By Linda Bergren Polich
2020 has been quite a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it certainly has changed so many aspects of our lives. Zoom meetings are now commonplace, face masks are part of our daily accessories, and we have had LOTS of stay-at-home time.
So, let’s try to put a positive spin on this whole thing.
How many times over the years you have been doing research, have you said to yourself, “If I only had the time, I would …”?
This sentence can be completed in many ways, such as:
- Check my document list to see which records I am missing
- Request those birth/marriage/death records I need
- Go through my photos (yes, all of them!) and label them with names, dates, and places
- Check to be sure I have sources attached to each fact for everyone in my genealogy software database
- Review my genealogy to-do list
- Find gravesites I have been looking for
The list could go on and on.
I do not have a crystal ball to see how long the world will be upside-down, but I do know it will be quite a while before we find our “new normal”.
Until then, let’s take advantage of the time we have at home. Do some extra research online. If you can’t physically go to a cemetery, use findagrave.com and billiongraves.com to find gravesites for your family and friends. Scan photos and documents and attach them to the proper person in your genealogy software. Interview older members of your family to record those stories that will become treasures for future generations. Invite a family member or friend to join our Society, so you can research together. And, last but not least, visit our RICIGS website! We are always adding new information and resources that will help you trace your family history.
In the meantime, stay happy, stay healthy, and stay safe! Happy Researching!
