A Genealogy Idea

By A. Tuck

Many years ago, I took up the hobby of genealogy. The first genealogy computer program I used was a shareware program. It was very simple back then. As time went on, programs became more fascinated. As time went on, I transferred written genealogy information into the computer program.

While collecting data of my family relatives, I often searched cemeteries. I looked for relatives who were buried there. I even took photos of the headstones. Sometimes I even filmed the headstones with a video camera. I found myself going to the same cemetery many times. During the years cameras improved just like the computers. Several years a go my wife wanted a good digital camera. I bought her one for Christmas. I have borrowed it on several occasions to take pictures of headstones and downloaded them on to the computer. This was faster and easier than taking pictures the old way which was to scan them into the computer. Many times I have been back to the same cemetery over and over looking for relatives’ graves. While filming one day an idea hit me which was “Why not film the entire cemetery while I was there?”. Then I would not have to walk over that cemetery again and I would not have to come back to that cemetery to look for relatives. I could just look on the computer or media on which I had stored the photos.

In 2004, I was injured and had surgery on one of my legs. While I was recovering, I began working on my genealogy info I had collected years pass. As I searched through my data, I kept going back to my photos looking for burial information on different relatives. I found myself going back to the same cemetery over and over again. Except I was at home sitting in my chair, recovering from surgery I was unable to travel to the cemetery much less walk through the cemetery. Yet, I was searching through the cemetery just as though I was really there. Thanks to the photos I had taken years before and stored on computer media. The cemetery photos I had on disk made my search easy, even though I could not walk very well to physically visit any cemetery. From then on when I had a lead that lead me to a cemetery, I could just search through the cemetery without ever leaving my house - virtually. By having the complete cemetery on media this saved time and I did not have to wait until I had time to visit that cemetery.

Over the years, I have shared information and photos with relatives afar. I emailed info and photos I had collected. I even printed copies of photos. Both ways became costly and time consuming. Some were willing to pay the cost of material but the amount of info and photos they wanted even became too costly for their pocket even if I had the time to print the photos.

As a member of South Side Virginia Genealogy Society, I noticed that many people who have retired are taking the time to research their family history because they did not have the time before. In addition, they were looking for something to occupy their time now they have retired. Many of them have health problems that will not allow them travel far from home. Many are joining genealogy clubs to learn how to go about researching their family history. Many individuals as well as my relatives who live afar in which I talked to were interested in how they could obtain burial information on relatives (headstone photos if possible) buried in certain cemeteries. Many genealogy researchers and relatives who live afar are unable to travel and are not able to walk over rough uneven terrain. They want the cemetery information, photo if possible.

In 2005 I had to have a second surgery on my leg because I was having a lot of pain in my leg and was not able to walk around very well. While working on my family history, I keep thinking how I could help others in my similar condition. What if other people in my similar condition who are unable to travel or unable to walk through rough uneven terrain could use the information I had collected on my family such as cemetery photos. Would they be willing to pay me for my time and expense of collecting this data? How could I do this?

I could not get it out of my head. I was even having trouble sleeping. There had to be a way I could get the info I had collected over the years to the people. I really believed people who were interested would buy the info.

One day I awoke with this idea. I rushed to my computer and began working. It was simple, just burn the photos of each cemetery to a disc. Using the program that most people have Windows Explorer which is the program I was using to read and edit the photos with anyway. The problem was there was too much info for a single disc. My idea seemed simple but wasn’t. I needed help. I turned to my son who is a computer whiz. He tried to talk me out of it. He did not believe it would fly/sell. I explained to him how simple it was with his help but he was not willing. I had to continue to bug him. Finally, he did some research on my idea and decided my idea might sell. He began working on my project. But I didn’t realize just how much work was involved in producing a product. We went over the info many times trying to find the errors. I thought taking the photos and editing them was the hard work. I was wrong that was just the beginning but with my sons help we have produced a disc that any body can look at as long as they have a computer.

They will not need any special program. The disk will run on its own. People will be able to copy the photo to their genealogy files and print copies of the headstone photos. They may make a backup copy of this disk for their personal use. Please do not make copies of disc and give to friend and relative. Inform them on how they can get their own personal disc.