hiring a researcher when life gets in your way of traveling
brenda kellow
september 8, 2014
Have you ever wanted to go research a line, but ‘Life’ just won’t let you leave home? It must happen to all of us at one time or another. It has happened to me. However, I really prefer to do my own research. The cost of transportation and hotel are only getting more expensive. There is a way to work around this problem, although it does cost, but usually not as much as going in person.
When I need someone to do the research for me, I evaluate several sources. I choose someone specializing on the county or topic from the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) or the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Both of these organizations have arbitration committees to negotiate a problem if one arises between the client and researcher. For my peace of mind, I prefer one of these researchers.
The BCG researchers are tested on their specialty every five years to remain certified. The APG researchers are not tested and do not have to be professionals. They just have to be able to pay the rather steep annual membership fee. Nevertheless, if there is a problem, remember you have a committee to deal with any problems.
Select BCG researchers from www.bcgcertification.org and click on “Find a Genealogist.” In the form, type in the preferences for state and country, geographic areas, specialties, services offered or additional requirements to cover the specific research. After hitting Search, a name or names pop up for you to choose.
On the APG site, www.apgen.org, “Hire an APG Professional.” Their instructions suggest you choose a state in the location field and Research Specialties and then search the list of professional genealogists that meet your criteria. From that screen, select the researchers meeting your prerequisites with whether or not they accept clients.
Both organizations have researchers that range from charging a nominal fee to expensive. Often, you will have to pay an ‘in good faith’ fee up front. I have been happy with those I have chosen. Usually the fee covers the initial first three or four hours of research.
I have also hired people from within genealogical or historical societies. Once, I even asked the county clerk for her help to look for legal documents. Lucky for me, she did it without charge. I sent her money for lunch for two. She thanked me and said she was taking one of her research clerks to lunch. A few months later, she sent me further information without being previously asked. She said she was looking for something else and found what she thought I could use from the prior subject. I really appreciated her. Yes, I sent more lunch money.
Nevertheless, you will have to communicate to the researcher exactly what you expect to learn or prove. The professional will take it from there. The professionals are well acquainted with their field. Ideally, the fees will be less than the combined cost of the transportation, hotel and food you would have spent on going on location and hunting the information yourself. I suggest you try it.
GREAT FAMILY SEARCH CONFERENCE: The conference is at the Plano Texas Stake of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on October 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Church, 2700 Roundrock Trail. For more information on the events, topics and speakers, their website is www.greatfamilysearch.com/cgi-bin/waa1gate.isa?WAA_PACKAGE=BDS&WAA_FORM=BDSOptMenu1&C=00000000014A&. See you there.
USING AN iPHONE SCANNER: Last week I talked about copying photos with the phone at reunions. Here is the future column I mentioned that would cover scanning data with the iPhone camera. Actually, the phone camera can multitask as a scanner. I have done this many times. Open your Camera app. Hold the camera directly over the subject, and snap. You have photographed your object. Next, open the Photos app and select the item just ‘scanned.’ By touching the screen, Edit appears in the top right corner. Touch it. The ‘crop’ symbol now appears in the bottom right of the screen. Touch it and see if you need to adjust or resize the item. If so, just touch the outside lines, or the corner, and size it to your liking. Press Crop. Then press Save. Presto, you have your scanned object, or photograph. You can then touch the curved arrow within the box on the bottom left and send it to your PC, by email, text message or print it on your home printer. If this is not adequate, or if you want something more technical, select a free or for purchase scanner app from the App Store such as TinyScan, ImageToTest, or TextGrabber. Hint: the phone’s camera works very well. Good luck!
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: bbkellow@verizon.net.
When I need someone to do the research for me, I evaluate several sources. I choose someone specializing on the county or topic from the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) or the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Both of these organizations have arbitration committees to negotiate a problem if one arises between the client and researcher. For my peace of mind, I prefer one of these researchers.
The BCG researchers are tested on their specialty every five years to remain certified. The APG researchers are not tested and do not have to be professionals. They just have to be able to pay the rather steep annual membership fee. Nevertheless, if there is a problem, remember you have a committee to deal with any problems.
Select BCG researchers from www.bcgcertification.org and click on “Find a Genealogist.” In the form, type in the preferences for state and country, geographic areas, specialties, services offered or additional requirements to cover the specific research. After hitting Search, a name or names pop up for you to choose.
On the APG site, www.apgen.org, “Hire an APG Professional.” Their instructions suggest you choose a state in the location field and Research Specialties and then search the list of professional genealogists that meet your criteria. From that screen, select the researchers meeting your prerequisites with whether or not they accept clients.
Both organizations have researchers that range from charging a nominal fee to expensive. Often, you will have to pay an ‘in good faith’ fee up front. I have been happy with those I have chosen. Usually the fee covers the initial first three or four hours of research.
I have also hired people from within genealogical or historical societies. Once, I even asked the county clerk for her help to look for legal documents. Lucky for me, she did it without charge. I sent her money for lunch for two. She thanked me and said she was taking one of her research clerks to lunch. A few months later, she sent me further information without being previously asked. She said she was looking for something else and found what she thought I could use from the prior subject. I really appreciated her. Yes, I sent more lunch money.
Nevertheless, you will have to communicate to the researcher exactly what you expect to learn or prove. The professional will take it from there. The professionals are well acquainted with their field. Ideally, the fees will be less than the combined cost of the transportation, hotel and food you would have spent on going on location and hunting the information yourself. I suggest you try it.
GREAT FAMILY SEARCH CONFERENCE: The conference is at the Plano Texas Stake of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on October 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Church, 2700 Roundrock Trail. For more information on the events, topics and speakers, their website is www.greatfamilysearch.com/cgi-bin/waa1gate.isa?WAA_PACKAGE=BDS&WAA_FORM=BDSOptMenu1&C=00000000014A&. See you there.
USING AN iPHONE SCANNER: Last week I talked about copying photos with the phone at reunions. Here is the future column I mentioned that would cover scanning data with the iPhone camera. Actually, the phone camera can multitask as a scanner. I have done this many times. Open your Camera app. Hold the camera directly over the subject, and snap. You have photographed your object. Next, open the Photos app and select the item just ‘scanned.’ By touching the screen, Edit appears in the top right corner. Touch it. The ‘crop’ symbol now appears in the bottom right of the screen. Touch it and see if you need to adjust or resize the item. If so, just touch the outside lines, or the corner, and size it to your liking. Press Crop. Then press Save. Presto, you have your scanned object, or photograph. You can then touch the curved arrow within the box on the bottom left and send it to your PC, by email, text message or print it on your home printer. If this is not adequate, or if you want something more technical, select a free or for purchase scanner app from the App Store such as TinyScan, ImageToTest, or TextGrabber. Hint: the phone’s camera works very well. Good luck!
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: bbkellow@verizon.net.
