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98 Example Questions (4 closed)

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up vote 23 down vote
When documenting places, should I list the country it was in at the time of the event or the country it is currently in?
added by JustinY Aug 20 '12 at 20:24
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New to Area 51? Want your vote to make a difference? If you want your vote to help at this stage, consider voting fo a question that does not yet have 10 votes. This question has way more than more than 10 votes, we can safely assume it's "in." Show your support for diversity, please, and use your vote to "in" a question that does not yet have 10 votes. – GeneJ Sep 7 '12 at 8:26
Or perhaps we shouldn't be trying to "game" the system and we should vote for questions that we think represent what we want the site to be? – Blake Sep 9 '12 at 4:32
@ Blake, How about "Use your vote to 'up or in' a question that does not yet have 10 votes?" – GeneJ Sep 9 '12 at 11:06
up vote 19 down vote
How does DNA testing aid me in my genealogy research?
added by JustinY Aug 20 '12 at 20:20
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New to Area 51? Want your vote to make a difference? If you want your vote to help at this stage, consider voting fo a question that does not yet have 10 votes. This question has way more than more than 10 votes, we can safely assume it's "in." Show your support for diversity, please, and use your vote to "in" a question that does not yet have 10 votes. – GeneJ Sep 7 '12 at 8:30
up vote 18 down vote
Should I submit my genealogy data to an online tree?
added by lkessler Aug 23 '12 at 5:20
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You probably have the idea now ... To show your support for diversity, please, and use your vote to "in" a question that does not yet have 10 votes. – GeneJ Sep 7 '12 at 8:31
up vote 16 down vote
What can I do to make sure my genealogical research is preserved after I've gone to join my ancestors?
added by Kinnextions Aug 25 '12 at 15:10
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I like the idiomatic phrasing of this question. :) – Noldorin Sep 1 '12 at 2:21
up vote 14 down vote
What are the weaknesses of the GEDCOM format?
added by JustinY Aug 20 '12 at 20:20
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Should this be weaknesses/strengths – Adam Sep 5 '12 at 18:03
up vote 11 down vote
When documenting place names, should I write them in English or in their native language?
added by JustinY Aug 20 '12 at 20:19
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up vote 11 down vote
Can I trust the accuracy of DNA testing for genealogy?
added by lkessler Aug 23 '12 at 5:21
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I think this would be a better question for Skeptics.SE because any answers would have to address issues well beyond the scope of genealogy. – JustinY Aug 31 '12 at 15:11
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Perhaps the question could be rephrased, "How should I accurately integrate the results of DNA testing into my traditional genealogy research?" – GeneJ Sep 3 '12 at 21:29
up vote 11 down vote
Writing citations to document my research is so difficult and tedious. What can I do to make that easier?
added by lkessler Aug 23 '12 at 5:22
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up vote 11 down vote
I've got 5 big boxes of genealogical material to go through. How do I start?
added by lkessler Aug 23 '12 at 5:24
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up vote 11 down vote
What steps can we take as members of family history societies to ensure that our societies remain viable and relevant going forward?
added by Kinnextions Aug 25 '12 at 15:06
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up vote 11 down vote
How can I digitize my family's home movies from the 1960s?
added by Kinnextions Aug 25 '12 at 15:20
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In reponse to "Avoid recommendation questions", answers to this question could go beyond recommending specialist services or hardware/software. There are cheap and effective DIY methods. – Kinnextions Aug 31 '12 at 17:35
up vote 11 down vote
What are pros/cons of using open source genealogy software/sites (e.g., gramps, wereleate.org) over pay-for software/sites (ancestry, myheritage)?
added by Duncan, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 6 '12 at 17:44
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This question could be acceptable if it were rewritten. Perhaps, "What are the advantages of paying for an Ancestry subscription?" But as it stands the scope is too large. – JustinY Aug 31 '12 at 15:09
up vote 11 down vote
Is any census data for the UK available online for free?
added by Rob Hoare Aug 28 '12 at 23:40
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up vote 11 down vote
Is it worth it to join my local genealogical society?
added by Canadian Girl Scout Aug 29 '12 at 3:20
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up vote 11 down vote
What is the best way to go about finding an expert to help with a brick wall?
added by Jeni Aug 31 '12 at 11:19
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up vote 11 down vote
I am concerned about preserving stories about ancestors. Is there a good genealogy program that connects stories with individuals?
added by Jeremy Aug 31 '12 at 16:17
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up vote 11 down vote
I'm new to genealogy. What would experienced folks do differently if they could start their genealogy all over again?
added by Kinnextions, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 6 '12 at 17:50
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up vote 11 down vote
I've inherited a box of old photos but nobody in my family can identify the people in them. Is there anything I can do to determine who they are?
added by Kinnextions Sep 1 '12 at 1:50
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up vote 11 down vote
What is GEDCOM and why should I care?
added by david.tanner Sep 1 '12 at 15:03
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up vote 11 down vote
Are there any free sites that I can go to for immigration records to the US?
added by david.tanner Sep 1 '12 at 15:07
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up vote 11 down vote
What are good resources for finding the grave of a person?
added by Doug Blank Sep 2 '12 at 13:25
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I have used findagrave.com. billiongraves.com looks promising. – Anonymous Sep 2 '12 at 15:49
up vote 10 down vote
Is it worth taking a 25 Y Chromosome DNA marker test, if you already have a 12 marker test?
added by Blake Aug 25 '12 at 2:58
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up vote 10 down vote
What's the best way to suggest a correction on someone else's tree?
added by Jeni Aug 30 '12 at 10:27
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This is very context specific. The question would have to clarify what software the trees are stored in. – JustinY Aug 31 '12 at 19:41
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@JustinY I think the question speaks more to etiquette than what software the tree is stored. The tree may be on a site like Ancestry or on an individual's personal website. I think no matter what software is used, the question asks what approach should be taken with the owner to inform them of a possible mistake in their work, which is often tricky. Maybe the question needs to be re-written with that idea in mind. – Barrylk Sep 1 '12 at 5:21
up vote 10 down vote
What advantages / disadvantages are there to using more than one genealogy software program?
added by Jeni Aug 31 '12 at 10:25
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Think the question may be modified as 'What advantages/disadvantages are there .........' – Noble P. Abraham Aug 31 '12 at 16:44
up vote 10 down vote
I need genealogical information about a relative who lived in (region) near (year), where can I go to get information or do searches?
added by Warren P Aug 31 '12 at 12:05
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up vote 10 down vote
How do I record Hindu dates in a way that can be sorted and collated?
added by ACProctor Sep 3 '12 at 8:50
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up vote 10 down vote
What data is acceptable to publish for living relatives? Could data protection acts affect online trees?
added by ACProctor, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 6 '12 at 17:53
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up vote 10 down vote
What's the best way to record & link surnames in which the spelling has been changed over the years?
added by ChaplainCBE Sep 4 '12 at 17:11
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up vote 10 down vote
If there is a preferred way to record places, why do software vendors input, display and output in many different ways?
added by Those Legs Sep 6 '12 at 10:20
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up vote 9 down vote
What policy should be followed to keep living people's (for example, birthday, mothers maiden name, etc.) data from becoming public?
added by Duncan Aug 26 '12 at 13:53
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Almost impossible if you have an on line tree as to mother's maiden name. Same for birthdays since they are on the public records at ancestry.com and familysearch.org. – Clay Gullatt Sep 5 '12 at 22:17
up vote 9 down vote
Where can I find lists of parishes in England and maps of their boundaries?
added by Rob Hoare Aug 28 '12 at 20:38
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up vote 9 down vote
Why do some dates have two years, like 11 February 1662/63?
added by Rob Hoare Aug 28 '12 at 20:50
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up vote 9 down vote
My Irish ancestors came to Canada before the big migrations, but I don't think they are on Peter Robinson's passenger lists. Where else would they be?
added by Georgia Litton Allison Aug 29 '12 at 10:39
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up vote 9 down vote
Besides a death record, obituaries, and censuses, are there other US records I can check to find the county in Ireland from which my ancestor came?
added by maguidhir Aug 31 '12 at 19:07
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up vote 9 down vote
How do I research common names like Smith? So I know they are my Smith's when you have two families with parents with same forenames in an area.
added by Helen V Smith Sep 3 '12 at 9:55
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This might be edited/re-phrased. "How do I research common surnames, like Smith? What methodologies are used to make sure I identify my Smiths from among different local Smith families with common forenames?" – GeneJ Sep 9 '12 at 15:30
I think the original wording is understandable and ok. – lkessler Sep 9 '12 at 17:20
I had to read it a few times. – JustinY Sep 9 '12 at 17:31
up vote 9 down vote
In genealogy research, what is the difference between "direct," "indirect" and "circumstantial" evidence?
added by GeneJ Sep 4 '12 at 10:00
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up vote 9 down vote
In genealogical research, what is the difference between "primary information" and "secondary information?"
added by GeneJ, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 6 '12 at 17:56
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up vote 9 down vote
What strengths does GEDCOM have as a transfer format?
added by Site Designs Sep 7 '12 at 7:31
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up vote 8 down vote
What is the "double date" calendar issue all about? [closed]
added by Randy Seaver, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Sep 6 '12 at 17:49
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closed as duplicate of Why do some dates have two years, like 11 February 1662/63? by Robert Cartaino Sep 7 '12 at 15:18

This question covers exactly the same ground as another question in this proposal.
up vote 8 down vote
What is "negative evidence?" How does it apply to genealogical research? Should I/how would I, record or write a citation for "negative evidence?"
added by GeneJ Sep 4 '12 at 10:05
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