My 99 Genealogy Things Meme

Okay, I’m jumping on this bandwagon. I have read several posts on the 99 Things Meme, some general and some related to genealogy, so I’m not sure whose list I’m using here. I’ve added extra information (in blue) because I think this is a great way to get to know other genealogists! Come on, join the fun in your own post!

The list is annotated in the following manner:
Things I’ve already done: bold face type
Things I’d like to do: italicize
Things I haven’t done, don’t care to, or just hasn’t come up yet: plain type

1. Belong to a genealogical society. National Genealogical Society, Southern California Genealogical Society, Utah Genealogical Association, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists
2. Researched records onsite at a court house. In Los Angeles County, CA, Nacogdoches County and Sherman County in TX.
3. Transcribed records. And have a lot more to transcribe!
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave. And created 2 virtual cemeteries. Also posted photos on 1BillionGraves.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents). Great-grandparent surnames: SPURLOCK, OWENS, MARTINDALE, FORSHEE, YAWMAN, BURTON, SNIDER, FRANKLIN.
6. Joined Facebook. Yep, won’t you be my friend? facebook.com/denise.spurlock
7. Cleaned up a run-down cemetery.
8. Joined the GeneaBloggers Group.
9. Attended a genealogy conference. NGS (2010, 2011); SCGS Jamboree (2010, 2011)
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society. One so far, have three more scheduled.
12. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter. Yes, if you count the newsletter for the Southern California Chapter of APG.
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society. Same as 12.
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery. My sister is not always the best navigator!
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
17. Researched outside the state in which I live. Yes, in Louisiana and Texas.
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
19. Cold called a distant relative.
20. Posted messages on a surname message board. Many times.
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet. To WorldConnect, Ancestry, WikiTree.
22. Googled my name. I have a Google alert set up!
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research. Yes.
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research. Trying!
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative. Wasn’t sure they were related until after writing to them.
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
29. Responded to messages on a message board. Many times.
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion. Slipped and fell in a cemetery; only my pride was injured!
31. Participated in a genealogy meme. Regularly.
32. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
33. Performed a record lookup.
34. Took a genealogy seminar cruise. Would be a lovely vacation!
35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space. The southern U.S. seems to be a favorite landing area for UFOs.
36. Found a disturbing family secret. Umm, sort of.
37. Told others about a disturbing family secret. Of course!
38. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
39. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby. My name is Denise, and I’m a geneaholic....
40. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons). An activity definitely worthy of one’s time.
41. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure. Let’s not talk it...
43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher. If you count someone you’ve only met online.
45. Disproved a family myth through research.
46. Got a family member to let you copy photos. Need to work on some others!
47. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records. But now I have a FlipPal Mobile Scanner!
48. Translated a record from a foreign language. Using Google Translate.
49. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record. My son’s Italian great-grandfather.
50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer. Line by line.
51. Used microfiche.
52. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Several times; visiting again in October.
53. Visited more than one LDS Family History Center. Two: LA and Upland, CA.
54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
55. Taught a class in genealogy.
56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents. Yes, add the following surnames to 5. above: VICKERS, HAMMONTREE, EATON, PARKER, SITTERLY, PARSONS, CALDWELL, CARY.
60. Found an ancestor’s Social Security application. Have SS-5s for parents.
61. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.  
62. Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches. Occasionally.
63. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Can’t cite without it!
64. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
65. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
66. Visited the Library of Congress. I still have my reader card from a visit in the 1990s!
67. Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower. James Chilton.
68. Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War. Several, on both sides.
69. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone. Yep!
70. Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
71. Can read a church record in Latin.
72. Have an ancestor who changed their name.
73. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list. Two or three.
74. Created a family website.
75. Have more than one "genealogy" blog. Three!
76. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
77. Have broken through at least one brick wall.
78. Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
79. Borrowed microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center. But hate the wait.
80. Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project. Family Search and Ancestry.
81. Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
82. Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
83. Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. Several.
84. Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
85. Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
86. Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor. But not often....
87. Use maps in my genealogy research. I love maps!
88. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
89. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors. Maybe, not sure yet!
90. Visited the National Archives in Kew.
91. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
92. Found a cousin in Australia (or other foreign country).
93. Consistently cite my sources. Yes.
94. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
95. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes. In my dreams..
96. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
97. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
98. Organized a family reunion.
99. Published a family history book (on one of my families). Yes, but it needs revision.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock, Ancestral Trees Research