New Look, New Purpose

And I have returned. Again.

So much has changed, and my blogs are definitely reflecting that. I have met many of the goals I wanted to, as well as worked towards others. However, the goals are only a secondary part of this blog.

I have always been interested in my family's genealogy, as well as the art of genealogy in general, and a few years ago, I wanted to start working on my family tree. I had worked on my theatre group's "tree" a number of years ago, but obviously my real tree has a lot more purpose. The theatre tree helped me learn how to do the research in a confined and focused setting, teaching me about using non-traditional sources to conduct research. This has served me well in my journey into the family past.

My uncle, or my mother's brother, has done extensive work on my maternal side's history, so I have decided to focus my research on my father's side, which holds a lot of mystery due to the lack of living relatives. Fortunately, the McGee's and their branches love to talk, so I have a lot of resources in the current generations.

To begin my search, I just filled in the people I could into an ancestory.com family tree. I spoke mainly to my father to fill in blanks. Now I am using a free trial subscription to Ancestory.com's Library Edition (through La Salle University) to do extensive data research. I have discovered so many things. It's positively overwhelming.

This blog's primary purpose will be to reflect on my research methods, as well as telling some of the most interesting tales from my family. It will also help me remember my steps and where I am missing information.

After a trip to Staples this morning, I purchased a 2" binder and heavy-duty Avery tabs. I need these supplies to last me a long time, as well as withstand whatever travel I might need to make. I hope one day I can do some international traveling to my family's homelands (England and Ireland) to trace the family even further back.

I hope I can help other genealogists on their journeys' as well.

Above: My grandma and grandpa on their wedding day, June 26, 1950.