The year is marching on, and what an odd year it has been. And now that we’re all in lockdown you’ve got time to rea, right? I know I have been. Anyway I’ve read some great articles, so I’ve collected them here for you.

In this edition of Inspiring Genealogy Blogs we cover:genealogy resolutions, society membership, the good and bad stories, interviewing remotely, unmarked graves, online trees, free genealogy, DNA kits, young people and genealogy, and heaps more.

So get comfy, grab a nice hot drink, and enjoy some great reading.

As I mention every time, I find that reading blog posts helps me keep up with the latest news, products as well as what’s happening in general in the world of genealogy. And if you happen to already follow me on Facebook and Twitter, you already know that I like to share with you the interesting things I read.

New Year Resolutions for Family History
Ok, I know the New Year is well past, but that doesn’t mean you can make a new resolution at any time regarding your genealogy. So here’s some tips on doing so. Read the full article …

Before we buy that kit …
We all do it … we see the DNA sales, and then buy up a few kits to give as presents or to have on hand, ready for when we find another relative who will test. But before we buy the kit (or at the very least before we give that kit) we need to make sure the person testing give “informed consent”. This isn’t merely just a “are you willing to take a DNA test? yes/no” scenario. This is advising them of potential implications from taking as test – BEFORE they do. And then seeing if they agree. Read the full article …

Why Aren’t More Young People Interested in Genealogy?
It is a common question that gets asked at genie societies, and elsewhere … Why aren’t more young people interested in genealogy? Ryan who writes the Once Removed blog has some answers to this question. Read the full article …

Should genealogical societies reach out to previous members to re-join?
This was an interesting article to read. The essence of it is that if genealogy societies are struggling with membership, why not try to reach to past members to woo them back? It’s one that will get you thinking. I’ll let you read it for yourself. Read the full article …

Those Overlooked Baby Treasures Might Help With Genealogy Research
When was the last time you looked through the items your parents saved from your childhood? You might have a baby book about yourself, or cards that were sent when you were born. These an numerous other items can provide clues for researchers. So don’t dismiss your baby treasures. Read the full article …

Keepsakes or Heirlooms
Pauleen write about keepsakes and heirlooms. The ones that are passed down from generation to generation, and others more knick-knack things that have emotional value. Read the full article …

Why you Should Write about Both Good AND Bad Sides of Ancestors in your Family Stories
Laura gives some compelling reasons as to why you should write about both the good and bad sides of your ancestors. Our ancestors were just like us, they were human. They did good things, and bad things. So she says we should “aim for human not perfection” in recording their lives. Besides is it really telling the story if you only tell a part of it? Read the full article …

Anonymous no more: Combining genetics with genealogy to identify the dead in unmarked graves
In Quebec, gravestones did not come into common use until the second half of the 19th century, so historical cemeteries contain many unmarked graves. Now a team of researchers in genetics, archaeology and demography from three Quebec universities have conducted a study in which they combined genealogical information from BALSAC (a Quebec database) with genetic information from more than 960 modern Quebecers in order to access the genetic profile of Quebec’s historical population. Read the full article …

How to Interview a Relative Remotely
Interviewing older relatives is an essential part of genealogical research. They can provide such a wealth of information that you will never find anywhere else. But what do you do if you can’t visit your relative in person? MyHeritage gives you a number of options of ways to interact and interview someone, without actually being present in the same room. Read the full article …

Divorced? Estranged? How to write these family stories
Jessica writes about a topic that we all come across, but I’ve not seen written about till now. She gives readers tips on how to go about writing stories relation to people from fractured families – divorces and/or estrangements. You often have to be so careful writing about people that this involves, but she gives you some fabulous pointers. Read the full article …

How to Get Your Family History Organised
Are you having trouble locating a record you “know” you have, but can’t put your hands on it? Or what about the information you got from a second cousin with updated information on their family? Here are 6 steps to help you get and keep your family history (offline and online) organised. Read the full article …

Online Family Trees Do Not Cause Bad Genealogy
Online trees. We’ve heard heard it, and possibly had a rant about it ourselves .. .about just how bad so many are. Well James Tanner who writes the Genealogy’s Start blog has a great response to thise particular claim. Read the full article …

How to do Free Genealogy Research on Ancestry.com
Like any hobby, genealogy can get expensive. DNA tests, Genealogy subscriptions, research trips, conferences….. the list of wants and needs can seem endless. So how do you maximize your dollars for what subscription site to use? Well you can a least see what you can access on them for free. This isn’t meaning free for a limited period, these are records on Ancestry that are available for everyone to access without a subscription. Mind you the same applies to other sites too (but that’s not what this post is about). Anyway read the full article here …

Get Those Records, Tapes and CDs Onto Your Smartphone
Dick Eastman writes… “Want to preserve family photographs, videos, and audio recordings? I wouldn’t use a smartphone for the purpose of archiving things for years. However, having those items conveniently saved on a phone is a great method for sharing them with relatives at reunions, holiday events, and other family get-togethers.” Read the full article …

Note to self: get organized!
If you need some help getting your genealogy organized, this is for you. Back in January The Genealogy Guys ran a “31 Days of Organization” series of blog posts. Judy G. Russell of the Legal Genealogist blog has collated many of these together into the one post. Covering everything from your bookmarks, to your nearest file drawer … these tips will help you get organised. Read the full article …

The 15 Best Websites for 18th Century Family History
This article made me look because I don’t think I could name 15 UK websites that specific to researching your 18th century ancestors, so I was intrigued.  From estate records to convicts, from maps to monumental inscriptions, from house plans to apprenticeships, there are some great site listed, some of which I didn’t know. Read the full article …

Happy reading!