Seonaid Harvey Lewis

GeniMates is moving across the ditch (the sea that divides Australia from our mates in New Zealand) for our next GeniMates profile. Seonaid, the first Kiwi to be profiled on this blog, is another librarian who claims to have a dream job.

A committed online genealogist Seonaid organised the Waitangi Day Blog Challenge and following on the success of that activity she has now set The Anzac Day Blog Challenge. I appreciate the time she has put into an interesting and informative profile.

Date 25 March 2011
Name Seonaid (Shona) Harvey Lewis
Hometown Auckland, New Zealand

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Both

What is your day job? Family History Librarian - I think I have the best job in the world!

How long have you been chasing ancestors? 15 years

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? Although I have a number of years of experience with informal genealogical research, I have no formal qualifications, but would like to gain some at some stage. At the moment I am concentrating on my library studies.

I have a Diploma in Information and Library Studies, and have nearly finished a Diploma in Records Management.

I also have professional registration with LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa).

I wish New Zealand had professional qualifications for family history research, ideally tied to the library qualifications. At present, we can only study using overseas institutions, which are expensive in NZ dollars, and aren't government or employer subsidised.

Genealogy is still considered a hobby and not a recognised professional option here.

How did you get hooked on genealogy? I've always been interested in general history and family history. My mother used to tell me stories about her family and what little she knew about my father's.


My father knew very little about his, and decided he wanted to know more when I was living in the UK. He asked me to look up a few things for him, which I did - and I was hooked. Then I started looking up my mother's.

I found that solving that first mystery, digging up that first skeleton gave me a rush of excitement I can't describe! The excitement is still there after all these years.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?  My personal interests are:
• Newfoundland (not really Canadian, as my grandfather left NFL prior to it joining Canada)
• England
• Scotland

I have interests in Ireland and Wales still to pursue, but have a basic but growing knowledge.

Professionally, I have a growing expertise in New Zealand, and am starting to make headway on Australian, based on working in the field for the last 12 months.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a member of New Zealand Society of Genealogy

Central Auckland Research Centre is a certified "Family Search Family History Research Centre"

What are the lands of your ancestors?
Newfoundland
England
Scotland
- Ireland further back.

Husband's: Wales and England

What Family Names are you Researching?
• HARVEY – Carbonear, Newfoundland and Kent England;
• POTTLE – Carbonear, Newfoundland;
• BOOTHER – Kent and London, England;
• SULLIVAN – Kent, England and Cork, Ireland
• McKENZIE – Aberdeen, Scotland;
• SWANSON – Aberdeen and Olrig, Caithness, Scotland;
• LITTLE– Kilmanock, Ayr and Edinburgh, Scotland;
• DUNCAN – Edinburgh, and Cupar, Fife Scotland

• LEWIS, Caernarvon, Wales
• JONES, Caernarvon, Wales
• FIPKIN, London, England
• ANDERSON, London, England

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Freshwater, Carbonear - Newfoundland.

This is where my grandfather grew up. Would like to visit and visit the family home and the cemetery where my ancestors are buried. My grandfather didn't share much info about himself, so I would like to try and connect with him somehow.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?  The Internet! So many websites to choose from.
And I love social media as a sharing research tool.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Reunion for Mac (currently v9, I always upgrade

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes

If Yes What is the URL? http://huntingancestors.blogspot.com// ; http://harveylittle.tribalpages.com/ ; http://lewisfipkin.tribalpages.com/ ;

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeRelate

Do you have a blog? Yes

What are your blogs' URLs? http://huntingancestors.blogspot.com/ ; http://harveylittle.tribalpages.com ; http://lewisfipkin.tribalpages.com/ ; http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/blog/kintalkfamilyhistoryblog.aspx


What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Reading, swimming. walking, travel, dancing, socialising with friends
Family: husband, 2 girls - twins; pets (chocolate labrador dog, two cats)

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Lazing on the beach with friends and family - ending in a picnic or barbecue with a glass of wine or cider!

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? Sarum, Edward Rutherfurd

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?  I have a few:
• Dance like there is no one is watching. Live like there is no tomorrow. Love like you've never been hurt.
• Work hard, play hard
• There's always three sides to every story – your side, my side and the truth!
If you have anything else to share please add it below
I am passionate about family history. I really believe in the saying "how do you know who you are, if you don't know where you have come from?"

Skeletons are to be celebrated not be ashamed of. But you do need to be sensitive to those who think and feel differently.

I am still learning, still consider myself a newbie. I will never consider my family history complete.

I am very happy to have been accepted into the social media circle of genealogists and family historians, and have learnt alot from them. Twitter and Facebook are great research tools as well as fantastic ways of communicating!