poured over microfilm for hours to decipher, can be found in four clicks on the screen. And you can blow them up to read them better, as well. Astonishing!
Indeed, genealogy is so easy these days, I’m not sure why the whole world hasn’t found all their roots.
Just yesterday, I read the Harper’s Weekly magazine from the Civil War. I pulled up newspaper articles from the 1903 San Jose newspaper. I read through an 1871 San Francisco newspaper article about my subject–primary resource material it would have taken me weeks to find otherwise.
Do you guys know how lucky you are?
Using my Sonoma County Library card, I can access all the census records available on line for free. Using my friend’s Sonoma State library card number, I downloaded an entire book. Google books (which I do not approve of as a writer, but which I love as an historical researcher), gives me snippets and sometimes the majority of the out-of-print books I need.
If I’d had this information available 15 years ago, my family history would not have taken 5 years and countless dollars to research!
But fun though the technology tools are, the best part is having people to share the information with. My husband smiles politely and occasionally provides some military background, but the thrill of the hunt, the joy of the discovery, the satisfaction of theories, is run past two women sitting at computer screens across the country. It’s like working with Justin again and I’m loving it.
Even if these aren’t my relatives, this time. 🙂
I love to read history and discover new facts, but it’s so much more satisfying and joyful to do it with friends.
Have any of you had a similar experience? What’s the most thrilling and satisfying fact you’ve found on the Internet?
The joy of technology in historical research. Click to Tweet
I found out my great-great grandfather, James S. Larrick, was a Second Lieutenant in the Virginia Calvary during the Civil War. After his enlistment was up he enrolled in VMI. As a Cadet he participated in the Battle of New Market and was the oldest cadet to fight. He was 25 years old. I wrote to VMI and got copies of his records which included a letter from the Superintendent of VMI to Jame’s father. Seems like g-g-Granddaddy spent his tuition money on a bicycle. I can hear the conversation now. Also I found on the internet his wife’s application for survivor benefits after he died. What a thrill to see g-g- Grandma’s actual handwriting.
isn’t that just thrilling?? I have to tell you, I’m dancing in the streets today. The diary I need–which was locked away for four months while the library was being renovated–was microfilmed! I can get very soon. Very, very excited. And it’s so awe-some to see our family member’s signatures and know they held a piece of paper before us. Love it!
It wasn’t on the internet, but the biggest thrill in historical research I’ve had lately was discovering that a relative (second cousin, six times removed) had lived through the 18th century history I’m using as the background for my WIP. He’s mentioned by name in a book on the subject as having been a trader and tavern owner in the area, and politically active too. I found the author of the book with a single Google search and was able to exchange a few emails. Not long ago even that wouldn’t have been possible.
Confederates, tee hee…I was just invited to join the Confederate version of the Daughters of the American Revolution yesterday (which i must research the name of, I had to smile and nod like I knew what it was), because I have “the lineage”! I’m envisioning rituals, and maybe even hoop skirts; sounds like fun. What an experience this has already been; I can’t even begin to imagine what’s to come. And I can’t wait to meet you in person — you, Jamie and I need to do a three musketeers road trip and immerse ourselves in all things Civil War! My most thrilling and satisfying internet fact (so far) was finding the existence of the massive records collection…still can’t believe it’s real. Great post, and I’m blown away that I’m involved!
Over Genforum I met a fourth cousin who was researching the same line I was, but he was a retired professor and VERY motivated. He dug up tons of interesting information including a few Mormon cousins who had written a book. In order to find our common immigrant ancestor from England, he suggested we do some DNA research and it turned out that my dad was the only one who could provide the swab we needed. Thankfully, Dad obliged and we now know which couple from England brought us to the New World.
Wow, that’s exciting news your dad could provide the DNA sample. It has to be a man, which I think is interesting, but makes for fascinating information when done.