Tag: Genealogy
Meet your NextGen Leadership Team – Beth Wylie
September 13, 2017
Name: Beth Wylie
Age: A lady never reveals her true age…40 something…
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
What is your role at The NextGen Genealogy Network? Secretary of the Leadership Team is my official title. I help out with graphic creation, promoting events on social media, anything that is asked. We are great about supporting each other as we all do this voluntarily between the spaces of our busy lives.
How did you hear about NextGen? I can’t recall exactly how I stumbled upon it, but when I learned about the organization, I immediately emailed about coordinating a meet up! I was so excited to find kindred spirits in my general age group. Melanie Frick was the first person that reached out, and I am very thankful that she did! I wish this group had existed when I was in my 20’s.
When did you first get interested in genealogy? My paternal grandmother was an amateur genealogist. I remember going to a Warner Brown family reunion in Union County, Arkansas when I was a small child, seeing all the boards with family photos. I inherited her manila envelopes full of her Goode and Goodwin records. She was also a proud member of DAR, so in my early 30’s I joined through her line. Additionally, I majored in history in college. Researching the past seems to have always been an important part of my life.
Do you have a specific area of expertise or interest? I don’t profess to be an expert in any particular area, but I do have a great deal of interest in Southern ancestry, migration patterns, etc. My roots are deeply Southern, for better or worse. Being Southern is a contradiction of emotions for me. I have explored these feelings some in my blog, lifeinthepastlane.org. Another area I have developed a recent interest in is oral history research. I hope to learn more about this in an upcoming webinar series with Baylor’s Institute of Oral History. People’s lives are what make family history so interesting. Knowing how to interview people, and capture their stories before they are lost, is something I think will make me a better genealogist.
What is your favorite type of genealogical record? Any record that has a family name on it?! That’s such a difficult question to answer! Some ancestors don’t want to give up their secrets, so for them any record I can find is my favorite. Death certificates are a personal favorite as I am always curious to know how people died. I love finding a lengthy obituary or book that may tell more about them as a person. I have paid a small fortune for a rare out of print book that had a whole section on my Garrison ancestors! Worth every penny.
If you could meet any ancestor, who would it be? I. Cannot. Pick. One. Peter Garrison, my 3rd great grandfather, because I know the most about him and feel like I know him. Prudence Patterson Hall, because she was supposedly a spy in a petticoat during the Revolution. My great grandmother Igou, because she got a divorce at a time when it was very rare and let her ex-husband and his family raise her first child. There’s a painful story there I want to know more about. I could go on…
Are you involved in any local societies/organizations? I am on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Genealogical Society. It has been a great experience so far and I am looking forward to increasing our younger membership.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to a new genealogist? Take your time. Whether learning the foundations of good research, or actually researching your own family. Take your time to make sure you have verified sources, dates, etc. And, if you hit a brick wall, step away, knowing it may not be a brick wall forever. A distant cousin once told me that our ancestors will reveal themselves when they want to be found. I have always tried to think of it that way when I reach a point I can’t go any further. Time and distance often give me a fresh perspective when I return to the search.
Do you plan on becoming a Certified or Accredited Genealogist in the future? When my children are a little older and more independent, I plan to complete the Boston University Certificate Program in Genealogical Research.
Where can we find you online? (FB/Instagram/website/email
Faces of NextGen: Meet Lisa Medina
September 6, 2017
Lisa Medina, 34, California
What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Caring, Intellectual,Pragmatic, Passionate and Introverted
Why genealogy?
I have harbored a strong affection for history since childhood, fascinated by vivid images, stories and figures of the past. When I discovered genealogy and the ways my ancestors related to the larger narrative of history, I was hooked. Also, I love research!
What’s the coolest discovery you’ve made?
There have been many, but what first comes to mind is the discovery that my grandfather and my husband’s aunt lived in the same small town in northern California at the same time. My husband and his family are from Guadalajara, Mexico, I grew up in Maine and my grandfather was from Oklahoma, so this was a very unexpected coincidence.
What are you working on this week?
I have picked up my research into the early life of one of my maternal great grandfathers, who was adopted and about whom little is known. I have been in communication with my mother’s cousin, who is the son of the eldest of my great-grandfather’s sons, and who is helping to guide my research by answering questions and confirming several discoveries based on oral histories.
What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy?
Commitment to well-organized research. By remaining committed to the scope of my research projects and digging into the details, with as much structure in my research plan as possible, I am able to document my search and findings easily – and the details for narratives are available!
What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history?
The ability to see into the past, of course! Also, full access to the Family History Library 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history?
Spending time with my 5-month old and husband at Balboa Park or the zoo – two of our favorite family outings. When I’m not with my family (and also not researching), I am often swimming at my local YMCA.
Lisa can be found online at www.medinagenie.weebly.com
The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.
Faces of NextGen LIVE! Meet Michael D Lacopo
August 30, 2017
The NextGen Genealogy Network’s Faces of NextGen LIVE! is a popular feature hosted by Education Coordinator Eric Wells. In this recorded interview, get to know Michael D Lacopo!
Want to say hello to your fellow young genealogists during a fun and informal interview with Eric? Let us know at [email protected].
Don’t forget to bookmark our YouTube Channel to keep up with the latest on Faces of NextGen LIVE!
Faces of NextGen: Meet Amber Oldenburg
August 23, 2017
Amber Oldenburg, 39, Indiana
What five words would you use to describe yourself? The five words I would use to describe myself are; patient, enterprising, blessed, methodical, and motivated.
Why genealogy? Genealogy was an accident for me. My original intention at BYU-Idaho was to study towards becoming a park ranger, choosing Family History as a minor. I was immediately hooked on the subject. Very quickly I shifted my focus towards a degree in Family History with the goal of becoming a professional genealogist. Since my initial introduction to the subject, I have spent an inordinate amount of time researching and learning the ins and outs of the field. I feel truly blessed to have discovered my passion, one in which I very much hope to make a career.
What are you working on this week? As classes do not resume until September (thank goodness), I’ve chosen to use this time to study in preparation for ICAPGen accreditation, occasionally stepping away to conduct research on the Thompson branch of my family tree.
What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy? I would have to say the number one secret to my success has been persistence in the face of some quite daunting challenges. Whether it’s running into a metaphorical brick wall while conducting research, or attempting to make heads or tails of difficult scripts, I keep moving forward until I achieve what I set out to do.
What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history? Undoubtedly, I’d have to go with time travel. To be able to personally speak with my ancestors, and to hear their story from their lips would be the absolute greatest gift I could receive.
What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history? When I am not working on researching family history, I can be found devouring every genealogy book available, or attending genealogy seminars and conferences. Aside from genealogy, I adore spending time with my wonderful husband and two brilliant daughters, very often camping or road tripping throughout the U.S.
The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.