Who Was That Person?

Archive for November, 2010

Not a lot accomplished this past week, as I’ve turned most of my time toward another project. In fact, I think I am going to dispense with the weekly reports for this, and to to monthly statements. That does not mean ‘nothing’ will be happening — just that the pace after 3-1/2 months will be transitioning into slow and steady growth. The initial development phase is complete.

There are still a few programming goals that need to be met, but there is never any great urgency in genealogy. I have also been meaning to add advertisements to the site, so that it can earn it’s keep.

Since we are only a week away from the end of this month, and the busy holiday season is upon us, the monthly reports will begin in January 2011, when we will report December progress.

Here is our summary of data entry progress for the past week:

Erie County NY Genealogy – rec2gen site
Week 14 ending Monday 22 Nov 2010
# Sources Listed: 150
# Articles: 1
# Places: 269
# Images: 12
# Scraps: 70
# Names in Db: 14,903 (303 increase)
# Factoids: 41,415 (635 increase)

Did not report progress last week because I bought a new computer, and switching from the old to the new resulted in several days of chaos. Obviously, it also reduced the amount of productive work done too. Hopefully it will pay-off in the long run, with increased productivity, though so far things are slower rather than faster with the new computer. The computer itself is faster, but I’m slower.

The old computer was a desk-top model, and this new one is a lap-top — and although the keyboard if nearly as large as on the desktop, there are some differences that take time to get used to. I taught myself to type as a teenager, using my Mom’s antique Underwood clunker. When I began typing on a computer keyboard in the 1970s, I found it easier to use the left shift key for all the letters, rather than switch back and forth — I could type faster by doing it ‘wrong’ so for the past 35 years that is what I have done. Now, however, I find with this ever so slightly more cramped keyboard that I keep hitting the caps-lock key when I try to use the left shift key to capitalize letters typed with the left hand. So I’m having to re-learn to type correctly, hence I’m a bit slower.

My wife and I will be able to spend more time on the beach now though, since I can get some work done while there. That should make up for any other inconveniences.

Here is our summary of data entry progress for the past two weeks:

Erie County NY Genealogy – rec2gen site
Week 13 ending Monday 15 Nov 2010
# Sources Listed: 150
# Articles: 1
# Places: 269
# Images: 12
# Scraps: 70
# Names in Db: 14,600 (1,477 increase)
# Factoids: 40,780 (3,943 increase)

Did not spend much time on the Erie County site this week, had other things going on that kept me from the computer much of the week. Fun things, like time on the beach (I live just a couple miles from the ocean). All work and no play, as the cliche goes.

Still, managed to add over a thousand more names to the database, mostly from that 1870 Buffalo City Directory — up to the names beginning with ‘G’ now. Each name entered generates one to three associated ‘factoids’ — always the person is living 1870, usually with a specific address. That is one fact. The occupation is listed on about 90% of the names, so a second fact is generated, giving the person’s occupation in 1870. And a great many of the listings include a business name or address, so the third fact in those cases is that the person was working for a particular organization, or was self-employed. Sometimes the directory does not make clear the distinction between self-employed and those working for others, so we make an educated guess, based on the appearance of the listing and kind of occupation — not perfect, but that is why the results are treated as ‘factoids’ rather than absolute facts.

The next big part of the site development that still needs programming will allow members to submit attestations: statements that will change (correct) data, or that will combine two database records into one, because they refer to the same person. The new derivative record will include the combined information from both original records. The original is retained, so it possible to trace back, to see where particular details came from. This combined record can itself be combined with other records, to build up a complete picture of the information available on an individual.

To be really effective, members will also be able (eventually, more programming required…) to enter information from records not yet in the database, for their own ancestors. Then, using the attestations, they will be able to combine all the information into a single record – with each detail traceable to its source. That is how genealogy should be done — too many programs and sites allow sloppy documentation to mar the reliability of their information.

Here is our summary of data entry progress for the past week:

Erie County NY Genealogy – rec2gen site
Week 11 ending Monday 1 Nov 2010
# Sources Listed: 150
# Articles: 1
# Places: 269
# Images: 12
# Scraps: 70
# Names in Db: 13,123 (1,042 increase)
# Factoids: 36,837 (3,247 increase)