American Records

172 members

Description

This group is for students taking courses or working on the Certificate for American Records from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies.

Comments Discussions Members

  • genealogicalstudies.com

    Welcome to our group!

    Apr 26, 2011

  • Susan Michael, CG, PLCGS

    I completed my American Studies certificate 23 April 2008. However, I am still interested in the progress of others and any updates to the courses.

    May 3, 2011

  • Kimberly Nagy

    I am taking the last required course for my basic level certificate (Vital Records), and will be done this month :-) 

    I signed up for GenealogyWise as part of an assignment for the Social Media Course.

    May 4, 2011

  • Susan Michael, CG, PLCGS

    Hi, Kimberly! I also signed up for this group as part of my Social Media assignment.

    May 4, 2011

  • Jamie Mayhew

    I'm also taking the Social Media class with Gena.  I've almost completed the PLCGS - taking my last required class and have a few electives left. I've heard Gena speak several times and am taking the class just because of her.   I joined Genealogywise about a year ago and have not been an active participant. So tonight I log in and what do I find, an NIGS group.  Hope this group extends to other people in NIGS. I think it is one thing they need...to develop community.

    May 4, 2011

  • Eileen Souza

    I, too, signed up as part of the Social Media course.  I am currently completing my Advanced courses in American Studies.  I have also taken some electives.  I work full tme.  My course work slowed down a bit over the last eighteen months because I was participating in the ProGen Study Group.  I completed that in March.

    May 9, 2011

  • Kathryn Moore

    Apparently, most of us are taking the social media class. The class has been so helpful. I am currently working on the Intermediate courses in the American Studies program. I am working toward one day becoming a professional genealogist. I look forward to hopefully getting to know some of you through this forum.

    May 9, 2011

  • Jamie Mayhew

    Has anyone used Tumblr?  I found their site very confusing.  I can't figure out what they are. They appear to be trying to be everything.  I use Blogger, I have a FaceBook page,  and I have a Twitter account although I don't twit much.  Looking at that site I see blogging, Facebook, all kinds of apps for smartphones, photos, bookmarklet and no place on http://www.tumblr.com to join.  What is this site for?

    May 9, 2011

  • Monica Palmer

    Hi Jamie, I went on Tumblr too to check it out, but I found it very un-user friendly. To me, it is Facebook and blogging (maybe some Twitter in there too) combined and I already have those so I didn't feel the need to start an account. I tried searching "genealogy" and "family history" but the results that came up were random and there was no way to filter them. Personally, I didn't like it.

    May 10, 2011

  • Deborah Dale

    I'm in the American records program too and just finished methodology 5, working on the cemetery records course.  I'm looking forward to meeting others in the program as well.      

    May 13, 2011

  • Cheryl Palmer

    Hi everyone! I am currently starting the American Records program, so am behind most you here. I am taking two classes at this time. Methodology and Social Media. I look forward to learning for my own benefit at this time.

    Jul 21, 2011

  • Karen C Jones

    I signed up for this group as part of the social media course.

    Aug 4, 2011

  • Lisa Frank

    Hi everyone - I am also taking two classes right now with American records program - also Methodology and Social Media.

    Aug 4, 2011

  • Lisa Kerr Ilowite

    Hi fellow researchers! I also signed up for this group as part of the Social Media course.  I'm in the last 25% of the classes (mostly electives) for the American Records program.

    Aug 5, 2011

  • Jesica A. Curry

    Hi!! I am also taking Social Media at NIGI! I just started. This is one of my first 2 courses.

    Aug 6, 2011

  • Jamie Mayhew

    I need some suggestions. I've finished all the required courses for my PLCGS in American research. I have 6 electives left.  My ancestry is German, English, Scottish, and Irish. All came to the US prior to 1800.  I've taken the English Civil Registrations but the class is for research after my families already left.  What suggestions do you have for classes on research specifically in England, Ireland, or Scotland prior to 1800.

    Aug 10, 2011

  • Blythe Andrea Stokes

    Hi, I am taking the Social Networking class and the beginning methodology course. I am learning so much.

    Aug 14, 2011

  • Lisa Ferrett

    My name is Lisa Ferrett.  I'm taking the Social Networking class at NIGS.  My father's ancestors appear to be primarily from the British Isles, arriving in the US before 1800, many of them much before.  I have not yet tracked any back across the Atlantic (except for the Mayflower ancestor, of course).

    Aug 16, 2011

  • Charlene McDonnough

    I also signed up for this class as part of the Social Media course.  This is my first class.

    Aug 16, 2011

  • Gena Philibert Ortega

    Jamie-

     

    Have you looked at these courses:

    Irish: Understanding Ireland, History & Source Records

     

    Scottish: Understanding Scotland

     

    Irish: Electoral & Taxation Records

     

    They all involve pre-1800 records.

     

    Gena

    Aug 17, 2011

  • Jana Broglin

    Hi! I'm Jana. I"m taking the Social Media class also. I agree with Jamie Mayhew regarding Tumblr. I thought the website was very confusing and hard to use. With schedules and deadlines, I've decided not to be a blogger, not to use Twitter, and also to try to understand Tumblr. I'll stick with FaceBook.

    Aug 24, 2011

  • Jeanne Williams

    Yet another person who's taking the Social Media Class.  This is my second class; I've completed one Methodology class and have signed up for two more classes starting in September.

    Aug 24, 2011

  • Deborah Dale

    Hi all,

    I'm in the American records program -- intermediate level (2 classes to go, including A & S Mentoring 2, which I want to register for before the end of the year).  I've yet to take any electives, so I have a ways to go.  My question, though, is whether anyone here has participated in the ProGen study group while taking NIGS classes?  Did you find that attempting both at the same time was "generally" a bad idea?  I get the feeling it is and that I should wait longer to put myself on the waiting list for ProGen.  I know a lot of it depends on my own situation -- but I'm looking for a general consensus here, if possible, to make the best, informed decision that I can.        

    Aug 28, 2011

  • Eileen Souza

    Deborah,

    I work full time and have been taking NIGS courses in American Studies for several years.  I am now in my advanced classes.  This past April I graduated from ProGen 4.  Before ProGen, I was completing an NIGS class every month.  After, I started ProGen, I completed an NIGS class every month.  I save my A&M until the end of a unit.  I did notice that this class took me much longer since it coincided to that period toward the end, where ProGen also gets more difficult (Proof Arguments, etc.).  It is doable and much more so, if you don't work full time.

     

    I found that taking both provided a type of synergy, where each helped me do better in the other.

    Aug 28, 2011

  • Eileen Souza

    Correction:

    Before ProGen, I was completing an NIGS class every month. After, I started ProGen, I completed an NIGS class every other month.

    Aug 28, 2011

  • Deborah Dale

    Thank you for your very helpful comments, Eileen. 

    Aug 28, 2011

  • Cohen Hill Swiney

    I recently enrolled and will be starting out with the Social Media class and Methodology Part 1.  I look forward to what's in store, this will be my first online class work.  I hope it's not too challenging, maneuvering the website, etc.

    Sep 6, 2011

  • Sandy Fackler

    I'm just starting Palaeography and wonder if anyone else is having, or had, difficulty reading the examples in the text. I have been doing genealogy for 38 years but am still working with 19th century records. I have transcribed plenty of 19th century records but am finding some of this difficult to read. I haven't completed the text for the first week yet, but am concerned I may be in over my head. Has anyone else had the same experience?

    Sep 10, 2011

  • Gena Philibert Ortega

    For anyone who is currently enrolled in the Social Media course. We have changed the Wiki assignment slightly to reflect an update and you can read more about that in  the Amendment file which is  under the Reading tab in Module 1 of the course.

     

    If you have already completed this assignment, you do not need to redo it.

     

    Thanks so much.

    Gena Philibert-Ortega

    Director, Genealogical Services

    National Institute for Genealogical Studies

    Oct 11, 2011

  • Liz Stratton

    Hi all,

    I am currently finishing up the Basic Level A&M and just starting the Intermediate course work.

    In answer to Deborah's question about taking ProGen at the same time as completing NIGS courses, it is doable.  But, it is also a bit hectic at times.  I average a little less than one NIGS course per month.  I agree with Eileen that the two can be synergistic.

    I look forward to using this GenealogyWise Group for sharing information on the programs.  I can't make the live meetings as often as I would like and look forward to the discussions here.

    Liz

    Oct 13, 2011

  • victoria maria dykes

    Can anybody tell me how I can request a birth and marrage record from Galveston, Texas please. The marrage is from 1875 and the birth is from 1878. I have a basic transcription of the marrage but no parents names were documented on it and i have no record of the birth. I live in uk so cannot go to the texas office as much as i would love to. Many thanks

    Oct 25, 2011

  • Gena Philibert Ortega

    Victoria, if you go to VitalRec.com a href="http://vitalrec.com/>">http://vitalrec.com/>; and then click on Texas and then the county you are interested in, it will tell you what vital records exist and where to write or order them online. Birth records in Texas are usually later than 1878 (early 1900s). You may want to also go to the county website for information.

    You can find some microfilmed marriage records from Galveston in the Family History Library Catalog a href="http://www.familysearch.org>">www.familysearch.org>;. You can order these microfilms at your local FamilySearchCenter.

     

    There is also a Texas Birth, Death and Marriage collection on Ancestry.com

     

    Gena

    Oct 25, 2011

  • Laressa Northrup

    I am currently taking the Social Media class.  I already have the advanced certificate for American Studies and have completed the intermediate Canadian courses.

    Oct 27, 2011

  • Cin Hawse

    I enrolled in July 2011 at NIGS and am currently taking the Social Media for the Wise Genealogist course.  It's definitely been stuff outside my box but, I must say I have learned a lot, gained confidence in the field of social media and am having fun doing it.  I'm looking forward to chats with all my fellow genealogists.

    Jan 15, 2012

  • EA Killoran

    I am enrolled in the Social Media for the Wise Genealogist. This is the only NIGS course that I have worked on.

    Jan 28, 2012

  • Kathy Holland

    The NIGS also has a new course called "Google for the Wise Genealogist".  I've seen the materials, and it looks good.

    Jan 28, 2012

  • Deborah Dale

    Is anyone seeking a "research buddy?" I'm seeking one from within the American records program ~ someone who has the time and is certification bent and who normally works with U. S. records.  I'd like someone to bounce ideas off of and vice versa.  I live in Oregon, but we don't have to be in close proximity.  If anyone's interested, send me an email through my GW page.  This is not a call for someone to discuss NIGS classes with, but the certification process through BCG.  Thanks.

    Mar 17, 2012

  • Eowyn Langholf

    Hi there! I'm taking classes through NIGS. Right now I'm enrolled in Social Media for the Wise Genealogist.  I thought I knew a lot about social media but this has opened my eyes to a few outlets I was previously unaware of.  I'm just about to start Methodology and Intro to German Records also.  Good stuff! 

    Apr 4, 2012

  • Angela Harris

    Hi all!  I'm currently enrolled in the American Records certificate program and just finished my first class (Methodology 1) -- I'm excited to be here!

    Apr 20, 2012

  • Gena Philibert Ortega

    Welcome Angela, let us know if you have any questions.

    Apr 20, 2012

  • Angela Harris

    Thanks, Gena - I will.  :)

    Apr 22, 2012