Q is for Query - Asking for Help with Genealogy and Family History - Blogging from A to Z April 2020 Challenge!

Today Q is for Queries for British Columbia 

Blogging about British Columbia Genealogy Resources

How can I find ....(greatgrandpa's first marriage; Minnie Gordon my long lost great aunt....) in British Columbia, Canada? I want to write up my problem, put it online and ask for help! 

Good idea!


GENEALOGY QUERY BASICS

When writing queries for genealogy and family history:

• Be up front with your Who, What, Where, When. All in the first sentence, if you can. And in any header or subject line.
• Put your surnames in CAPS. They'll get more attention.
• Add only additional information that could help in a search. See suggestions in Who, Where, When below.
• Briefly include what you know already and the information you hope to find.
• Don't abbreviate. This includes dates, e.g. 3 March 1912
• Be very careful not to include identifying information on any living people. Some sites forbid any queries relating to living people.
• Always keep your queries short and to the point.

Use the 5 Ws

• Who - who are you looking for? Who might they be with (parents, wife, brother, other Swedes, people with closely related surnames...)
• What - what kind of information or records are you seeking? -e.g. birth or baptism date or type of record, e.g. baptism and denomination,  Anglican / Episcopalian
• Where - places where this person lived or moved to?  / Where do you think the records are?
• When - key dates you know (and your sources) - birth, marriage, census appearances, death e.g. disappeared after 1901 census when had been in Trail, BC.
• Why - very briefly! Why are you looking for this person (she's your great grandmother, your brickwall, your key to finding family in Ireland...)

And 

• How - how will you know it's the right person? What could distinguish one Minnie Gordon from all the others? i.e. religion, age, ethnicity, occupation, interests, disability, tattoo, second name/initials/nickname or AKAs, or relationships - see Who above. 

A tip: Before you post your query, go to your favourite search engine, put the basics of your query in and see if anyone has asked this question before. (Use your surnames, place names for this.)  If you find an older query with some answers, investigate the answers, then rewrite your query. 

For more tips, here are two articles on writing queries by Michael John Neill, one of my favourite genealogists. 

"Before You Post that Genealogy Query", Rootdig:
http://rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com/?p=137

"After You Post", Ancestry Daily News, Rootdig:
http://www.rootdig.com/adn/afteryoupost.html

And one more from the National Genealogical Society of the USA.

"Writing a Query": https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/free-resources/query/ 

WHERE TO POST YOUR GENEALOGY QUERY

Canada Genealogy Research Community, FamilySearch, on Facebook.

Groups and Sites for British Columbia Genealogy Queries - a few free suggestions for starters

There are 1000s of groups, mailing lists, message boards and forums where you can post genealogy queries. Some are general, or country wide; some are very specific topics.

Mailing lists - operate via e-mail. Some have websites you can look at or contribute to. Some have message archives. Many genealogy mailing lists just moved a month or so ago, so check back later on the directory sites below to find new details for them.
Message boards & forums - you post your query, often it's open to search engines.
Genealogy groups - you post your query, it may be a private or public group.

Before you post your query, read any rules posted and lurk for a bit to see what the climate's like.

Typing online isn't like talking in person - people can't see your smiling face. So as you type make your words sound helpful, courteous and kind.

It may take a long time to get answers. Be patient. Remember to check back and say thanks!

If you find out more in the mean time, go back and update your query with a new one.

Selected for British Columbia, Canada genealogy queries

Canada Genealogy Research Community, FamilySearch, private Facebook group, "created to give people researching Canadian genealogy a place to ask questions, collaborate, and share research with one another.": https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadagenealogyresearchcommunity/

British Columbia, Ancestry/ Rootsweb Message Boards. These are divided into different areas of BC corresponding to BC's Tourism Areas. Check the maps at the next link below: 

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.canada.britishcolumbia/mb.ashx

Descriptions and maps of BC Tourism Regions, British Columbia.com: 

http://britishcolumbia.com/plan-your-trip/regions-and-towns/

GenealogyWise, forums and groups, including British Columbia. National Institute of Genealogical Studies: http://www.genealogywise.com/

CAN-BC-CEMETERIES-MEMORIALS,  at groups.io. Mailing list for anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in cemeteries or memorial cenotaphs, etc. in British Columbia, Canada. (Replaced the former Rootsweb list): https://groups.io/g/CAN-BC-CEMETERIES-MEMORIALS

CANADA-WOMEN-HISTORY, at groups.io, Mailing group for anyone interested in the genealogy and history of women anywhere in Canada at any time. Information on events, activities, museum and archival collections, etc. if closely related to women's history in Canada. (Replaced former Rootsweb list): https://groups.io/g/CANADA-WOMEN-HISTORY

British Columbia Message Boards at Ancestry / Rootsweb. 

To find these, from the home page, click 'Message Boards' under the Help button

Looking for more information? Contact me if you need to. 

Check out links to message boards, forums, etc. on these two directory-type websites

Linkpendium, Karen Isaacson and Brian (Wolf) Leverich, founders of Rootsweb: http://www.linkpendium.com/

Cyndi's List, Cyndi Ingle, founder of Cyndi's List!: https://www.cyndislist.com/