Baby Steps
I tend to be an early adopter of new technology - although I do realize that I am probably a bit late to the party as far as SubStack is concerned. I’ve been trying to work out the SubStack advantage and I think I might be getting there i.e. it’s a ready-made community. I’ve enjoyed the family history blogging community very much and this might be the same, except on steroids (I hope!)
I’ve always believed that family history research is a team effort. You need your family to inspire and support you, and you need the wider community - fellow family historians, libraries, archives, businesses, and societies to support you as well.
I will post here as often as I can with news about my own research and family history experiences in the hope that it might inform your approach.
My goal is to post at least once a month and preferably more. My research is based mainly in Australia but extends to Canada, the Caribbean, and the UK
When I asked AI Tool Perplexity to create a picture of a contemporary female family historian, this is what it answered:
“Research Methods
Contemporary female family historians utilize a combination of traditional and modern research techniques:
Digital resources: They make extensive use of online genealogy databases, digitized records, and DNA testing services.
Social media: Many connect with distant relatives and fellow researchers through platforms like Facebook groups.
Traditional archives: While embracing technology, they still value on-site research at libraries, courthouses, and historical societies.
Technology Skills
Today's female family historians are often tech-savvy:
Proficient with genealogy software programs
Comfortable using cloud storage for organizing digital files and photos
Skilled at using photo editing software to restore old family pictures
Documentation Approach
They take a meticulous approach to documenting their research:
Use citation software to properly source all information
Create detailed timelines and family group sheets
Develop research logs to track their progress
Sharing and Collaboration
Modern female genealogists frequently share their findings:
Maintain family history blogs or websites
Contribute to collaborative online family trees
Participate in genealogy forums and online communities
Diverse Interests
Beyond names and dates, they often explore:
Social history to understand ancestors' daily lives
Genetic genealogy to complement traditional research
Family health history for medical insights
Professional Development
Many pursue ongoing education in genealogy:
Attend conferences and workshops
Take online courses in specialized research areas
Some obtain professional certifications in genealogy
This portrait depicts a contemporary female family historian as a tech-savvy, collaborative researcher who blends traditional methods with modern tools to explore and share her family's story.”
Sounds pretty good to me. What do you think?
Do you use AI in genealogy? If so, how?
Which family history skills do you want to improve? DNA analysis is my weakness.
There’s always so much to do in family history isn’t there? I look forward to hearing from you and wish you well in this most fascinating of pastimes.
I do agree with the description of a contemporary family historian - I think the characteristics apply to both men and women
I am brand new here to substack too. Still trying to find my way around and work out how best to make use of and share in this new-to-me community.