Although she shares my husband's family name, Ball, I don't think Karen is related to him. Our Ball ancestors come from different ends of the "Old Country".
I recently met Karen, a Canadian librarian, online through Google+ where I have found some new and fascinating genealogy contacts. I am most grateful that she submitted a profile for the GeniMates blog.
Date: 7 January 2012
Name: Karen Ball
Hometown: Kitchener-Waterloo,
ON
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I hold a Master of Library and Information Science degree,
which included courses in archives management. I have also taken post-graduate
courses in archives administration and genealogy. In addition, I am a
librarian-archivist at the Kitchener Public Library, specializing local history
and genealogy.
How long have you been chasing ancestors?
10 years
How did you get hooked on genealogy?
I loved
the stories that my Nana told me about our family. The thrill of finding
evidence of an ancestor made their stories real. Like many, I waited too long
to ask all my questions before Nana and my father passed. For me, genealogy
connects me to the past and extends my current 'family' to newly found
relations. Being an archivist, I love learning about history and community and
seeing how those forces and factors influenced our ancestors decisions, actions
and lives.
What is your day job? Librarian-archivist
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
I am skilled in researching local (Waterloo County/Region) ancestors
using a variety of records - census, vital statistics, newspapers,
genealogies and databases. I love the thrill of the hunt...
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups:
I am a member and archivist of the local historical society and have
conducted numerous workshops for the Library on genealogy topics. I am a member of both the Devon Family History Society and Glamorgan Family History Society.
What are the lands of your ancestors?
North/South Molton, Devon, England; Penarth and Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales and Vancouver and lower mainland, British Columbia
What Family Names are you Researching?
Ball, Balment, Bawden, Down, Edwards, Huxtable, Hynds, Rodgers, Thomas
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
My great-grandfather, Thomas Huxtable Ball - He was the only sibling of
six who left Wales to eventually settle in Canada. I admire his spirit
of adventure. He sailed to Montreal and then undertook a journey, by
rail, of almost equal distance, across Canada to settle in British
Columbia. Thomas was a plumber by trade, who, along with my
great-grandmother, Annie Amelia Turner, built a new life in Vancouver
for their family. My Dad remembered him as a very quiet, polite and
hard working man. I love his understated character and wonderful
achievements.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
I`d love to visit Penarth, Wales as this is the place where Thomas`
siblings lived and have stayed to this day. Plassey Street keeps coming
up as an address that I need to check out. I would also like to do some
more research there and to meet family members that I have recently
discovered.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
I find that I keep going back to the GENUKI website for top quality
information on the resources relevant to the counties and parishes that I
am researching.
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? Legacy
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
I owe fellow Rootstech Official Blogger, Nancy, a huge apology. After receiving her submission for Genimates I promptly forgot about it and the Genimates blog giving it a big holiday. This is a super profile to relaunch Genimates, thanks, Nancy.
It's a New Year and I have resolved to continue publishing Genimate profiles when people submit them to me.
I look forward to meeting Nancy in person in Salt Lake City next month and meanwhile am following her blogs and post on various social media.
Date: 21 Sept 2011
Name: Nancy Shively
Hometown: Oklahoma City but now living in Tulsa
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?
Hobbyist for now
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I've been fortunate that my stint as the Family Tree Firsts blogger for Family Tree University has allowed me to take several of their classes including Vital Records, Land Records and Writing Your Family History among others.
How long have you been chasing ancestors?
About a year and a half
How did you get hooked on genealogy?
I've always been interested in the family history. You didn't grow up in the house I did without a keen respect for history in general. But the discovery that my grandparents had lived in the town I had recently moved to (serendipity?) lit the spark so to speak. Then my daughter suggested that I might want to watch Who Do You Think You Are, I started poking around online and that was it. I was completely addicted.
What is your day job?
Public Librarian
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
I'm still learning so I don't really have any areas of expertise yet!
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups:
I'm still working on that. My local society meets on a night that I regularly work. I've been able to make some of their sponsored workshops though.
What are the lands of your ancestors?
Mostly the U.K. and Switzerland. My husband has Canadian ancestors.
What Family Names are you Researching?
Allen, Blosser, Haworth, Easley, Armstrong, Harrison, Shively, mostly in Missouri and Tennessee. Prudhomme in Canada.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
Probably my paternal grandmother. She made it through a difficult life with her common sense and sense of humor intact.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
How about an ancestral country? I would basically stow away on any plane going to the U.K. if I thought I could get away with it! I'm a pathetic anglophile. (In fact my username on Ancestry.com is Okieanglophile.) But I would also like to visit Bern, Switzerland where my paternal Blosser family is from.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
My dad. He is a walking goldmine of family stories. I also spend a lot of time on Ancestry, Family Search and Fold3.
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?
After a long debate I chose Reunion. It works the best with my Mac.
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
Since my first grandson was born a little less than 2 years ago, I am an avid Nana. I also enjoy reading, writing and knitting. I inherited a floor loom which I am determined to learn how to use. I found out later that one of my early ancestors was a weaver by trade!
I converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity (you know...Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox...those guys. Only in English.) a few years ago and sing in our church choir. I can feel my Anabaptist, Quaker and French Hugenot ancestors revolving in their graves on that one.
What is your favourite leisure time activity apart from genealogy?
I love going to the movies and hanging out in bookstores. Kind of a busman's holiday but there it is.
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
anything by Jane Austen...yes I'm one of those.
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
I think it was Plato that said "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I try to remember that.
Shauna is another of my virtual Aussie GeniMates whom I first met on Twitter a couple of years ago and then, in person, in Sydney last year. In her profile Shauna says she is semi-retired. It's a hectic semi-retirement - Shauna seems to have a very busy time flitting all over Australia and NZ giving presentations on many areas of interest to genealogists. I have attended a couple of her well-prepared and information-rich talks.
Thanks, Shauna for sharing your profile on GeniMates.
Date May 1, 2011 Name Shauna Hicks Hometown Currently Melbourne, from Brisbane originally
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Bit of both
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? Diploma in Family Historical Studies from Society of Australian Genealogists but as a mature age student I also did a BA in Australian History & Anthropology, an MA on female philanthropy in colonial Queensland (inspired by my gg grandmother) and so that I could work in archives and libraries I also did a Grad Dip in Library Science. All studies were part time while I worked full time and did the family thing!
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since 1977
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My first husband and I sat down to watch Roots on television and I was hooked from the first episode. At the same time, I saw an ad in the local paper from someone who was running a How to Trace Your Family History and by the end of the series I was finding my own ancestors. I've never stopped and it's great that it is one of those hobbies that you can do when time/resources permit.
As indicated by my studies above, I went on to actually work in areas where I could indulge my genealogy passion and have been fortunate to work in archives and libraries since 1981 until I retired from working in government for just over 35 years.
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? Australia especially Queensland and Victoria but have researched my ancestors in all Australian States. I have a particular interest in archives, asylums, prisons, military, mining and religious records driven by my own ancestors' backgrounds.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups. I first became involved with the Genealogical Society of Queensland back in 1977, and particularly with the North Brisbane and Southern Suburbs branches. I was also a founding member of the Queensland Family History Society and served on the Council in various positions. In the ACT I was also on the Council of the Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra and since moving to Melbourne I have also been on the Council of the Genealogical Society of Victoria and am also a member of the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies and the Cornish Association of Victoria. At various times I have also been a member of the Society of Australian Genealogists and when in Sydney try to give talks to members.
What are the lands of your ancestors? I have families in all Australian States excluding the Northern Territory and the ACT.
Overseas I have New Zealand, Norway, Scotland (Angus), England (Staffordshire, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire and Cornish interests), South Africa, Canada and the USA.
What Family Names are you Researching? Just looking at the first 5 generations - Carnegie, Fegan, Finn, Gunderson, Halvorsdatter, Jeffers, Johnston, Judge, Price, Rosewarne, Silk, Titt, Trevaskis, White
On my son's side - Atkinson, Bullen, Carradus, Evans, Hansen, Potter, Thomsen, Walker
On my partner's side - Adkins, Barwick, Brooks, Burstow, Crow, Dean, Eldridge, Hill, Horne, Jarvis, Oakley, Pilbeam, Pyers, Spencer
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? I have quite a few favourites mainly because they have left behind records that allows me to know them a bit more. One gg grandmother had an illegitimate son, married and lived out in far western Queensland, went on to have a bit of a drinking problem and spent quite a bit of time in and out of gaol for vagrancy and prostitution before she met and ran off with a bloke she then lived with for over 20 years before marrying him. In the end she died a respectable old lady in her 80s.
Another gg grandmother also had a hard life as her husband seems to have been also fond of a drink and beating up his wife and their adventures in various courts have given me wonderful insights into the family. Despite having 9 children and living in a tent, this gg grandmother still found time, and I hope happiness, in having an affair with another man and even in her old age, she still had a younger gentleman friend.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I really want to go to Cornwall and see the mining areas where my ancestors were from. This seems to be a quite different area from the rest of England. The West Bromwich area of Staffordshire is another area I would like to visit and also Wiltshire. We are talking of going over in 2012 so I really need to give this more thought.
I would also like to go to Minnesota in the US where my Norwegian ggg grandfather is buried and I have another ggg grandfather buried in Canada (still tracking him but possibly Nova Scotia).
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? These days the Internet and it is hard to think how we did any research back in the late 1970s and 1980s. I have managed to break down a number of my old brick walls with the ability to search census records online. However it is important to remember that not everything is online.
I don't think you can really go past BDM certificates as a favourite resource as they give so much information that allows you to really prove your research. Of course with my ancestors backgrounds I would also have to say court and prison records are also a big favourite.
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? Legacy Family Tree - used to be Brothers Keeper before I made the change.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, LinkedIn, MyHeritage , Twitter.
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? I like fishing, gardening, reading, cooking and travelling. We have family all over Australia and now that we are both (sort of) retired we are doing more of those activities. I have all our genealogy on the laptop so I can still do that away from home.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? The Poldark novels
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
Life is too short and you need to make the most of every day - doing things that you really enjoy and are passionate about will keep you young and involved with life.
If you have anything else to share please add it below. I need to scan more of my paper based records and photographs so that I always have them with me but more importantly, I have backups of those paper based records and photographs. While I have draft family histories for most of my families, I need to finalise them so that the knowledge I have on the families is not lost to future generations.
Everyone who is researching their family should think about how they are going to leave their family history records and who to - before it is too late!
When I announced on my blog and Twitter that I was going to the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City a number of kind North Americans offered me advice and friendship. Amongst these was Amy Coffin, a genealogist from Houston, Texas.
After getting myself lost I arrived late and flustered to the pre-conference media dinner in Salt Lake City; I was pleased to see Amy's familiar face across the room so I made a beeline for her. At the dinner I had a fabulous evening with Amy and Joan Miller who took me under their wings and from that time I did not feel at all lonely or lost at the huge conference.
I am honoured that Amy has taken the time to submit her profile to GeniMates.
Date30 March 2011 NameAmy Coffin Hometown Houston, Texas
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?Professional
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? I have a Master of Library and Information Science degree. I took as many classes as I could about research (especially online searching), databases, archives and records management.
I also completed Pro Gen 3, the third class of the ProGen study group (http://progenstudy.org). This process provided many lessons on maintaining a research business.
What is your day job?Genealogist
How did you get hooked on genealogy? I have ancestors who were original enrollees in the Chickasaw Nation. It was my grandparents' wish our family also apply to become Citizens in the present day. While looking at the paperwork, I noticed that my great-grandfather was born in Arkansas. I never knew we had any roots in Arkansas. That was enough to get me looking, and I haven't stopped since that day!
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? U.S.-based genealogical research. I have direct access to and experience with most of the repositories in SE Texas and SW Louisiana.
The skills I learned in library school transfer well into genealogy. I can gather and evaluate information quickly and also determine what's missing from the picture. I enjoy using different search strategies and search engines to find information, even that which isn't online.
I also love to write about family history and do so extensively for clients and my own family.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups Acadia Parish Genealogical and Historical Society (Louisiana)
Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP)
Association of Professional Genealogists
California Genealogical Society
Southern California Genealogical Society
Texas State Genealogical Society
What are the lands of your ancestors? United States (AR, CA, LA, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX, WI), France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg
What Family Names are you Researching? LENERTZ (this name is also present in Australia. Though I haven't found a connection, I would love to talk with Aussies who have Lenertz in their tree). MENOU, BOURGAUX, COLBERT (Chickasaw), BAERECKE, BOURLAND, WILLIAMSON (AR, TN), JOST (Austria).
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? I can't pick just one! I love them all for different reasons. However, the ancestor who was shot for stealing the neighbor's wife AND horse makes the best story.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would like to visit my great-grandmother's hometown of Inzenhof, Austria. I've been told the JOST name is still there.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?Everyone seems to say "the Internet" but I am going to say other people are my favorite resource. I just use the Internet to get to them! Really though, there is nothing better than talking face-to-face with other genealogists, learning from them, meeting new cousins and sharing photos and facts. People are the best resource in my book.
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?Roots Magic
Do you have your tree posted on the internet?No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, Geni, LinkedIn, Twitter
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?Family, travel, bar trivia, writing, attending sporting events and occasionally stopping to smell the roses.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? People do stuff other than genealogy?
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?If family history is boring, then you're doing it wrong.
If you have anything else to share please add it below You've got a genealogy friend in Texas!
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.
Date25 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
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!
Our next post is from another New South Welshman and an old mate of mine. I first met Sharon Brennan when I conducted an internet workshop in Coffs Harbour for teacher librarians many moons ago. Since then we have kept in contact via various online tools. Not only is Sharon a connected teacher librarian she is also a committed family historian who uses a range of 21st century tools to enhance her research.
Are you a hobbyist or professional genealogist? Hobbyist
What is your day job? Teacher Librarian
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since I was 10
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My aunt began researching when I was 10 years old and each time I saw her she'd fill me in on her latest finds. After I married, my husband and I walked through the local cemetery and found 2 baby girls who shared his surname. Of course I wanted to know who they belonged to. We purchased their death certificates and off I went on a journey that is still going today.
What are your areas of expertise in genealogy? I have never really given this some thought. Can persistence and perseverance be called areas of expertise? I love the challenge and the hunt. Years of researching has given me the skills I think to know where to go to next and how to fill in the story. I enjoy internet research.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I have at various times been a member of the following societies and groups:
Bourke Family History Society
Armidale Family History Group
Tamworth and District Family History Group
Coffs Harbour District Family History Society
Newcastle Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists
What are the lands of your ancestors? Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland. My husband adds German to our children's ancestry.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? It's difficult to choose a favourite ancestor, but I think I would have to choose Dr William Lee Dawson, my great great grandfather. He was born in 1817 in Ireland and studied in Dublin to become a doctor. He worked as a surgeon on a packet ship around the Carribean and then came to Hobart Town as the surgeon aboard the Mooltan which arrived in 1854.
I am very grateful to have the following documents that belonged to him:
* a sheet of paper detailing his birth in 1817
* copies of many certificates pertaining to his medical studies
* a diary written by him while he was a surgeon sailing to the Carribean and then again to Hobart Town
* his notebooks which contained notes of the day to day running of his life as a country doctor
* a large portrait of him in his uniform (found in the back of a cow shed)
* his surgeon's amputation saw
After writing all this I think of others who perhaps should have been mentioned.
e.g. My gggg grandmother Hanorah Flynn who came to Ausralia in 1826 with a young family to join her convict husband Patrick. What courage that must have taken!
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?Last year I went to Ireland and Britain and managed to visit a few places where ancestors lived. I can't wait to go back to Bellaghy (in the heart of IRA territory during the Troubles) and Ballymoney both in Northern Ireland, Dublin and London and Cork and Cootehill and Stranraer and and and........
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?At the moment it is the internet as I really don't have time to visit because I live too far away from archives and repositories. I quite like Ancestry but don't like the family trees full of errors.
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 but am seriously looking at The Next Generation. Perhaps that's a Christmas holiday job.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet?No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, Twitter
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?Is there really time for anything else?????
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non-genealogy) book? I've had to think too long for this question so there mustn't be a favourite. I read lots of books for my day job as a teacher librarian.
