7. Making Contacts via the Internet or Genealogical Societies
If you have access to Internet, it is recommended that you index your family
tree, especially the generation that migrated from France, on GeneaNet
(www.geneanet.org). This will
help you to get in touch with French people who can be interested in the
same town and the same family names as you, --therefore, likely to be able
to do research on the spot.
Sometimes, a contact with a French researcher, one who knows the area
of origin well, can be invaluable. In addition to the Internet, such
contacts can be made by becoming a member of a French genealogy association.
One can find lists of these on the Internet, in particular at the FranceGenweb
site www.francegenweb.org/ or
at Karolus www.karolus.org
Common interests, in particular a family name, are the preferred paths
to collaboration. It is then practical to seek out other migrants who came
from the same area. The chances of your finding common interests
or making a discovery will increase at the same time, even if it does not
concern you directly.
You can also hire a professional genealogist. There are lists
of professionals in the genealogy reviews, like GE-Magazine and La Revue
française de généalogie (RFG). Some criteria
for choosing the best genealogist:
-
He or she must know the resources of the area that interests you (keep
in mind you will be billed for any travel necessary) for the year that
interests you;
-
He or she must also be capable of paleographing the documents, that is
transcribing the old characters and translating them (from Latin to French,
for example, or from French to English).
Always ask for a copy of the original records he or she found (to avoid
the frauds reported by some genealogists). The cost is about $30 an hour
plus expenses and there is no guarantee that a professional will find more
than an amateur will.
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in France Ancestors from Quebec"
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