AncestorNews: Taking a Genealogy Trip

About a month ago, I wrote a piece for this newsletter called “Patience (Blast It!),” in which I described my difficulty getting a cemetery photograph. I asked readers for their opinion on whether I should wait for a volunteer to get the photo, or drive 2,000 miles and get it myself. Your overwhelming response was “GET IN THE CAR!!!” OK, I get the message!

So, I’m now planning my trip to the Midwest. I just called my Aunt Helen to see what month would be best for me to come. Now what? Do I need to contact the farmer whose land the cemetery is on, or should I just show up at his door?

I love the planning stage of a trip, particularly researching the route, where I want to stop and what great stories I might look for along the way. Are there state historical societies I need to visit, other cemeteries (yes, Lincoln County, Kansas!), Internet cousins I’ve never met, or county agencies I need to search for vital records.

To keep myself organized, I’ll use my Handspring Visor (it’s like a Palm device). It can keep all my contact information, as well as downloaded maps. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to break down and get a wireless Internet connection too—or is that just wishful thinking?

If you have a genealogy trip scheduled this year, write me and let me know what important things I may be forgetting.

Resources for planning your genealogy trip:

• Before Your Trip: Doing Your Homework
www.genealogy.com/genealogy/17_before.html

• Planning a Research Trip
www.ancestry.com/library/view/news/articles/2572.asp

• Planning for a Successful Genealogy Research Trip
www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/tips/3337.asp

• Packing for a Genealogical Journey
www.genealogy.com/genealogy/17_pack.html

• Time Travel
www.familytreemagazine.com/articles/june00/vacation.html