Ruth's Chat on Charts and Forms

We had a nice small turnout and one new guest. We all learned something we probably had forgotten or never thought of it that way.

Ruth's witty charm and knowledge shown through the silly computer that was not cooperating. Finally she found what she was in need of but had covered it nicely with out the pictures.

It is amazing to me how we can fill our charts and forms and know what they are for but not really think about them as tools to
find the missing link.

She stated that a journal daily is a must to help you in research. It can be used like a diary in format. That journal is a form of sourcing your information. She said you write : called Aunt Helen showed number and about a specific letter. It receives a sourcing number for locating when doing further search.

She did present a chart I have never seen before I found it extremely informative and have to agree with Gary's comment adding that one more item to it makes it a very awesome chart. Resource Tracking Chart.

She talked about how when you fill in the blanks the empty spaces are the brick walls but the data between is your clues.
She spoke of how a census said living in a certain time frame as husband and wife, then the next time frame a widow remains.
This tells you (yes, I knew this) that he had passed. What it also tells you is the time frame of his passing.

She used many examples of the way she uses her charts, from a 4 generation to a 15 generation chart. She talked of her love of using a circle chart and showed us why she felt it was easier to use and understand for research. One the blank spaces pop out, two the relationship shows quicker within system when more than one family member marries another family member. This being if two sisters married in generation 7 and then in your generation 3 you learn that these missing women are siblings.

There was a chart presented that was color coded. The reason behind this chart was to show migration pattern of the families.
It was a five generation type chart. But in flow format and color coded to each surname and region.

I fell in love with the Resource Tracking chart she uses. That is so different from anything I have ever seen.

She talked about Family Group sheets showing family history. The knowledge of collateral lines can be pertinent when you run into a brick wall. She stated: Validation of Data Search, Collaboration with "cousins", Quick Reference Sheet. are the reasons for using this chart.

She talked about the numbering system on a 5 or 4 generation chart. There are 8 more charts needed if you fill out the full 5 Generation Chart form. Each male surname needs a separate chart. The males are always even numbers and the females are odd numbers.

The oddities in families brings the need to address the cousins marrying cousins, Uncles marrying niece, towns and counties that change names use of different charts and how the more effectively handle those situations.

She also addressed a Census Summary Data Chart. She talked about the results you can get from using this method for tracking females, narrowing of birth and death dates, members in family and migration of same.

She helped show some tips for the use of these charts at our picnic.

So come to the picnic or attend her next talk next week and learn all of this directly.

Stay tuned for it is hoped another topic brought up will be spread out before us by her in the not to far distant future.
Some of these charts she mastered doing her Grandma Camp but it was a really fun informative event.
More on that one chart at a later date. Stay tuned for more chatting.