Why Are We Here?
Like many genealogists, my research has led me to several brick walls, those points in the process where there just does not seem to be any more information available to take that next step back in time, or to lead me to the next geographic location.
Happily for me, I was able to break through one of those walls recently. After painstakingly mapping the seemingly endless population of Amborns who migrated to, and thrived in, Southern Wisconsin in the late 1800’s I was able to identify the town in central Germany where they emigrated from.
As I was basking in the glow that comes from such breakthroughs I also reflected on all of the many seemingly random, yet interrelated, things that had occurred to allow me to make my personal discovery.
- My determination to keep looking was based on encouragement from others, and the strong belief based on their success, that I would eventually be successful.
- I drew on skills acquired from articles, conferences, conversations and presentations made by others who had no motivation other than to share their knowledge and empower me to make my own discoveries.
- My research was immensely aided by the advances in technology that placed a vast array of data just beyond the keyboard on my computer.
- In the end, my breakthrough discovery was enabled by an indexing and translation project performed by a group of strangers I have never met and whose existence I was completely unaware of (until now!).
And to me, that is a really tidy summary of why societies like ours exist. And it makes me hope that each of you will find a way to support our society, and the projects that we undertake, as we strive to help other researchers become motivated, knowledgeable, and successful.
I sincerely hope that your New Year be filled with unexpected and joyous discoveries!
