Facebook groups for research ....... Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits

Using Facebook groups for research

CAROL DIPIRRO-STIPKOVITS

genealogy community becomes. See what new things Facebook can do for you—and for your ancestors. FY

Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits is a member of the National Genealogical Society and Association of Professional Genealogists. She has a monthly column in the Niagara Gazette and Forever Young Magazine. She is a Board Chairman as well as President of the Niagara County Genealogical Society. Send questions or comments to her at noellasdaughter@ gmail.com

When Facebook was becoming the next big thing, I didn’t have much interest. Why did I need a computer to talk to people I could just call? My attitude changed when my oldest son moved to Japan. Facebook became a lifeline and, years later, it’s still the simplest way for us to keep in touch.

Social media has taken connection to a whole new level, and, over the years, I’ve found ways to use Facebook groups to expand my genealogy research. If you’re interested in family history but you’re not a Facebook user, it’s time to jump aboard.

Before social media, there were chat rooms and online forums where genealogy enthusiasts could share resources. Because there are countless websites and societies to aid genealogists, it may not have occurred to you to try Facebook, where people congregate in specific spaces to communicate about common interests, including genealogy.

Did you know that Facebook has over 11,000 genealogy groups? There are larger ones such as Ancestry, Family Search, and Family Tree Maker, as well as DNA-specific groups like DNA Detectives. Topical groups such as The Civil War Genealogy and Research Forum, along with many much smaller groups with more specific interests such as Random Acts of Photo Restoration, are also available. A couple of my favorites are Technology for Genealogy (for the latest tech news) and Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (for help with those research brick walls). The Genealogy Squad, created by genealogy experts, answers questions while teaching best practices. The Organized Genealogist shares tricks for finally getting rid of that paper pile while Deciphering Genealogy Script is the second pair of eyes you need when the words just don’t make sense. Search by location. For example, I belong to a group devoted to my grandparents’ small village of San Pietro a Maida, Italy. Occasionally, someone will post a photo with a familiar name that opens a line of communication. A recent connection was kind enough to take photos of an ancestor’s grave for me. Genealogy gold. Once group membership is approved, you can search through posts and ask questions. If you don’t find help in one group, move to another, but not without trying to help someone yourself first. Good karma goes a long way. The ways in which a Facebook group can be helpful are limitless and may surprise you. One of the more unusual things I’ve seen was the posting of an unidentified family photograph. The researcher admitted that it was a HailMary after years of research. We all cheered when another group member posted the same photograph; they were second cousins living 5,000 miles apart! As you explore groups, you’ll be reminded that you’re not alone; we’re all trying to knock down our own brick walls. The more people who share questions and insights, the stronger the

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