Happy Thursday Genealogy Fam! Another week means another post in honour of National Family History Month! Although, let me be the first to admit that this post wasn’t actually meant to go up this week – this week’s post was taking a little longer to pull together, so it has been pushed back and this one slotted into its place. The joys to not realising how long some content is to make! Now, to be honest, I’ve actually already talked about family history apps back in 2020 for NFHM, but since then I’ve had the chance to play around with more apps and add them into my collection, so I thought it was a good time to revisit the topic and share some more about my experiences with using various genealogy apps. Hopefully, this will help you find apps that you need to have on your phone! So firstly, there are a bunch of apps out there made for genealogy, although be aware that some are just super simple family tree builders for names and dates, rather than a way to research and build your tree with sources – think of these apps as targeted more toward a younger audience or someone who hasn’t yet been completely bitten by the genealogy bug. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with these apps, but there are definitely better apps out there for people like you and me. I recommend giving all these apps a try so you can see what works best for you – you might end up finding an app that you didn’t know you needed! All of these apps are FREE, but some will be more useful if you have a subscription. ancestry Ancestry is my go-to app – it’s the family tree website that I’ve used since day dot, so it’s the one I have the most experience with. It’s SO handy to be able to access your family tree on the go, or do quick spot of research to fill in time – while I usually choose to read a book on my Kindle app, it is nice to mix things up with a bit of research. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to access ancestor information while out and about, I’d be able to afford subscriptions to ALL of the genealogy websites. It is also super easy to access photos and sources from your phone, as well as uploading more photos and sources. The app also comes with a widget which will give on ‘On This Day’ or ‘Upcoming’ events from your selected tree, which is a really nice way to get reminders of births, deaths and marriages. myheritage Obviously similar to Ancestry, MyHertiage makes it really easy to access your family tree on the go. I’m still relatively new to using MyHertiage in general, and have mainly utilised it for their photo editing software – Photo Enhancer, InColor, DeepNostalgia, and DeepStory – which can all be accessed and used via the app. You also have access to your DNA results, both your ethnicity estimate and DNA matches, as well as being able to access to records held by MyHertiage for on-the-go research. Although I use Ancestry more, I do quiet like the layout and design of this app in comparison. familysearch family tree Again, similar to the previous two apps, FamilySearch is another fantastic way to be able to access your family tree while out and about. One thing I really like about this app is that you can choose whether you view your tree as a pedigree chart OR a circular chart, which is really nice to have access to. You can view which ancestors have tasks and hints, who you’ve recently viewed, search records, map your ancestors, and search for relatives near you. And of course, you can edit, update and add ancestors while on-the-go. Like Ancestry, this app also comes with a widget, although instead of sharing ‘On This Day’ or ‘Upcoming’ events, it cycles through people in your family tree who have hints to view. ancestrydna The DNA aspect of Ancestry is also built into the main app, and it does appear that the intention is to possibly phase out the separate app altogether, but for the time being, it’s really nice to have your DNA results in one handy place. You can easily see your matches, DNA story and ethnicity estimate, and your DNA traits. While you’re probably not always going to be researching for your DNA results it is a easy way to see your results, especially when your ethnicity estimate is updated. findmypast Rounding out the big genealogy websites is Find My Past. Of all the sites, this is the one I’ve utilised the least amount, although I am working to change that. So while this is my least used app out of the big four, it’s one that I really like the user interface of, and definitely can’t wait to play around with more. Like the other big four apps, you can quickly and easily access your family tree, edit and update ancestor information, see hints for your ancestors, search the records held by Find My Past, and upload photos and documents to your tree. familysearch memories Not only does FamilySearch have a family tree app, but is also has a Memories app that allows you to upload documents and photos, write stories, and record audio. These can then be accessed and downloaded later through your FamilySearch account on a computer. You can give your uploads topic tags or link them to people in your family tree. I’ve predominantly used this app for recording audios to them listen back to later and transcribe. The only downside is that you can only record up to 5 minutes at a time, which actually used to be 15 minutes, so if you’re recording longer sessions, you are going to have to create multiple audio files. For this reason, I have moved away from using this app, although I still have it to access the audios I’ve previously recorded. findagrave I love using Find A Grave to find the burial locations of my ancestors, especially those that I can’t actually visit in person. But the app is also super handy if you are planning on visiting cemeteries. You can search memorials on-the-go, create new memorials, update existing memorials, and upload photos, all while standing in the cemetery. One of the things I really like about the app is also the ability to see if there are any photo requests for the cemetery you are visiting or live near. It’s always really nice to be able to see if you can fulfil any of these requests, especially if you are someone who has used the photo request option in the past – it’s a great way to give back to the wider genealogy community. billiongraves Similar to Find A Grave, BillionGraves allows you to access burial information on-the-go. I’m not as well versed in BillionGraves as I am Find A Grave, but it’s good to be able to utilise both since the burial information can vary between sites. Like Find A Grave, you can search memorials on-the-go, create new memorials, update existing memorials, and upload photos, as well as seeing photo requests near you. voice memoesAs much as I enjoyed using the FamilySearch Memories app for recording audios, the 15 minute, which has now become 5 minute, recording limit has been a little annoying – I usually set my phone to record a whole conversation, which can last anywhere between 10 minutes or an hour and a half. Most phones and tablets have a built-in voice memo app, which is why I turned to the Apple app Voice Memos. It’s a super basic and easy-to-use app, making it easy to listen to the playback of the recording, and download the file to save on your computer. It’s well worth playing around with the audio app built into your phone, or play around with similar apps that are usually available from the app store for free. google drive Yes, I know this isn’t genealogy specific, but it’s a super handy app to have on your phone, and not just for family history stuff. In general, I use Google Drive to access blogging and social media stuff that I’ve uploaded from my computer on my phone, as well as transferring photos from my phone to my computer. It’s honestly a life saver! In terms of family history, it’s a really great way to have access to photos and documents that you might not necessarily uploaded to one of the big four websites. In my research, I’ve also found PDF copies of old books relating to my ancestors, or the area/time period they lived, and so I’ve been able to read them on my tablet after uploading them to my Drive. Plus, it’s super easy to have a shared family history folder with family members so that way they can access photos and documents, or upload things they’ve found for you. It’s definitely something worth playing around with. notes Again, not genealogy related, but really useful nonetheless! Obviously Notes is an Apple app, but pretty much all smartphones and tablets come with a built-in note-taking app, and it is well worth taking advantage of. I use the Notes app for everything and have folders for all different topics, including a family one to write notes and reminders for genealogy. This is a pretty obvious app to include in your collection, but it can also be an easy one to overlook if you’re specifically looking for ‘family history’ apps – don’t discount the basics! There are definitely a few more apps out there that I haven’t yet tried, and then who knows what other apps are out there that just aren’t available on the Australia app store. Like I said, there are a bunch of apps that come up when you search “family tree” or “family history” that are basic family tree creating apps targeted to people who aren’t really researching their family tree, but they could be of some use to you, so definitely check them out if you’re interested. At the end of the day, I really recommend having at least one of the big four apps – Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch or FindMyPast – so that you can access your tree on-the-go and possibly do a spot of research to fill in time. I’d love to know which apps you are using so I can go check them out! There’s always new apps popping up that are possibly hidden gems, so you could be sitting on something super amazing yet super underrated. Happy Apping! Victoria :) Genealogy Document Bundle
A$10.00
Get a handle on your family history research and recording with our Genealogy Digital Download Bundle! Packed with essential tools and resources, this bundle is designed to help you piece together your ancestry, create a detailed record of you family’s history, and keep track of your research. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogists or just getting started on this wonderful journey, this bundle has something for everyone. BUNDLE CONTENTS
All files are formatted as fillable PDFs (except the Circular Generation Chart) for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Australian Genealogy Document Bundle with two extra documents for Australia-specific records and research. Australian Genealogy Bundle
A$12.00
Get a handle on your family history research and recording with our Genealogy Digital Download Bundle! Packed with essential tools and resources, this bundle is designed to help you piece together your ancestry, create a detailed record of you family’s history, and keep track of your research. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogists or just getting started on this wonderful journey, this bundle has something for everyone. BUNDLE CONTENTS
All files are formatted as fillable PDFs (except the Circular Generation Chart) for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Genealogy Document Bundle without the two Australia-specific documents. Genealogy Record Templates
A$5.00 - A$7.00
Give the historic records in your collection a refresh with record templates that make it easier to read and extract information from important documents. While it’s great to have the original record, you cannot deny that they can be difficult to decipher - these templates allow you to transcribe these documents to make the information easier to ascertain and share with others. PRE-MADE TEMPLATES:
CUSTOM TEMPLATES If you’re seeking a template for a particular historical document, record, or event not covered by the pre-made options mentioned above, there is the option to request custom templates in the drop-down menu. Once purchased, we will be in touch to request a digital copy of the document you would like a template for. Template creation time varies depending on the complexity of the template, the current work-load, and the general ups & downs of life. We will endeavor to complete the template within a week. Please note that the records need to be in English. All templates will be fillable PDF files, where possible, and will be emailed to the address provided at the time of purchase - please allow at least a full business day for pre-made templates to be sent out. **This is NOT a transcription service - the templates are provided for YOU to transcribe your own records.** Family Group Record & Ancestor Timeline Bundle
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Uncover your family’s intricate history and organise your genealogical research with precision using our Family Group Record and Ancestor Timeline templates! These templates offer a structured approach to documenting family relationships and tracing the chronological timeline of your ancestor’s lives. CONTENT Family Group Record: Capture essential family unit details, including births, marriages, and deaths; spouses and children; significant life events, and a space to include a photo of your ancestors. Ancestor Timeline: Visualise and map the significant milestones and events in your ancestor’s lives, creating a chronological sequence of important life events and cross-referencing that information with sources and records. All files are formatted as fillable PDFs for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Genealogy Document Bundle and Australian Genealogy Document Bundle with even more useful templates to help with your research and recording. |
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