October is Family History Month in USA ... Do Something for Your Genealogy!

It's that time of year again -- October -- which means it is Family History Month in the United States!

MCGG suggests strongly encourages you to do something for your genealogy this month! You can do something each of the thirty-one days this month or take it week by week. Do a bunch of little tasks or some larger tasks or a combination of the two. Plan/Take a short research trip; make learning new things a priority; try a new website for a month; or sit your butt down to source your tree like you keep saying you will -- the opportunities are endless.

Keep in mind that there are often many genealogy "free-access" and sale offers in honor of this month so stay tuned here and keep an eye out for them yourself.

In the meantime, if you need some inspiration "to do something for your genealogy" here are some ideas -- inspired by some of the special designated days and weeks this month -- to help get you going.

October 1 - 31 -- Family History Month in the United States.
It is also Computer Learning Month, check out a book or watch a webinar on how to use one of your genealogy-related programs ... or your computer. Also, American Archives Month. Plan a research visit to your state or local archive.

The first week of October is Get Organized Week, plan one or two days or an hour each day to organize your genealogy papers.

October 1 -- National Ghost Hunting Day. Visit your ancestors' graves to take photos or spend some time online searching the various cemetery memorial websites. Also, National Homemade Cookies Day. It's not genealogy related or is it? Bake up a batch of grandma's or great grandma's cookies from a passed-down recipe. If grandma is still living, visit or call her and talk to her about her -- informally interview her. Since it is also the first Saturday of the month it is also International Frugal Fun Day so spend some time research on your favorite or a new-to-you free genealogy website.

October 3 -- National Techies Day. Spend sometime organizing the files on your hard drive and backing up your hard drive. Learn a new program or simply enter into your genealogy program that information you have been meaning to do.

October 4 -- National Tacos Day; National Golf Lover's Day; National Vodka Day. Use today to research/focus on your Mexican/Spanish, Scottish, or Russian ancestors.

October 5 -- National Do Something Nice Day; National Apple Betty Day; National Walk to School Day. Use today to share something with a relative, to research/focus on a Betty (Elizabeth) in your ancestry; or to research ancestors in school records. Also, Ask an Archivist Day. Sponsored by The Society of Archivists, use your Twitter account to ask your archive question using the #AskAnArchivist hashtag.

October 6 -- National German-American Day. Use today to research/focus on your German ancestors.

October 8 -- National Peirogi Day. Use today to research/focus on your Polish ancestors.

October 9 -- National Leif Erikson Day. Use today to research/focus on your Nordic ancestors. Also, National Clergy Appreciation Day. Use today to research/focus on your clergy ancestors. Also, Curious Events Day. Try investigating a mystery in your family tree.

October 10 -- National Native American Day. Use today to research/focus on your Native American ancestors. Also, Columbus Day. Use today to research/focus on your immigrant ancestors. Also, International Newspaper Carrier Day. Use today to investigate digitized newspapers for your ancestors. Or re-read your newspaper finds to see if you missed something. Also, Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Use today to research your Canadian ancestors, or those that lived there for a time.

October 12 -- National Farmer's Day. Use today to research/focus on your farming ancestors. Also, National Gumbo Day. Use today to research/focus on your Louisiana ancestors.
Also, Take Your Parents to Lunch Day. Use today to research/focus on your parents. Also, National Fossil Day. Use today to research/focus on your end-of-line ancestors. What sources have you missed in trying to research these ancestors? Are any now available online? They may not be indexed but they may now be accessible. Also, National Emergency Nurse's Day. Use today to research/focus on your ancestors who worked in the health care industry. Also, Cookbook Launch Day. Use today to research your female ancestors. Or, create "family cookbook" of your own with treasured, passed-down recipes or more current family favorites. Make it a project and you'll have made a holiday gift item. Also, Moment of Frustration Day, re-examine one or more of your "brickwall" ancestors and create a plan to knock down that wall. There are lots of ideas for how to do something for your genealogy today.

October 13 -- National Train Your Brain Day. Use today to learn something new. Watch a genealogy webinar, or read a genealogy book. Also, National Yorkshire Pudding Day. Use today to research/focus on your English ancestors. Also, Navy Birthday. Use today to research/focus on your naval/seafaring ancestors. Also International Skeptics Day, take another look at those family branches that might be a little shaky.

October 15 -- Sweetest Day. Use today to concentrate your research on finding any marriage records you do not already have for your ancestors. Or, as you show your "sweetests" you care, talk to them about themselves -- another opportunity to informally interview your relatives. Also, National Cake Decorating Day. Use today to research/focus on your baker ancestors, or to concentrate on finding any birth records you do not already have for your ancestors

October 17 -- National Mulligan Day. Use today to "do something over." Revisit a problem or ancestor the eluded you once before. Also, National Black Poetry Day. Use today to research/focus on your African American ancestors. Also, National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day. Use today to clean up and organize your computer files.

October 19 -- Evaluate Your Life Day. In the spirit of this day spend some time re-evaluating your research efforts on a particular problem.

October 23 -- National Boston Creme Pie Day. Use today to research/focus on your Massachusetts ancestors. Also, National Mother-in-law Day. Use today to research/focus on your spouse's mother's ancestors.

October 24 -- United Nations Day. Use today to research/focus on an ancestor you put off researching because he/she is a nationality you have not researched before.

October 27 -- Navy Day. Use another day today to research/focus on your naval/seafaring ancestors. Also, National Tell a Story Day in Scotland and the U.K., so try writing your memories about a particular relative. Or, write down those stories of your ancestors/family that you heard growing up.

October 29 -- National Hermit Day. Use today to research/focus on your ancestors who did not marry or have children. Sometimes the probates of those without direct heirs can be goldmines. 

October 31 -- Halloween. Do some more cemetery research or research probate records for your ancestors today. And, take a little break from genealogy to pass out some candy tonight. You did remember to buy some trick-or-treat candy right?

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE