Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 9h

I finally figured out why discussions of social #history in #genealogy seemed so problematic to me. When did #genealogists start using "Social History" to describe things happening around their ancestor instead of the study of those things?

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 1d

Well, I think that might be the first time I've had the 1780 quota act just come up in a lecture Q+A... So much fun! #genealogy #AmericanRevolution

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 3d

A German specialist colleague provided a good answer... German settlement (probably at about the same time period my ancestors settled in Bohemia)!

2

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 3d

Still trying to figure out how I've supposedly got ancestors from Lithuania?

1 1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Personally, I try to overestimate to ensure that I've calculated for "worse case scenario" - issues that often aren't visible until we start translating.

That's why you're getting a rough estimate instead of an exact price. #genealogy #translation

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

And while, yes, we've probably all done that at least once, figuring it would be "good practice" even if we didn't get paid, it's not something a translator can always do. Instead, we often estimate off of our normal speed. #genealogy #translation

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

They're not being cagey. While many translators bill by the word, most genealogical translators bill by the hour in order to properly account for the challenges of working with handwritten documents. The only way to get an exact price is to translate the document... #genealogy #translation

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Ever wonder why a genealogical translator gives you a general quote instead of an exact price?
#genealogy #translation

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Did you know?

The Barbour Collection often wasn't created by reviewing the original town vital records. The second page of the original bound volumes (www.familysearch.org/en/search/ca...) will tell you what source was used as a basis.

#genealogy #Connecticut

2

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Getting started with #Connecticut #genealogy? The "Genealogy Research Resources" section of connecticutroots.org/genealogy-re... can help you with navigating vital records, church records, and more.

Genealogy Research Resources

Trying to research your own tree? Here’s how to get started. For information about birth, marriage, and death certificates and civil substitutes, see Vital Records. For help with church recor…

connecticutroots.org

1 1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Was your ancestor elected as a militia officer? #genealogy #AmericanRevolution

Is that service right?: Militia Elections

The presence of multiple men of the same name in your ancestor’s community can make confirming Revolutionary War service challenging. How do you know that it was your ancestor who served and …

charteroakgenealogy.com

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 5d

Given that there's already a problem with photographs being used as images of ancestors who died before photography...

1 1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 6d

Are you using church records to research your Connecticut ancestors? The Congregational Church was the "established" church until 1818, meaning that the church records will catch many #Connecticut ancestors.
To learn more about accessing records: libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/church #genealogy

LibGuides Home: Church Records and Resources: Church Records & Resources Overview

libguides.ctstatelibrary.org

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 6d

The "poll tax" aspect of the grand list is challenging enough to navigate be not helpful in the bulk of cases generally. I personally tend to gravitate to using the grand lists to establish residency - and there are often easier options.

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 6d

Worth reading if you have an interest in #translation in #genealogy!

American Translators Association @atanet.org · 6d

The International Federation of Translators (FIT) published a position paper on #MachineTranslation (MT) to draw attention to the consequences of using MT both for the users and for professional translators. Read it at en.fit-ift.org/position-and.... #Translator #ai #Language #Tech #xl8 #1nt #atanet

Position and Discussion Papers – International Federation of Translators

The voice of associations of translators, interpreters and terminologists around the world

en.fit-ift.org

1 2

Reposted by Bryna O'Sullivan

David Allen Lambert @dlgenealogist.bsky.social · 6d

Are you related directly, a niece or nephew or a first or second cousin of a United States commissioned Union #CivilWar Officer? Please contact me regarding a special project. RT

2 3 5

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 7d

Looking forward to revisiting the story of Benjamin Graves next Saturday! #genealogy #Connecticut #AmericanRevolution

Did Benjamin Graves die at the Battle of Groton Heights?

I have an update to this 2021 post… Died at Groton Heights? Descendants of Benjamin Graves, baptized in 1734 in …

charteroakgenealogy.com

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 7d

The use of tax records in colonial #Connecticut #genealogy research is... complicated...

Let's just say it's not something I do as a typical search.

Should tax records be a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut research?

Tax records are considered an “important record type” for New England according to ICAPGEN’s New England Regional Guide. Yet, they’re often skipped by researchers. Should ta…

connecticutroots.org

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 8d

An example: #French records will sometimes list the bride or groom's mother as "Dame" and then the name. Dame literally translates Lady (when the mother does not have rank); Mrs. can be be confusing when the mother is under her maiden name... The easy solution is to leave off the honorific.

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 8d

Okay, for debate:
Should honorifics be translated when they don't directly impact content?
Typically, we try to translate #genealogy documents as closely as possible to the original (transcription standard). But there are times when doing that with honorifics will cause confusion. #translation

1 1

Reposted by Bryna O'Sullivan

ConferenceKeeper Free Calendar of Genealogy Events @conferencekeeper.bsky.social · 9d

Sat., October 18 - Virtual - Louisville Genealogical Society's Family History Fall Seminar featuring Luana M. Darby, MLIS, AG. Full details at https://www.kylgs.org/

1 2

Reposted by Bryna O'Sullivan

Diahan Southard @yourdnaguide.bsky.social · 9d

Stuck on your DNA results? 🧬 Join our free “Help! My DNA Isn’t Working” webinar Oct 9 at 2pm ET. Get clear, simple answers — and a replay if you can’t join live.

Register now: hubs.la/Q03KKQGM0

1

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 10d

A question that should be asked and often isn't: if you can't read the language, how do you know if the #AI #translation is accurate, "close," or total fiction? #genealogy

2

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 10d

... this made me laugh, but there's a real issue behind it worth talking about. I've lost track of how often I've seen a comment like this in a #genealogy listserv about #translation. Typically followed by a comment about how they just use it to get close.

Here's the thing: #AI makes mistakes.

UNC Press @uncpress.bsky.social · 10d

"I asked Chat GPT"

Well we asked an expert and then we asked other experts in that field to review the first expert's work.

1 2

Bryna O'Sullivan @charteroakgen.bsky.social · 12d

Happy #InternationalTranslationDay!
#Translation is an underdiscussed topic in the #genealogy world, but it's often key to understanding our ancestors' records - and effectively working with them...

And no, just because someone claimed #AI could do it doesn't mean you don't need to understand it!

2 1