What types of genealogy blogs are there?

Listed below are representative blogs for each of the major genealogy blog types. Entries are listed alphabetically and do not show a preference in any way. The attempt is to select a variety of blogs based on format, writing style, and blogging platform. To really appreciate the vast amount of genealogy blogs available, please review the entire list of over 1,200 genealogy blogs at GeneaBloggers (http://www.geneabloggers.com/genealogy-blogs/).

Individual Family History: The most popular type of genealogy blog and the most personal. Everyone has their favorites among this blog type especially since the family history stories can be very personal and written to warm the heart.

Genealogy Industry: Focused on the latest news in the genealogy and family history industry and are not affiliated with any one product or vendor. These blogs do more than simply run press releases from companies; they often provide valuable reviews of books and software as well as give an inside peek to the goings on major genealogy-related corporations and websites.

Genealogy Vendors: Many vendors of genealogy-related products and websites will set up a blog in order to market their product and send out news about new versions or improvements.

Genealogical and Historical Societies: A blog seems to be a perfect match for non-profit organizations including genealogical and historical societies. Some blogs are very straight-forward with posting of meeting minutes, upcoming events and news. Others offer newsletter access and even their own databases of information.

Genealogy Conferences: Set up to publicize and market an upcoming major event such as a conference or a series of expos. For the most part these events are planned a year or more in advance.

Education and Certification: Some bloggers detail their own path to earning genealogy certification credits or attending educational seminars or provide genealogy education services.

Archives and Libraries: Many libraries and other research facilities have created blogs in order to disseminate news about their collections as well as upcoming events.

Research: Created strictly to provide research data to other genealogists, to track the process of indexing research materials or to even track one’s own research activities.

Technology: The use of technology has not only vastly expanded the ability of genealogists to work from the comfort of their home, but it has also brought forth an entire array of choices from websites, databases, software and even computers themselves. Not only do genealogists need resources to figure out how to use specific technologies, but they need critical reviews of products and a heads-up as to what new technologies are coming down the pike.

Ethnicity: Focused around specific ethnic groups and the genealogy of those families including African-American genealogy, French-Canadian genealogy, Irish genealogy, German genealogy and more.

Geography: Many blogs are dedicated to a variety of ancestors from a specific location such as Ireland, Canada or even on a more local or state level.

One Place Study: The concept of “one place study” or “one name study” is popular in the UK and involves detailing every aspect of the history of one town or village.

Surnames: A common type of genealogy blog is one devoted to a specific surname group. Sometimes this type of blog is tied in with DNA testing and research for that specific group.

Family Reunions: Help prepare other family members for upcoming reunions. A blog can help you communicate plans for the event and to gather needed information for the family tree.

Diaries: Reproduce diary transcriptions with one blog post for each day in the diary. Most of these blogs also include a helpful “who’s who” post so that you can keep track of names of people and places.

Cemeteries: While some may see it as a quirky obsession, there are many genealogists who also have a healthy fascination with graveyards and they blog about that obsession and their activities to help preserve those cemeteries!

Photos and Charts: At some point most genealogists need to deal with all those family pictures or they need to create charts to show off their research. Blogs in this category range from discussions of photography genres (including Victorian post-mortem photos and ladies with glasses) to identifying orphan photos.

Crafts: It’s only natural that scrapbookers are also genealogists – or is it the other way around? Many people involved with genealogy decide to put their creative talents to use and produce items for family members including quilts, scrap books and more.

Humor: Even when you pursue something as passionately as genealogy, you need a blog to remind you not to always take it so seriously.

Writing Your Family History: Translating your family history and research efforts into written narrative is a skill, and these blogs try to teach that skill to their readers.

  • The Family Curator
    http://www.thefamilycurator.com

© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee

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