The following is reprinted from a recent issue of The Archivist, The GSBC's quarterly newsletter distributed to our Members. If you enjoy this sample article, genealogy, or local NJ history, please consider joining the GSBC. Your membership dollars ($20 per membership year) help us provide a wide array of programming, research, indexing, and education — benefits which are designed to inspire your own research progress.


GSBC General Meeting Recap (Updated January 2015)

On 26 March 2012, technology consultant and web app developer, Phil Hayes, spoke to the GSBC about using technology and blogging platforms to share family stories, publish your research, and discover new family.

Summary by Barbara Ellman

Phil Hayes began his presentation by explaining some basic terms. A blog is a web site on which the blogger (author) posts a series of entries, usually in reverse-chronological order. The site is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. A genealogy blog is a great way of sharing information with family members and locating lost or unknown family. Among the media formats that can be included in a blog are photos, video, maps and audio.

Phil outlines some good practices that should be observed when creating a blog:

  • Choose an audience and stick to it
  • Tell a story
  • Consider privacy issues
  • Come up with a theme
  • Keep it going and keep it fresh

For inspiration, some of Phil's favorite genealogy blogs are Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, Genealogy Gems, and Olive Tree Genealogy. A list of Genealogy blogs can be found on Cyndi's List. A good resource for genealogy blogging is GeneaBloggers.

To create a blog, a subscription to an online blogging service and software is needed. Many services have a free service and a more robust fee-based service. Among those discussed were Blogger and WordPress.

Most blog platforms are "all in one solutions," but for advanced users, come additional software tools may be needed:

  • FTP Client: An FTP Client is software that provides an interface between the computer desktop and the files on your web server — allowing you to upload files directly from your desktop without using the Blogger or WordPress interface.
    File Zilla (filezilla-project.org/) or Cute FTP (www.globalscape.com/CuteFTP) for Windows, or Transmit (panic.com/transmit/) for MAC.
  • Screen Capture Utility: A Screen Capture Utility can help you take a snapshot of whatever you are looking at on your computer screen. You can use this to take snapshots of websites, documents, or those you're video-chatting with. Clarify-IT (www.clarify-it.com/) or Snagit (www.techsmith.com/snagit.html) for Windows. Mac includes a screen capture natively in the software (Command-Shift-3 to capture whole screen; Command-Shift-4 to grab a selection of what you're looking at).
  • Photo & Video Editing
  • Other Cool Tools: Evernote (www.evernote.com/), Scrivner (www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php), Timeline (www.beedocs.com/).

While you will not earn a lot by blogging, Phil has found it very rewarding for connecting with family around the world and being able for family to find him. Think about giving it a try!