Jun 03

Changes in Technology Over the Years

I am participating in Lorine McGinnis Schulze’s “52 Weeks of Sharing Memories–A Genealogy Journey.” Lorine is the creator of the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog and followers of the 52 Weeks of Sharing Memories project journal weekly, writing about family-related topics that Lorine gives us each Sunday. By the end of the year I will have a journal of my memories. A few weeks ago our topic was “Changes in Technology” over the years. As I wrote about this subject I thought of a number of items that I have used during my lifetime that are now pretty much obsolete. Obsolete: (adjective) No longer produced or used; out of date. Below are some of the changes in technology that I have seen.

Crank phones out, cell phones in. Back in the 1950s my Miller grandparents had a hand crank phone on their desk. According to Joe, our resident communications expert, that type of phone was called a magneto. It was a black phone with a little crank sticking up where the rotary dial was located on future phones. I still remember their very unusual phone number–121F14. I was not allowed to try to make a call on that phone. The whole calling-out process on their magneto phone seemed very complicated and I always wondered how Grandma knew how many times to turn that crank. To make a call she used what appeared to be a very complex system of rapid turns interspersed with specifically-timed starts and stops. As I recall, they knew when to answer their phone when it rang specific long and short rings. They were on a “party line”, which meant that several of their neighbors, including the Sipes, were on the same phone line with them. Grandma could always tell when the Sipes would get a call. She would carefully pick up the phone and “listen in” to learn the latest neighborhood news. I wonder if the Sipes knew she was listening in. Probably. They were most likely doing the same listening-in thing over at their house. I remember that Vernon Caffee had a big wooden wall phone in one of his out-buildings. You would talk into the stationary mouthpiece and hold the earpiece to your ear. After the magneto phone was the rotary dial phone. I know of some people today who say they do not know how to use a rotary dial phone! That mechanism doesn’t seem all that hard to figure out. Phones eventually evolved to push-button dialing and then to cordless phones. Today just about everyone has a cell phone and cell phones seem to be replacing “land-line” phones. One of my co-workers still has a land-line phone. Her little grandchildren, who are only familiar with cell phones, are scared of her home phone and start to cry when it rings. Cell phones have pretty much eliminated the need for pay phones and phone booths, too. It makes you wonder where Superman would change his clothes these days.

Thumbs down for the slide rule, thumbs up for the calculator. When I took high school algebra we were allowed to use a slide rule. The slide rule was developed back in the 17th century and supposedly could do a multitude of mathematical calculations, but you could not prove that by me. I carried my slide rule to class, moved the bars around and tried to look proficient with it, but I never did figure out how to use the thing. I was overjoyed when the pocket calculator was invented in the mid 1970s.

Good-bye to typing. I learned to type on a manual typewriter when I was a sophomore at Parkway High School. All in all I was a fairly fast and accurate typist. After all, typing is sort of like playing the piano or organ and I can play a pretty lively tune on both. While I was still in high school my parents bought me my own electric typewriter, a sleek Smith Corona with a light touch. My fingers would fly across the keys, but typewriters could be very unforgiving. If I made a mistake I would have to type the whole page over. The closer I got to the end of a page, the more nervous I became. I eventually came to rely on erasable paper and white correction ribbon, depending on how picky the teacher was. I remember Chris, the gal in the next dorm room at BGSU in the early 70s. Her typing skills became apparent late at night. I would hear her typing in the wee hours and without warning she would shout some expletives, rip the sheet of paper out of the typewriter, insert a new sheet of paper and then start typing again. The late night routine went like this: tap, tap, tap, #@%&, rip, and the process would start all over. Over a decade later Joe and I purchased our first home computer. I could edit my work before I ever printed anything. What a wonderful concept. The computer would even let me know when I misspelled a word. However, there is at least one advantage that a typewriter has over a computer: filling out a pre-printed form or certificate. It is difficult, but not impossible, to put names on a certificate while using a computer. It just takes time and a lot of trial and error. I still have an electric typewriting in the basement and I use it occasionally. Not many typewriters are manufactured these days. It was reported that the world’s last typewriter factory closed 26 April 2011, but an update to that story reports that a few are still being made.

Speaking of computers, they have made recording and sharing genealogical information much easier. No longer do we have to write family group sheets out by hand or type them with a typewriter. Now we can enter, save, and later edit data with a genealogy program and print out the report of our choice with just a click of the mouse.

The beat goes on…The way we listen to music has changed over the years. I remember the large 78 rpm records, followed by 33 rpm vinyl albums and 45 rpm records. We had to play those records on a turn-table with an arm that held a diamond needle. Records would get scratched and then sound scratchy and sometimes “skip”. The 8-track tapes were invented and they made music portable if you had a tape player in your car. We used to listen to 8-track tapes in the car a lot and we enjoyed that great stereo sound. The 8-track tapes worked well until the tape player “ate” the tape. Next came cassette tapes, which were smaller and even more portable. We could even listen to them while walking. Most recently is the CD, which is almost a thing of the past now. Today nearly everyone downloads music from i-Tunes.

Kids today will never truly appreciate the TV remote. I recall a time when someone had to physically get up from the sofa to change the channel. There was no channel surfing in those days unless you wanted to sit right in front of the TV and turn the channel tuner. Of course there were only about 3 network channels to watch back then.

Photo film is nearly obsolete today, too. It is so convenient to see digital photos immediately and to have the ability to delete the ones that don’t turn out.

Yes, technology has improved our lives in many ways over the years and it is important to keep up with the changes. Technology can be a good thing and in this instance I do not have the desire to go back to the old days.

May 31

Tombstone Tuesday–Miller, Carl F. & Gertrude

 

Carl F & Gertrude Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Carl F. and Gertrude Miller. It is located in row 10 of  Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. Gertrude was the little girl in the 5-generation photo featured in my blog, A Snapshot of the Past–Five Generations of My Family. She was my grandmother.

Gertrude E. Brewster was born 3 November 1896 in Adams County, Indiana. She was the first of eight children born to Philip Henry and Pearl Selina (Reid) Brewster. Her siblings were Alpha (1898-1968), Jesse (1900-1964), Dore (1902-1982), Bernice (1907-1994), Elva (1909-2005), Glen (1912-1971), and Dorothy (1916-2009). Gertrude died 4 February 1973.

Carl Frederick was the son of Johann “Jacob” and Christine (Rueck) Miller. He was born 20 February 1896 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, and was the first child to be born in their “new” house, which is still standing today. He was the sixth of seven children born to Jacob and Christine. His siblings were Maria Regina (1884-1905), Jacob Jr. (1885-1913), Catherina (1886-1895), John (1889-1964), Caroline (1893-1988), and Clara (1899-1997). He also had two half brothers, Pete (1878-1957) and Christian (1880-1911) Miller. Carl died 25 November 1973.

Carl and Gertrude were married at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, on 10 July 1919 by Rev. JE Albrecht. (Vol K:531, Probate, Adams County, Indiana). They had nine children: Ruth, Helen, Emilene, Herbert, Catherine, Carl LaVerne, Kenneth, Anna Lou, and a stillborn child born in 1940.

Carl and Gertrude were my grandparents and I remember them very well. I remember Grandpa reading the newspaper on summer afternoons while sitting under a shade tree in his metal lawn chair. He also liked to spend time relaxing in his hammock, which was strung between 2 trees in their front yard. He always had Hershey candy bars in the cupboard to give to the grandkids. Grandma liked to garden and took pride in her garden. She was a very good cook and was a fun loving person. Grandma wanted the neighbors to think she was up and working early every morning, so she would get up early, turn on some lights, then go back to bed! The three of us spent many afternoons playing 500 Rummy at their kitchen table and sitting on the porch swing.

Obituary: Gertrude E. Miller

ROCKFORD–Services for Gertrude E. Miller, 76, will be at 2 p.m. today in the Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Miller died at 4 a.m. Sunday in Smith Nursing Home, here.

Survivors include her husband, Carl F. Miller, three sons, Herbert M. of Rt. 1, C. LaVerne of Monroe, Ind. and Kenneth E. of Highland, Ind.; four daughters, Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Werner of Harmony, Pa., Emilene Weitz of Rt. 1, Mrs. Paul (Catherine) Eichler of Rt. 3, and Ann Lou Kosier of Rt. 1 Willshire; 24 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. One daughter, Mrs. Paul (Helen) Linn is deceased.

Friends may call at the Yager Funeral Home in Berne, Ind. until 1 p.m. today. (source: The Lima News, 6 February 1973.)

Gertrude E. (Brewster) Miller (1896-1973)

Gertrude E. Brewster (1912 photo)

 

Obituary: Carl Miller Dies at 77

Carl F. Miller, 77, R. 1 Willshire, died at 5:20 p.m. Sunday at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. He had been ill three months. He was born Feb. 20, 1896, in Mercer County, the son of Jacob and Christina (Rueck) Miller. His wife, Gertrude Brewster, preceded him in death.

He is survived by three sons, Herbert M., R.R. Rockford; C. LaVerne, Monroe, Ind.; and Kenneth E., Highland, Ind.; four daughters, Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Werner, Harmony, Pa.; Mrs. Emilene Weitz, R. 1 Rockford; Mrs. Paul (Catherine) Eichler, R. 3 Rockford; and Mrs. Anna L. Kosier, R. 1 Willshire; two sisters, Mrs. John (Clara) Reef, R. 1 Willshire; and Mrs. Howard (Caroline) Caffee, R. 1 Willshire, 24 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter.

Mr. Miller was a retired employee of the Central Soya Co., and was a farmer. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, the Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at Yager Funeral Home, Berne, Ind., after noon Tuesday, until noon Wednesday, and at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of services. (source: The Lima News, 27 Nov 1973)

Carl F. Miller (1896-1973)

Carl F. Miller

May 27

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is this coming Monday, May 30. Memorial Day is always observed the last Monday in May and traditionally marks the beginning of summer. It was declared a US federal holiday in 1971 and its origin dates back to the Civil War. It began as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed during the Civil War. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. On that day Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

After WWI, Memorial Day was extended to honor Americans who died in all wars. Today most Americans use this holiday as a time to decorate graves, whether the deceased served in the military or not. For more information about the history of Memorial Day visit Memorial Day History or History.com’s Memorial Day section.

The red poppy has been associated with Memorial Day for nearly 90 years. Since 1922 VFW members and American Legion Auxiliary volunteers have distributed red poppies on Memorial Day weekend in exchange for a contribution to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. This tradition originated with Moina Michael in 1915. She was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” and came up with the idea to wear a red poppy on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving our nation during war. She then sold poppies to her friends and co-workers and the money went to needy service men. By 1922 the VFW had taken on the project. You can read more about this tradition at The Story Behind the Poppy.

Most towns in our area, including Willshire, Rockford, and Celina, have a Memorial Day parade followed by a ceremony at a local cemetery. The ceremony is usually conducted by the local American Legion or VFW. The American Legion and/or VFW also mark all veterans’ graves with an American flag. These organizations deserve a big Thank You for providing these services year after year.

Remember proper American flag etiquette this weekend. The American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. During a parade there may be several participants with a flag, so it is appropriate to salute only the first flag as it passes by. As the first flag passes everyone should show respect by standing at attention with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should give their appropriate formal salute.

The following is a list of my collateral ancestors who died while serving our country:

Civil War:

Hallet Bryan (c1836-13 Sep 1863) was the son of Peter and Mary (Huey) Bryan of Jay County, Indiana, and was my 3rd great granduncle. Private Bryan served in Company E, 89th Regiment, Indiana Infantry and was killed in Memphis, Tennessee. He is buried in the Memphis National Cemetery.

Daniel Schumm (2 Mar 1840-8 Feb 1863) was the son of Johann “Jacob” and Hannah (Billman) Schumm and was my 1st cousin 3 times removed. Corporal Daniel Schumm served in the 52nd OVI and never returned home from the Civil War.

John Schumm (30 Mar 1843-28 Oct 1864) was the son of George Martin & Maria (Pflueger) Schumm and was my 1st cousin 3 times removed. Corporal John Schumm served in Company A, 60th OVI. He was wounded and captured in Virginia during the Battle of Petersburg and was imprisoned at Salisbury, North Carolina, where he died.

WWI:

Carl Schumm was the son of Rev. Ferdinand and Wilhelmina (Brockmeyer) Schumm and was my 2nd cousin twice removed. He was killed in France during WWI.

WWII:

Ralph J. Derrickson (5 Apr 1925-15 Jan 1945) was the son of Ralph and Alpha (Brewster) Derrickson and was my 1st cousin once removed. Private Derrickson served in the 99th Infantry Division during WWII and was killed during the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg.

Edgar Schumm (18 Nov 1914-13 Nov 1944) was the son of William & Amanda (Reidenbach) Schumm and was my 3rd cousin once removed. He was killed while serving in WWII.

Victor Schueler (23 Jan 1924-3 Aug 1945) was the son of Adolph and Marie (Limbach) Schueler and was my 4th cousin. Private First Class Schueler was a member of the 85th Mountain Regiment, 10th Mountaineer Division and was killed in Italy during WWII.

Korea:

Emanuel George Roehm (3 Aug 1931-23 Apr 1951) was the son of Emanuel George and Esther (Ohnesorge) Roehm and was my 4th cousin. Private First Class Roehm was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was killed in action while fighting in Korea. Roehm was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. (source: Ancestry.com. WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.)

Viet Nam:

Corey Wayne Ellenberger (19 Oct 1946-12 Jan 1967) was the son of Kenneth & Nola (Charleston) Ellenberger and was my 2nd cousin. Private First Class Ellenberger served as a rifleman in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division and was killed in South Vietnam. (source: National Archives and Records Administration. Vietnam War: U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.)

In December 2000 the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed. This asks all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps’ ” at 3:00 local time.

This Memorial Day, amid the family gatherings, the cookouts, the sales, the Indy 500, and the other things you do when you have the day off work, take a moment to remember the real meaning of this holiday.

Ralph Derrickson Jr (1925-1945)

May 24

Tombstone Tuesday–Brewster, Pearl & Philip

Philip & Pearl Brewster, Riverside Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

This is the tombstone of Philip and Pearl Brewster, nee Reid. The gravestone is located in Riverside Cemetery, one mile east of Geneva in Adams County, Indiana. The tombstone reads: BREWSTER—Pearl (1880-1962), Philip (1868-1935).

Philip and Pearl were my great-grandparents, Philip was born 9 Aug 1868 in Adams County, Indiana, the son of Daniel and Sarah Brewster, nee Fetters. He died 21 January 1935 in Adams County, Indiana. Pearl was born 20 September 1880 in Salina, Kansas, and died 19 February 1962 in Adams County, Indiana. She was the daughter of William and Emily Reid, nee Bryan. Philip and Pearl were married 1 Dec 1895 in Adams County, Indiana. (Book G:145) Pearl was in the five generation photo featured in my blog A Snapshot of the Past—Five Generations of My Family.

Obituary: The deceased, Philip H. Brewster, was born August 9, 1868, and peacefully departed this life at his home in Jefferson Township, January 21, 1935, at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 12 days.

On December 1, 1895 he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Reid, who survives him.  To this union were born eight children, all living:  Jesse Brewster, Glen Brewster, Mrs. Arlie Ellenberger and Mrs. Arthur Weaver, all of Wabash Township; Dore Brewster and Mrs. Ralph Derrickson of Jefferson Township, Mrs. Robert Dudgeon of Berne, and Mrs. Carl Miller of Mercer County, Ohio.  Besides the widow and children, he leaves to mourn his departure, 22 grandchildren, his step mother, Mrs. Loverda Brewster, three brothers, Charles W. of Ft. Wayne, Frank, of Berne and Fred of Jefferson Township; and three sisters Mrs. J.A. Buckmaster of Portland, Mrs. Dale Rockwood of Jeromeville, Ohio and Mrs. Charley Abnet of this community.  His father and two sisters preceded him in death.

In 1928 the deceased suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he partially recovered but during the past year his health gradually failed him and during the last two weeks of his life he was confined to the house.  Although he suffered for years he bore his affliction patiently and uncomplainingly.  He spent his entire life in farming in Adams County, the place of his birth.  He was a member of the Evangelical Mt. Carmel Church of which he was janitor for a number of years.  Mr. Brewster had a wide host of friends and was much esteemed and respected by all who knew him. (source: unknown newspaper clipping)

Obituary:  Mrs. Pearl Brewster, 81, a resident of Geneva, died at 2 p.m. Monday at the Adams County Memorial Hospital following a heart attack.  She had been in failing health since last July, since which time she had resided with a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Derrickson, east of town.

A native of Salina, Kansas, Mrs. Brewster was born Sept. 20, 1880, the daughter of William and Emily Bryan Reid. She was married to Philip Brewster who preceded in death in 1935.  She had resided in Jefferson Township most of her life.  She was a member of Geneva Church of the Nazarene.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Carl (Gertrude) Miller, Willshire, O., route 1; Mrs. Ralph (Alpha) Derrickson, Mrs. Robert (Bernice) Dudgeon, and Mrs. Arthur (Dorothy) Weaver, all of Berne route 2; Mrs. Arley (Elva) Ellenberger, Geneva route 2; three sons, Jesse Brewster, Geneva route 1; and Dore and Glen Brewster, both of Geneva route 1; 34 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Zorpha Lawrence, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Minnie Peters and Mrs. Edith Stroube, both of Portland, and Mrs. Orlando Brunner, Portland, route 2.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Geneva Church of the Nazarene, Rev. R. E. Baker officiating.  Burial was in Riverside Cemetery.  (source: Geneva Herald, 22 Feb 1962)

Philip and Pearl had the following children: Gertrude (1896-1973), Alpha (1898-1968), Jesse (1900-1964), Dore (1902-1982), Bernice (1907-1994), Elva (1909-2005), Glen (1912-1971), and Dorothy (1916-2009).

I remember my great-grandmother, Pearl. Grandpa Miller would take Grandma (Pearl’s daughter Gertrude) and me to visit Pearl at her house in Geneva. Those two would talk for hours and hours. I was under ten years old then and was bored silly. Now I would love to be able to go back in time and listen to those conversations and ask them questions about our ancestors.

Philip Brewster (1868-1935) 1912 photo

Pearl (Reid) Brewster (1880-1962) 1912 photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 13

Ten Tech Tools & Tips

Flip Pal Scanner, Magic Wand Scanner, RootsMagic To Go

I like tech items very much. I especially like gadgets that make my research easier. Tools that help me scan documents, digitize photos, store, enter and share data are at the top of my list of favorite things. Below is a list of some tech items that I like to use along with some tips. I hope this list will give you some helpful ideas. I am not connected with these companies in any way. I just like and use their products.

1. Flip Pal Scanner. Many genealogists I know think this product is a very handy tool and I agree. Even if you are not interested in genealogy you may like this product to digitize your photos or for scrap-booking purposes.  It is a portable scanner about 10 x 6 inches, a little smaller than my Mini Notebook. It runs on 4 AA batteries and uses an SD card to store photos images. The size of its scanning bed is 4 x 6 inches and it will scan photo that size quickly. If a photo is in an album or book and cannot be removed, you can take the cover off of the Flip Pal, flip it over onto the album and scan the photo right in the album. The Flip Pal will also scan large photos by scanning the photo in sections. Flip Pal’s ‘stitching’ software will then put the sections back together, making the photo complete again. The quality of the scanned photo is good. An SD card as well as a USB to SD adapter is included with the Flip Pal. The adapter is handy in case your computer does not have an SD slot. Photos are very easy to transfer to your computer with the SD card. I definitely plan to take my Flip Pal to our Miller Reunion this summer with extra batteries. The Flip Pal website has a nice video to demonstrate the product.

2. Magic Wand Scanner. This little scanner is very portable and easily fits into your purse when you go on a research trip. It is about 1 x 10 inches and uses 2 AA batteries. You simply place the scanner on the document and slowly run the scanner over the document. It stores images on a micro SD card and the images come out quite good. There are two ways you can get the images onto your computer. I prefer to use a micro SD card adapter. I put the micro card into the adapter, which is the size of a regular SD card. I then put the adapter into my SD slot on my computer and upload the images to my computer. You can also transfer your images by using the USB cord that comes with the Magic Wand. I purchased my Magic Wand Scanner a few weeks ago on Ebay at half the regular price. It is refurbished but works just fine. There are several on-line videos that demonstrate the scanner.

3. Evernote. This is a handy program that I use to store and share information, photos and other items between all of my computers and my android phone. It works this way: I downloaded their free program onto my home computers and put their app on my droid. After that I could create and save notes, web addresses, lists, journals, photos, etc. on any of my computers or my phone. When I turn on my computer and am connected to the Internet, all of my devices sync, keeping all my information current. All my information is shared and updated among all my devices. All this information is also stored on the Evernote website. I can access my stored information anywhere, as long as I am on-line.  I just need to log in to view it. I can make a shopping list on my home PC and it will be available on my droid phone when I am at the store. I can journal on my Mini during breakfast and finish the article later on my PC in my office. Data is constantly being synchronized, saved, and stored. Information can be organized by category, in folders. Organized and handy! Evernote also provides a free e-mail account. I have sent items from my Droid via Evernote when I was unable to use my home Internet connection. All this is free. They do have a paid version, their premium account, which provides more storage and the ability to use Microsoft Office documents and other features. I may upgrade in the future, but the free version meets my needs for now.

4. AncestorSync™. Earlier this week, at the NGS conference in Charleston, Dick Eastman reported about this new program. According to their website, “AncestorSync™ enables you to synchronize your family tree, source documents, citations, and notes across all of your computers and a web pedigree of your choice.” This is something I have been waiting for–the ability to store and view genealogical files in “the cloud.” And best of all, Roots Magic will be compatible with it, as well as several other genealogical programs. It will be available in June. I can’t wait to try it!

5. Digital camera. Did you ever think of using your digital camera to take photos of documents at the court house or other repository? Your camera will take great photos of documents when using the close-up setting. Make sure the flash is turned off and that the lighting in the room is good. I can usually hold the camera steady but if that is a problem you may need to stabilize yourself against something or use a small tripod. I have a tripod that was once used for a spotting scope. I try to review and check my photos as I go, just to make sure my images are not blurry. Photographing documents saves the cost of purchasing a hard copy. Plus the document photo is already digitized, ready to upload to your computer. I usually ask permission before I take photos of the record books. I have also used this camera technique to take a photo of an existing photo as well as a microfilm image on a microfilm reader.

6. Digital movie camera. I have several reels of old movies that were filmed by my parents back in the early-mid 50s. It has been years, no decades, since anyone has viewed these movies. These are some great home movies and they need to be digitized before they deteriorate. I just have never found a good place to have them converted. One person said he could do the job. He said he would digitize them by playing the movies and recording them with a digital movie camera. At that point I decided I could probably do this task myself. That would save me some money. Plus I would be able to edit the movies as I record, something that a third party could not do. After discussing the quality of my digital movie camera he said that my camera would record about as good as his would. There you go! This is a project that I have not done yet, but I am ready. I have my parents’ old movie projector (which still works!) and a screen. I plan to use the tripod to mount and steady the camera. I’ll let you know how this project turns out.

7. USB Thumb/Flash Drive. Most of us have these little gadgets now. They can store an unbelievable amount of information. Consider keeping one in your purse or billfold at all times. That way it will always be available in case you want to upload photos or information while visiting someone. That idea could also work in reverse–carry it with you so you can share your photos or information with someone else. Be sure to take one with you when you go to the library. The microfilm machines and digital scanners at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne download to USB flash drives. You can now take digital images home with you instead of paper.

8. Mini Notebook/Netbook Computer.  By now you have probably noticed that I really, really like little technical gadgets. The iPad is a very tempting device that has been calling to me, but so far I have resisted that call. I would love to have one, but I really can’t justify purchasing it. I have my HP Mini Notebook, which meets my needs and which I like very much. It is compact, very portable, has lots of memory, and it is a computer. The iPad is compact and portable but it is not a computer. My Mini has a keyboard. I do a lot of journaling and typing, so having a keyboard is important to me. In fact, a keyboard is a must for me. I also would need a USB port and, from what I have read, I don’t believe the iPad has a USB port. I use a flash drive a lot. I transfer data and photos and use RootsMagic To-Go with a USB flash drive. In addition, I can use my Mini with a digital projector for presentations. I use my Mini each morning while I have breakfast, to check my e-mail and catch up on Facebook. Yes, I think I have talked myself right out of an iPad–at least for the time being.

9. RootsMagic To-Go. I use the Roots Magic genealogy software to record my family information. RootsMagic To-Go, a feature of RootsMagic 4, allows me to upload my RootsMagic family files to a USB flash drive. I can take that flash drive with me and plug it into any computer to view and/or share my family files.

10. Kindle. Although I do not really use my Kindle for genealogy, I love the fact that I can carry my library with me wherever I go. Not only that, but I can download a book wherever I am, with my Kindle 3G phone connection. My Kindle does not have WiFi, which is fine with me. The 3G connection is faster here than our WiFi connection anyway. I can get a 3G connection just about anywhere–another advantage over WiFi. And the Kindle 3-G connection is free. I can go on-line with my Kindle, although it is not the best way to access the Internet. Another great feature of the Kindle is its screen. I can read outside in the sun. There is no glare on the Kindle screen. That is a problem with some other digital reading devices. That feature allows me to pursue one of my favorite summer pastimes–reading on our deck while sipping green tea. Since this blog is now completed, I think I might just do that right now.

Magic Wand Scanner