Genealogy Heroes: Volunteers, Angels and Helpers

Image created with DALL-E and ChatGPT

There are so many wonderful and giving genealogists out there who make it their mission to help others. I'm always amazed at how giving and warm most genealogists are. Just researching your own tree could be a full time job for...well, basically forever! It's hard to imagine the time and effort these volunteers give on top of their own research. 

Here are just a few of many great projects I've heard of:

• Search Angels is a non-profit organization assisting with genealogy and DNA test results for those in search of their biological family roots (basic adoptive search is free)
• Family Treasures Found works to reunite lost treasures with their families
• Megan Smolenyak has researched and helped identify 188 soldiers of various US wars. For 25 years, she's assisted the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) with identification of soldiers who gave their lives in war, but had not yet been accounted for
• DNA Doe Project has a mission to identify John and Jane Does using investigative genetic genealogy
• Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) is a place where volunteers offer to provide research time (without charge) to researchers who need "boots on the ground" genealogy help in a distant location
• 10 Million Names is dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America
• Project Infant a site dedicated to every victim of the Mother & Baby Homes in Ireland

If you're thinking of giving of your time, in addition to the above projects, here are a couple ideas almost any of us can do:

• Assist with indexing, transcribing and proof-reading: Family Search has a whole page of volunteer opportunities
• Volunteer with a genealogical society such as the National Genealogical Society (NGS) or American Ancestors or ask your local genealogical society how you can volunteer with them
• Take photos or transcribe for BillionGraves or FindAGrave

For more ideas and sites: 

• Check out Cyndi's List for sites working to return reunite old photos with their family and other lost and found projects
• Investigate the numerous volunteer projects on Cyndi's List
• Browse Facebook groups - there are tons of them depending on your area of interest

While we all give in our own way, preserving and telling the stories of our ancestors - volunteers, helpers and angels are the unsung genealogy heroes. From transcribing documents to adding photos, I'd venture every one of us has benefited from the generosity of these amazing people. We may know some of their names, others remain in the shadows. If you're keen to give back to the genealogy community, take a few moments to look through some of these projects and ideas.

I've added a Volunteer Opportunities section on my Genealogy Toolbox page where you can find all of these links easily.

BillionGraves: A Valuable Tool for Genealogists

AI image created using DALL-E and ChatGPT 4

BillionGraves is one of the largest resources for cemetery information, searchable by GPS location. This is distinctly different from many other cemetery databases. Other sites may provide the coordinates for the cemetery itself (and if you're lucky, a plot number) but rarely do you have an opportunity to see the GPS coordinates for the actual interment of the person you're searching for. This is exactly the level of detail BillionGraves provides. And on BillionGraves, unlike some of the other big sites (who shall remain nameless in this post) every entry has an image. This means you won't be seeing "memorials" created only from recent obituaries. You'll see actual headstones and interment locations. If you enjoy visiting cemeteries, this precise information can make locating your relatives much easier!

The site hosts information about cemeteries from around the world. They use both technology and collaboration, with an emphasis on accuracy to grow the database. Volunteers are encouraged to use the free smartphone app to photograph, transcribe and post information about headstones. The GPS coordinates are tagged directly from submitted photos and provide accurate information for others who may want to do additional research or visit the cemetery in person. While there is some overlap with cemeteries on other sites, there are also unique cemeteries (including family plots) you won't find elsewhere. In addition to photographing, there are also numerous other ways volunteers who can't go out and take photos can help! Those opportunities can be viewed here.

BillionGraves has both free and paid (BG Plus) memberships. Both offer access to GPS headstone information, vital record suggestions, and your family tree (based on your tree from FamilySearch.org). With a paid membership, you gain additional GPS headstone collections, higher quality images, more vital records, an expanded tree, as well as nearby graves, family plots, family notifications and alerts, and partner site discounts. They collaborate with MyHeritage to offer you vital record hints, and MyHeritage also provides cemetery hints from BillionGraves on their site.

 BillionGraves offers several features to make researching easier:

• GPS Location: Each gravestone image comes with exact GPS coordinates.
• Images: Every entry has an image.
• Mobile App: Convenient for volunteers to contribute to the database directly from the cemetery or to access specific information when you visit the cemetery in-person.
• Collaboration: BillionGraves partners with various genealogical organizations and groups (such as Eagle Scouts), as well as volunteers, to help grow the database. 

BillionGraves.com is more than just a repository of gravestone images. It's a project connecting the past with the present, helping individuals uncover their family histories by encouraging community and volunteer collaboration. Whether you are a seasoned genealogist or just starting out, BillionGraves offers both valuable and easy to use resources, making it a key tool in your Genealogy Toolbox. They have a Quick Reference Guide and Informational Packet to help get you started. If you're interested in volunteering, there are also free training videos. 

Free membership provides a ton of useful information. Annual membership is 50% off the regular monthly price. But I've seen memberships go on sale for even less! If you're considering joining the site, keep an eye out for deeper discounts. I joined during a great sale, and have remained a loyal member for several years. With BillionGraves, there's no more wondering if you can locate a plot number or wandering around aimlessly looking for a headstone with the name of your relative. 

One of the most refreshing things I found as I was writing this post is BillionGraves attitude towards user submitted data. Unlike other sites (who shall continue to remain nameless in this post) they do not take the attitude user posted content is out of their control. Their Terms of Use say in part "BillionGraves also reserves the right to decide whether content or a user submission is appropriate and complies with these terms and conditions." They do not turn a blind eye. They are committed to the quality and integrity of the data presented on the site.

BillionGraves enhances the experience for both online researchers and those visiting the cemetery. I've been lucky to find quite a few headstone images on this site I wasn't able to locate elsewhere. I'm very thankful for the volunteers who support this project. There are many sites available to us as researchers. No one site will have all the information we may be sleuthing for. BillionGraves.com is an amazing resource for accurate cemetery and interment information.