If you are searching for information on your ancestors in British Columbia you may find assistance with your search through the RootsWeb Network. A link to the Peace River BC GenWeb site is included on the sidebar. From the Peace River site you can quickly access other regions of BC and find assistance within your research area. The RootsWeb network is one of my all time favourites. The network is one familiar to experienced researchers and highly recommended to anyone new to genealogy research.
Online Genealogy Resources for BC
Nanimo Ships List
BC Vital Stats
BC Archival Information Network
Canadian Cemetery Project BC
BC Provincial GenWeb Site
Roots Web Family Tree Search
Cemetery Records & Obituary
The Obituary Daily Times
BC Cemetery Finding Aid
Canadian Cemetery Project BC
BC Random Acts Of Genealogy Kindness
Birth Marriage and Death Records
BMD Birth Death and Marriage Records for British Columbia. The British Columbia Vital Stats site provides online searchable resources and digital images of the physical documents with online payment for services. On the Site you will also find information regarding where and how to access the microfilms through local libraries, and Historical Societies . The site also provides a listings for organizations and researchers who may assist you in accessing hard copies for a much smaller fee then the $25.00 per image charged by the BC Archives for online delivery of the digital image. If your considering using the services of a researcher or historical society to secure copies of documents, collect the source and reference information for your request to save having to pay additional search fees. ( you will find a list of BC research assistance resources on the Peace River GenWeb site )
BC Vital Stats Files online search:
Search Births Registration Index: 1872 to 1903, events up to 1903.
Search Marriage Registration Index: 1872 to 1932
Search Death Registration Index: 1872 to 1987
Search Colonial Marriage Index: 1859 to 1872.
Search Baptisms Index: events over 120 years old.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Protecting Your Data
For the first couple of year that I was researching my family lines I had stacks of papers, piles of printouts and sticky notes everywhere. New to the process I thought that entering the data onto my computer was all that was needed. I did not recognized the need for a growing pile of documents and papers nor did I recognize the importance of maintaining hard copies of my source information.
It took about three years before the research of my lines went full circle and I found myself digging through those piles of paper and believe me the stacks of paper were easier to review then the thick piles of sticky notes that I had collected. That piece of information I knew I had - where did it go ? I learned from the process and started entering the information into the notes section of my genealogy program. When this task was complete I took additional days out of my otherwise busy schedule and got down to the task of scanning documents, and organizing the files for storage on my computer. Finally I though I was fully organized. Over the next few years many applauded me for my attention to detail and fellow genealogists called on me to resolve or interpret data discrepancies and conflicts. I had possession of this huge wealth of information and I did not know that I was running a great risk. What could possible go wrong?
I took good care of my computer what with being a computer Teck building computers and being the computer resource person for our entire neighbourhood not to mention my family too. I kept my machine equipped with new Maxtor hard drives and defragged them regularly. I even installed the best antivirus software available, AVG AntiVirus by GRISOFT now know as AVG Technologies at a fraction of the cost of Norton AntiVirus software.
Then it happened !! My new hard drive which was less then a year old failed. It was replaced by Maxtor, very quickly I must say. I had backups of course so only lost a minor amount of data though it took some time and effort to rebuild my system to a working state. But who would have thought the the new drive once installed would only lasted 4 months before it died. Not only was this a nightmare it was also the most important lesson of my life. Lightening can strike twice.
I hope that some may learn from my experience as I certainly did. From the double crisis I learned the importance of maintaining both computer and hard copy files. Once my computer was restored I bought large volumes of printer ink, paper, binders, and plastic protective sleeves. I printed off every piece of information and filed it in binders for safe keeping. I have leaned to take time out from surfing the Internet for data and resources spending an occasional day printing and storing my collection. My collection is complete and well organized with the two storage systems complementing each other. I no longer worry about data loss and have directed my focus to sharing the information I have collected.
It took about three years before the research of my lines went full circle and I found myself digging through those piles of paper and believe me the stacks of paper were easier to review then the thick piles of sticky notes that I had collected. That piece of information I knew I had - where did it go ? I learned from the process and started entering the information into the notes section of my genealogy program. When this task was complete I took additional days out of my otherwise busy schedule and got down to the task of scanning documents, and organizing the files for storage on my computer. Finally I though I was fully organized. Over the next few years many applauded me for my attention to detail and fellow genealogists called on me to resolve or interpret data discrepancies and conflicts. I had possession of this huge wealth of information and I did not know that I was running a great risk. What could possible go wrong?
I took good care of my computer what with being a computer Teck building computers and being the computer resource person for our entire neighbourhood not to mention my family too. I kept my machine equipped with new Maxtor hard drives and defragged them regularly. I even installed the best antivirus software available, AVG AntiVirus by GRISOFT now know as AVG Technologies at a fraction of the cost of Norton AntiVirus software.
Then it happened !! My new hard drive which was less then a year old failed. It was replaced by Maxtor, very quickly I must say. I had backups of course so only lost a minor amount of data though it took some time and effort to rebuild my system to a working state. But who would have thought the the new drive once installed would only lasted 4 months before it died. Not only was this a nightmare it was also the most important lesson of my life. Lightening can strike twice.
I hope that some may learn from my experience as I certainly did. From the double crisis I learned the importance of maintaining both computer and hard copy files. Once my computer was restored I bought large volumes of printer ink, paper, binders, and plastic protective sleeves. I printed off every piece of information and filed it in binders for safe keeping. I have leaned to take time out from surfing the Internet for data and resources spending an occasional day printing and storing my collection. My collection is complete and well organized with the two storage systems complementing each other. I no longer worry about data loss and have directed my focus to sharing the information I have collected.
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