Where to Find the Most Useful Genealogy Supplies

"What genealogy supplies do I need to get started?" or "How do I record the info that I find?" Since the main thing you need to get is information. The real question is what tools will help you gather and store information most efficiently?

Genealogy starts with talking to your relatives, and gathering documents, and then compiling that information into an easy to access format. Technology can be a great asset to you in this journey! Your computer will be the most important of these tools. However if you don't have a laptop to bring with you, the next best thing is a smart phone. If you don't have a smart phone, you should at least get a digital voice recorder.

Digital voice recorders are small devices that you can use much like the old tape recorders of the past but they use memory instead of tapes. With a digital recorder you can upload them to your computer and save the conversation as an audio file, then you can email it, burn it to a CD, link it to your relative in your genealogy software etc. The advantages to digital recordings are that others can just listen to the conversation, instead of just reading the transcript. By doing this they will have a much better feel for the story, with all the inflections and nuances of the person talking and these are much harder to convey in print. Imagine your children downloading a file that you recorded of your mother telling about her childhood, and then listening to it with their kids while they drive! This is the type of technology that is readily available right now! Why record things the old slow tedious way? Time is precious.

Okay, back to digital voice recorders, what features should it have? Get one that will record in mp3 format, and will transfer files with USB connection, and that has enough memory to record what you need. I recommend that you read some reviews before you buy one. You should be able to get an adequate unit for under $50.

Again, if you are going to be near your computer when you interview, you should just use your computer to record the conversation. I recommend using a free program called "Audacity" to record the conversation. If you have a smart phone you can use that to record the conversation and then upload the file, or email it to yourself. Another option is to record your conversation with your relative over the phone. I recommend using a free service called SKYPE, and the before mentioned "Audacity" to record it. But there are many methods that will work! The great thing about audacity is that you can go back and edit the file later, and take out pauses, add side notes etc.

Also, you may want have a notebook with you also, just for jotting down ideas or questions that come to mind while listening. Paper notes can be fast and useful, but I would not use them as the primary means of recording the interview.

Video is one aspect of technology that can be easily coupled with genealogy and it can have great rewards. The ability to watch and listen to a story being told is best preservation style available, why not use it? The main problem you will run into with video is that many people are not comfortable being on video, and will simply not let you record them also; they might not act natural on camera. But it if you do have a relative that is willing to tell a story on video then go for it! It will be well worth the setup and hassle!

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