This week’s challenge: look for information in a new way or on a new site. Yes, I have suggested that before. Did you do it?

After last week’s class from Seattle NARA, I contacted the speakers and asked about my family. My father was in WWII and generally speaking I know what he did and where he was. I don’t have any paperwork to confirm anything other than his being in the war, his registration card stating when he registered and a discharge notice. I thought for future generations paperwork would be interesting. My sister and I have the stories and a few photos, but my grandson won’t have that.

I asked if they had records pertaining to his service as he left from Whidby Island. They did not but they told me who to contact. A few emails later I was sent a form to complete and return as well as a chart telling me what NARA branches would have what I was looking for. Because of the time period he served, his rank, and that he was discharged from the Navy I was to send the form to St. Louis, MO. Another couple of emails told me that currently they are not charging for copies. Off my paperwork went, form and proof of his death.

Now we wait.

This is my challenge to you. I have only sent away for one record in the past and that was my grandfather’s RR Pension Record. Therefore, this is somewhat new territory for me. You all may be old pros at doing research this way. I am not. I am thinking that if this turns out positive and indeed is free of charge, I may do the same for my grandfather who was also in the Navy, WWI but I know nothing about his service.

If you haven’t done this before my first step was to go to the NARA site and browse through the genealogy resources. That is one part I have used. There are lots of free forms and education that you can get there. Well worth taking time to search around. Eventually, I sent an email and that was where the process started for me. I could have filed for an eVetRecs! I found this way slower but more my style!

If you are looking for a site you haven’t used and may have materials you are looking for, visit cyndislist.com. New to this site? Over 310,000 links. Cyndi is a HQRL neighbor and has taught classes for us. One telling us how to best use her site. Tip, take some time to just browse. Go to categories on the left and then the alphabet at the top. I have simply started with “A” and clicked and clicked topics and then related topics. This was just to get a feel for what is there. I recently helped a friend look for newspaper resources. There were 38 links here and 8 related categories, each with multiple links within them. WHEW! There should be no problem finding a new resource.

Another method I have used is “Family Tree Magazine” who puts out a 101 top sites list each year. And don’t’ forget, go to HQRL and talk to the librarians there and see what they recommend.

Let’s see what we can find.
Heidi Geise, education@hqrl.com