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Research
– 
The Tracing our History Newsletter: Issue 2
 
Page 1 of 6
 
March 2011 ISSUE 002
It
’
s Worth a Thought
The majority of picturesposted in this issue of Research were takenduring the military serviceof Arthur Matthews - mygrandfather.These photos were alltaken in the Middle Eastduring the 1930s.
My grandfather’s military
career ended after he wasseverely wounded whileserving in a tank nearDunkirk during the alliedevacuation.
Introduction
Wow
–
 
the second issue already. Things are moving along aren’t they? So
much has happened in the intervening time since the last newsletter,especially with the website.Tracing our History has now moved permanently to our new site athttp://tracingourhistory.comand has a completely new look. It has beencompletely rebuilt and has been brought into the modern age. Things look
outdated on the web so quickly. It wasn’t that long ago that I gave the site a
facelift
–
 
but that facelift really didn’t do a lot for me. The new look is one I’mvery happy with. It’s certainly the best it has ever looked I think.
 There are still improvements to come though, so keep a look out for those
–
 
I’m not even sure what they will be a
t this stage. I do have a few ideas floating
around in my brain and I’m sure they will develop into something eventually.
There are a few web applications and social networks that intrigue me withtheir possibilities
–
so may
be they’
ll get a run too.
 
 
The Headlines
Introduction1Family Contacts1
What’s News!!!
 2Stixyboard3Family Trees4Finding Family4
Kevin’s Portal
 5Web Site Addresses6Stop Press6
Family Contacts
Working on the Tracing our History websites and associated sites over the lastlittle while has been really exciting. I really enjoy building websites and all of 
the other work that goes on when doing that. This excitement isn’t directly
about that however
–
 
it has been the contact I’ve been having with other
family members as a result of the site.There are so many possibilities that have opened up over the last year
–
I
have been able to ‘meet up’ (on the web) with family members I’ve never met
before. There have been family member representatives from the Jenkinson,Lilley, Bagg/s and Blanch families. Overall there have been about ten contactsin the last year.
It hasn’t been just the increased information about the family history and tree
 either
–
it has been the contacts themselves, getting to know other familymembers and so on. It has been great and hopefully there will be more along
the way. 2011 has started with a very exciting ‘new’ addition to the family
ranks (more about this later in the newsletter) and contact with this personhas been really a fantastic thing, meaning far more than just research andinformation.
 
 
Research
– 
The Tracing our History Newsletter: Issue 2
 
Page 2 of 6
 
ABOVE:
Arthur MatthewsMilitary Service Photos
 
The website has now moved permanently to the new address and domainname as previously mentioned in the newsletter. The site is also movingalong quite nicely, with improvements being made regularly andadditional content added. Your involvement in research collaboration isvital for continuing relevance and progress in tracing our history together.Already there have been a number of family members willing and active incollaborating in our venture, tracing our history together. It has beenwonderful to experience this collaboration of research first hand here aswebmaster of the various sites. The assistance and interaction of familymembers has been much appreciated and is very welcome
–
thank you forall of your help in making the site a success. Please continue to pass oninformation to broaden our understanding of our family history, whetherit be data to add to the tree itself, photos to share, documents to post
–
 whatever it might be. All of this assists us in developing the overall pictureof our history.One of the things I would like to develop on the site is the area of background information. What I mean by this is gathering material aboutthe times in which someone lived, what the town they were living in waslike, etc. All of this sort of information will help us get a feel for the timesin which our family lived and the experiences they had in those times. If you have any insight into this sort of thing please pass that on as well.
Current family news is also relevant to the site. Today’s news will become
tomor
row’s history –
 
so we have the advantage of recording tomorrow’s
history today. In doing so, a far better picture of our lives and times will bepreserved for posterity than that which has been left for us. So any newsand/or events that you would like to share are most welcome.
If you are on Facebook please ‘like’ the Tracing our History page and
become a fan. More family members (on Facebook) will get to know
about the site and hopefully get involved in tracing our history. We’ll also
get to know each other a bit better and learn more about our family as weshare our lives via that particular form of media.The Tracing our History Facebook page is at:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracing-our-History/194790270539929
 
The history section of the site is also up and running. If you’re into historyyou’ll find some great resources on the history section of the site, via the
link in the directory in the left hand column on most pages of the site.More resources will become available over time, but there is already ahuge amount of material accessible via the history section of the site
–
 especially on Australian history. Well worth a look.No more news to report at the moment.
 
What’s News!!!
 
 
Research
– 
The Tracing our History Newsletter: Issue 2
 
Page 3 of 6
 
ABOVE:
Arthur MatthewsMilitary service photos
–
 Middle East.One of the collaborative features at Tracing our History is the Stixyboard.What is a Stixyboard
–
it is an online collaborative bulletin board.Whatever you pin to a normal notice board can be placed on a Stixyboard
–
except it must be in digital form. This includes photos, notices, eventannouncements, bookmarks for websites, etc.To use the Stixyboard linked to from Tracing our History you will need thepassword for accessing it. Unlike other sites linked to at Tracing our
History, you don’t actually have to join Stixy to post on the board. Simplycontact me and I’ll pass along the password you nee
d to view it and addto it. As with other features at Tracing our History, this passwordprotection on the Stixyboard protects our privacy and security from suchthings as spammers, identity fraud, etc.Once you have arrived at the Stixyboard, it is all very easy to use. At thebottom of the screen there will be a number of icons indicating note,photo, document and todo. Simply click on the icon that best describeswhat you want to add to the Stixyboard and drag it onto the board. Awidget will appear giving you the options required for that particular item.I think you will find that with each icon available, the options are fairlyeasily to follow, with the various tools and features that open up to youonce the widget is on the board.I have posted our first collaborative project to the Stixyboard in the formof a pdf file. The file is a family record type form. If you are willing toparticipate, please fill out the form (or forms as many times as needed)and return it to me via the board, email or snail mail. This project willallow me to update the database/family tree, and keep our records up todate and accurate.
Even if the information regarding yourself and the ‘branch’ of the tree you
are in is accurate and up to date, it would help if you could still fill in theform as a way of being able to verify the records. That way we can bemore confident in the integrity of the tree.If you have something that you would like family members to take part infor any research you may be conducting feel free to use the Stixyboard forthat purpose
–
it is there for all of us as we trace our history together.Research entered into here will be made available for all family members(unless you request information and data that you have submitted to beotherwise).I look forward to not only entering into this project, but into othercollaborative and interactive projects via the Stixyboard (or perhapsStixyboards
–
looking to the future) and other features available via thewebsite and associated sites.See a screenshot of the tracing our History Stixyboard at the bottom of page 6.
 
Stixyboard
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