Family Stories: Now Where Did I Put That?

Now Where Did I Put That?

Everyone has a family heirloom or two or three, but do you really know where they are? You know you have it somewhere, but where? To find it, you need a road map, but Oh, where did I put that?

Finding something results in being organized – and that comes by documenting its where-a-bouts! Doesn’t that sound a little like “citing sources”?

My husband and I were out antiquing last summer and when we walked into a dealers two-story barn, he immediately noticed chairs – literally all over – hanging- stacked – they were everywhere, all shapes and sizes. His first words were “how do you find anything?” The dealer said, “I didn’t for many years, then I stopped looking and cataloged every chair as to size, style and exact location; when it sells, I delete it from inventory. It’s the only way I can find anything!” My husband often reminds me of that when I’m roaming through the house, to the brink of almost turning it upside down in a search and coming up empty-handed. Seeing my look of perplex and frustration often leads him to verbally remind me that if I had everything cataloged…. that doesn’t usually go over well with me!

Nothing is worse – you know you have it, but you can’t put your finger on it. It’s what you think about at night – as you lay your head down. Days turn into weeks and often you forget what your looking for – as the next item you can’t find soon moves to the top of that “can’t find list.” What a nightmare, and all because  you didn’t cite your source of location.

I’d like to just say up-front, that I believe every genealogist should have a personal secretary to do all the little things to keep us organized so we can enjoy being a happy, happy genealogist! Do I hear an Aye?

I have read so many reminders in my Facebook Genealogy bloggers group to “cite your source” – and I mean to – and certainly know the ramifications of when you don’t. Who doesn’t have a few reasons as to why they don’t have time? We become so engrossed in that new leaf on the tree, or the next story in your 52 Week 52 Ancestor Story challenge, that we – well you know what you do….

What you do, is you don’t always cite your source on information or locations on your family history papers, books and photos. “Citing your source” also means as to the location of your family history genealogy items and heirlooms.

“Citing your source” can be just as crucial in the organization of your family history heirlooms and documents as to your written work. Have I confused you? If your anything like me, you have a notebook on every family name, or writing topic with bits and pieces of paper stuffed in between the pages. But often those pieces of paper haven’t been stuffed inside the correct notebook. This is what creates that perplexed look on your face as your struggling to write that story and you can’t find that one piece of information you know you have – somewhere! You can almost see it in your mind; that really helps, right?

Just the other day, in trying to better organize myself, I spent the day clearing off the “mound” of papers in front of my computer; going through all my stash of notebooks and loose papers and sorting everything into its specific folder and notebook. These are the folders and notebooks I use in my writings – and they now are  in one file box.

I hope to make 2015 the year of “Cite your Source” and “Cite your location!”

How about you???

As I laid in bed last night I thought of a plan…. I am going to  begin going through each drawer and box and sort – and file – and cite sources. And I will be writing a blog story on my find of lost things I’ve been looking for. Stay tuned….

Sites of Interest: I will be checking out more closely

• http://library.uncw.edu/citations
• https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Cite_Your_Sources_%28Source_Footnotes%29
• http://www.citefast.com/
• http://research.library.oakland.edu/sp/subjects/tutorial.php?faq_id=187
• http://search.creativecommons.org/
• http://www.budgetstockphoto.com/creative_commons_images.html
• http://photopin.com/
• http://www.bibme.org/citation-guide/MLA/photograph

Want to read more, then click… Family Stories here and over Here.