While not new to genealogy, I am new to both genea-blogging and having information about my family such that I can conduct meaningful research. Most genealogical research that I have done has been for other people, and any efforts [...]]]> [This post is written for the 87th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, hosted by Creative Gene.]

While not new to genealogy, I am new to both genea-blogging and having information about my family such that I can conduct meaningful research. Most genealogical research that I have done has been for other people, and any efforts at my own family were shots in the dark (and didn’t bear any fruit).

But now that has all changed. I’m proud of my two biggest accomplishments regarding genealogy this year – finally starting up this blog on Latvian genealogy (I’ve been blogging for years, it was about time I blogged about my passion!) and conducting research at the Latvian State Historical Archives. So now it is time to look to the future!

My genealogical goals for the year fall under two categories: Personal and Professional.

First, the personal:

• Make some progress with my difficult ancestors – my great-grandparents Brencis Līcītis and his wife Jūle (maiden name Štelmahers). Besides their appearance on the 1941 Census, and Brencis’ on the 1895 Census, I have no documentary evidence of their lives. I now know that Brencis was born in Sērenes parish, but I have not found a baptism record for him in the year claimed on the 1941 Census, or the years surrounding it. Krustpils is Jūle’s birthplace, so I have been looking in the right place, but the sheer amount of records to go through means I haven’t found her yet. I hope I will!

• Locate Anna Liepa’s baptism in Rīga baptism records. I know she was born in Rīga, and when, but there are so many parishes to look through that this is a time-consuming task. I know her father’s name though, which should help me distinguish my Anna Liepa from others, since I know others exist.
• Continue back in time through church books and the 1895 Census (if available) on other branches of my family as time allows.

Now, the professional:

• Continue to make Latvian genealogy and the pursuit of it accessible to non-Latvian speakers. This includes maintaining this blog, as well as answering questions and taking blog topic suggestions from readers. Additionally, I plan to launch four different projects relating to Latvian genealogical research that should make things much easier for non-Latvian speakers.

• Continue taking courses at the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. I’ve also applied to the ProGen Study Group waiting list, so hopefully I can start that soon as well. Until then, acquire as many books as I can on the professional practice of genealogy, read them and apply them.
• I would also like to start taking on clients in a professional capacity, even if it is just family friends to start with. I hope to make another research trip to Latvia sometime in the coming year, so if I have even one professional job to work on, that would be amazing.

There is one word for this coming year in genealogy: Ambition! Now that I’m certain that this is what I want to do for a living, I only need to make that ambition real.