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last updated:
22 January 2004

FAQ

  1. What software do you use?
  2. What hardware do you use?
  3. Why is this MIGNOGNA.ORG instead of MIGNOGNA.COM?
  4. How do I register my domain name?
  5. How do I get started researching my family history?
  6. How do I make a family web site like this?
  7. I'm a (distant) relative. Can I get a copy of the family tree?
  8. Can I get a GEDCOM file of the family tree?
  9. Can I email you in other languages besides English?
  10. What are some Genealogy Resources on the Web?
  11. Where can I get records of my ancestors?
1. What software do you use?

For the genealogy work, I use "The Master Genealogist" which is an excellent research tool. I'm using version 5.11.000 Gold. This is available from Wholly Genes. I use this software to keep track of all my data, and to print the reports and charts that I put up on the website.

For the web pages, I used to use Netscape Composer but mostly I still write the html code by hand. (Look at the source - these pages aren't all that complex)

2. What hardware do you use?

For taking current pictures, I have a Nikon Coolpix 950.

For scanning pictures, I have an HP officejet (printer/scanner/fax).

For burning CD's, I bought a cheap but decent CD writer. It just doesn't do audio CD's very well (but that's not what I bought it for).

At this point, all my base computer systems are Dell. :)

3. Why is this MIGNOGNA.ORG instead of MIGNOGNA.COM?

No real good reason. At the time, I wanted to register both (and MIGNOGNA.NET) but had money for one. Since then, someone (I think a cousin) has picked up MIGNOGNA.COM, MIGNOGNA.NET and MIGNOGNA.US

4. How do I register my domain name?

There are many places to register your domain name. If you have a domain name, you probably need a place to host your site, too. Most places that host sites also will help you register your domain name (that's how I did it).

5. How do I get started researching my family history?

The absolute first thing to do is to sit down with your living relatives and have them core dump everything they can remember. It's sort of awful to say, but do your best to start with your older relatives... you really don't know how long they are going to be around, and once their gone, precious data and stories are gone with them.

After you've picked the brains of all your living relatives (or as you're doing it), start organizing your data. Find a good piece of software to help. I use "The Master Genealogist".

Next, there are several places to get data... depending on where you live and what you're looking for. There are several online sites, like ancestry.com to help...

I'll be adding more to this section later...

6. How do I make a family web site like this?

Of course, there's not one single way to make a web page. You can see what I've done here, and I'm constantly changing it. If you're not sure where to start, I would start looking at lots of folks family pages, to see what you like...

Places like the Wholly Genes website, ancestry.com, etc have links of people with genealogy websites similar to mine. Look at them... see what you like!

7. I'm a (distant) relative. Can I get a copy of the family tree?

Yes. There are two ways to get it. First would be to look at the data on this site. Email me for a name/password. Second would be the gedcom file. Again, email me.

8. Can I get a GEDCOM file of the family tree?

Yes. Email me to get it.

9. Can I email you in other languages besides English?

I would prefer not. I can handle German and a tiny bit of Italian and a tiny bit of French. If I had more time to work on translations, it would be okay. Please email me in English if you can. Thank you.

10. Genealogy Resources on the Web:


11. Where can I get records of my ancestors?

(not finished answering this question here yet)

The easy answer: check out Ancestry.com

This is not a complete list, it's a list of places where I've needed to obtain records from:

Social Security Records
There is a great search through the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) at ancestry.com. If you find your ancestor there, ancestry.com prepares a written letter for you to send and it currently costs $7 for each search. Things you can obtain from this are date of birth and parent's names.

Immigration & Naturalization Records

Census Records

Passenger Ship Records

Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates