Joan Miller

Another blogging and tweeting GeniMate that I caught up with at Rootstech was Joan Miller. Joan has been following my blog for a while and making helpful comments. As I was preparing to travel to Rootstech Joan also shared useful information and offered to meet up with me on my arrival. The friendship that Joan and her husband offered me was most welcome and much appreciated. When I asked Joan to complete a profile for Genimates she readily agreed.

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Date  21/2/2011

Name Joan Miller  Hometown Calgary, Alberta Canada

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?

Passionate Genealogist

How long have you been chasing ancestors?

Since 1990 or so

How did you get hooked on genealogy?

My maternal grandmother was a family historian and my grandfather kept a diary for 60 years! It was in my genes that I was to be a genealogist.

My interest goes back to around 1990. I started researching my husband's side of the family when I realized no one in that side of the family had the genealogy gene. My first genealogy webpages were started in 2001 in order to bring in cousin connections. I'm also very interested in genetic genealogy and use DNA to complement traditional genealogy research.

What is your day job? Retired from managing a medical research lab

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? Technology, Genetic Genealogy

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups

Active in local Alberta Family Histories Society (PR committee, social media, write regular column "From the Geneasphere")
Member of several genealogical societies and groups.
Associate Editor Blekko Genealogy Slashtag

***Genealogy conference groupie***
More info here: http://www.luxegen.ca/about http://ca.linkedin.com/in/bjoanmiller

What are the lands of your ancestors?

Ireland and Scotland to Canada - Quebec, Northeastern states USA Paternal Haplogroup = I1 (KERR)
Husband's ancestors - Netherlands, England, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Canada, Northeastern states USA

What Family Names are you Researching?

My family names: Agnnew,Anton,Ball,Brady,Carr,Dockar,Godwin,Henderson,Hunter,Irvine,Kerr,Lang,Lemoine,Nesbitt,Robertson,Webster,Wilson,Woodland

My husband's family names: Adam,Amak,Ames,Atwater,Aumack,Aumock,Bestwick,Boskerck,Boskirk,Brown,Chaplin,Clawson,Clewlow,Cole,Comins,Cummings,Dow,Eddy,Estey,Fiske,Gallop,Hartley,Hartsell,Hartzell,Hazen,Hillman.Hotchkiss,Hutchins,Jewett,Kimball,Lewis,Lindopp,Lord,Mayhew,McCarn,Miller,Moss,Newcomb,Norcross,Pierpoint,Pool,Puterbaugh,Roof,Stevens,Tidd,Tompkins,Turner,Ulrich,Van Amk,Van Boskerck,Wiggins

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?

My grandmother, Isabel Woodland Irvine is my favourite ancestor. She was an amazing woman who became a nurse, a 'mail order bride', and a midwife. She came west from Ontario (Canada) to join her new husband, William Irvine, my grandfather, on his homestead in Saskatchewan. Isabel became a midwife by necessity as there were no doctors available and delivered delivered over 30 babies. She kept her nurse's license active until she was 65 years old. She wrote extensively about the homesteading life and recorded the family history. She even wrote on the backs of old photos :)

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
Peterhead, Scotland and the area where my maternal grandmother, Lizzie Wilson grew up. I'd also like to visit northern Ireland where there are more ancestral roots.
 What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
Tough question - there are so many great resources. I subscribe to most of the large online genealogy databases. Social media is a valuable resource. Ask a question and a genealogy friend will know the answer.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper?

No

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?

Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?

FTM mostly, but also have Rootsmagic and Legacy on the computer. I like them all for different reasons.

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?

Yes

If Yes What is the URL?

http://www.luxegen.ca (see FAMILY TREE)

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?

Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Geni, LinkedIn, Twitter

Do you have a blog?

Several

What are your blogs' URLs?

http://www.luxegen.ca, http://ahfs.ab.ca/blog 

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?

Travel, soccer (yes Joan still plays!), books, Toastmasters (public speaking and leadership), science, theatre.

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?

Travel

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?

Too many to list

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?

Live life to the fullest. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Give back. Family is number one.

If you have anything else to share please add it below

Surname connections? Contact Joan at http://www.luxegen.ca

If you are a KERR or CARR male reading this please consider joining the KERR/CARR YDNA surname study. Contact Joan for more info.

Thank you for the Genimate interview. It was a pleasure meeting you at Rootstech 2011!