Are you tired of juggling numerous apps and tech products while delving into your family history? I totally understand the struggle. That’s why I want to share my streamlined “tech stack” with you, providing insights into the tools I rely on to boost my efficiency as I pursue my family history.

The top 5 items in my genealogy “tech stack” that have become indispensable in my genealogy journey are:

Notion

Note-taking, database creation, tables, checklists/to-do lists, calendars – almost any way you’d want to save and organize data – Notion’s got your back! I’ve been using Notion since last 2021 and I am still so very impressed with how it handles almost all of my data organization needs.

Not only do I use it to help me organize all my genealogy projects and research notes, but I use it for all other domains of my life too! I did a video with my pal Julie to show how I use Notion, and while I now primarily use a template (Ultimate Brain), the basic principles of how I use Nation are still very much the same. Check out the video!

RootsMagic

When we do genealogy, the amount of data points to keep up with can be staggering! If you are inclined to keep your data stored electronically, a desktop genealogy program is a must! Sure you can use Ancestry trees (especially if you’re just getting started), but you can supercharge your work when using a desktop program primarily, and then sharing your work to other platforms as needed. Why? Because desktop programs afford you more control and flexibility of your data. I use RootsMagic and advocate for it because:

1. There is a free version (which makes it easy to try out) – but the paid version is affordable.
2. It is not a resource hog on my computer.
3. It is the only desktop program that syncs bi-directionally with both FamilySearch Family Tree and Ancestry Member Trees. And that, is a win for me!

FOREVER

This.has.transformed.my.life. I kid you not! What is FOREVER? It is a multi-featured platform for saving, organizing, sharing, and preserving my digital photos, documents, and multimedia files – with guaranteed, permanent access for future generations. What are the reasons it works for me?

1. It is not a subscription service (subscription services are risky for long-term access) and FOREVER’s business model and company architecture are explicitly designed for preservation for years to come.
2. Once you make an investment in the permanent storage, your memories are secured. I love it so much I am now an Ambassador and coach others on how to get the most benefit from the platform.

FOREVER is the home of my family history archive and I would be lost without it. It truly is unlike any other online photo platform. Let me share with you benefits – you can sign up for a free, exploratory account with my referral link and I will follow-up with you to share more info.

Epson V39 Scanner

Compact, easy to travel with, and easy to scan – my Epson V39 has been golden for me these past several years. It is a very affordable model (around $110) and it is what I use to scan my physical photos to convert them to digital ones. I scan my documents with it as well. The top even comes off so I could scan small books if needed without the spine getting in my way. Definitely an important part of my toolkit for sure! Once scanned, everything goes in my online archive (see FOREVER above).

BillionGraves App

How can you NOT love an app that helps you take 800 headstone photos in 2-3 hours? (read about how I’ve done that here and here). And the beauty of this app is that you can focus on taking the photos, while others can do the transcriptions after you upload them to the BillionGraves site. It makes adding memorials to the database an absolute breeze.

Another strength of using BillionGraves is that the GPS data from the headstone is automatically extracted from the photo metadata. While Find-A-Grave can leverage GPS data too, the ease of use with BillionGraves is far superior.

 

IN SUMMARY….

So there you have it, my carefully curated collection of tech gems that have transformed my genealogy pursuits. By streamlining my “tech stack” and embracing these top 5 items, I’m able to work efficiently as I unravel my family’s history and contribute to the genealogy community. I hope you’ve found inspiration in what I’ve shared!  What tools are in your tech stack?

If you’re as passionate about genealogy as I am and would like to connect with like-minded individuals, I encourage you to join our vibrant community on Facebook, Academy of Legacy Leaders and become part of a supportive network where we share tips, stories, and discoveries. Let’s journey together and delve deeper into the fascinating world of genealogy!