Meet Dave Robison

The 13^th New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, April 15-18 2015. Their theme this year is “Navigating the Past: Sailing into the Future”. I was excited to interview Dave Robison, a speaker at this years conference. He is a regular panelist on “Mondays with Myrt” so I already felt like I knew him pretty well. In our conversations for this interview, he did not disappoint. He is friendly, knowledgeable, entertaining, enthusiastic, organized, active, busy, and has a great sense of humor.

1.  What first got you interested in genealogy?

      I grew up in Massachusetts and have always had an affinity with history.  For example, the “50 years ago today” column in the newspaper was particularly fascinating to me even when I was 8 or 9 years old.  But when it came to family…and I overheard plenty of juicy stories…my father and my mother held to the same mantra: “What you don’t know won’t hurt you!”  Well, they’re both gone and I now know even more than they ever could have possibly known!  Yes there are skeletons that are best left in the closet! Yet after recording interviews with about a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins there are far more stories that I’m glad to share rather than hide.  For example, one of my great aunts who was 82 years old when I visited with her around 2001 or so in Alabama, admitted to me that she, in fact, was the one who painted the neighbor’s cat blue and let her younger sister take the blame when they were 9 and 8 respectively.  Great story, Aunt Sarah…glad you shared!  I wish I could get a follow-up interview!  But that’ll have to wait….a long time, I hope!

2.  You are Vice President of the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society and president of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.  You also lecture, teach and do client work for your company Old Bones Genealogy of New England.  How do you find time to do your own genealogy research?

       I love to see the look on people’s faces when they learn how to efficiently conduct a research project, break through a “brick wall,” or simply find camaraderie with other budding genealogists.  Of course, I also love to bring a client a completed report that will give them insights into what we’re all looking for.  Namely, where did we come from.  Or, like the TLC program says, “Who Do You Think You Are?”  So my schedule has to be structured so that I can dedicate my time to the highest priority on a daily basis.   My problem is judging which project is actually the highest priority!  I should also candidly admit that one of my priorities is to stick to the schedule! Monday mornings are devoted to ProGen, then noontime is, as you know, “Mondays with Myrt.” Then I’ll do either some client research or touch up a presentation that may be scheduled.  Monday night is “Family Dinner Night.”  Not a big crowd but a great crowd! Tuesday through Friday I have other activities “scheduled.” It works, some of the time!  I’m just not disciplined enough to stay 100% on track. Maybe you can help me with that.

3.  Technology and the internet have had great influences on genealogy research over the years.  You are speaking at NERGC about search strategies. Without giving away your lecture, what one idea would you suggest to the researchers who might be overwhelmed with so many potential sources of information?
       Technology is by its very nature, a moving target.  But sorting through all the internet “noise,” I strongly recommend to everyone to start with Google.  And not just the conventional Google, but Google Advanced search.  Go to the Google homepage and look in the lower right corner for “Settings.” Click that link to open the menu and click on “Advanced search.”  It doesn’t make the search difficult.   On the contrary, it guides you through a structure that shows you how to craft your search.  Crafting on-line research is an art rather than a science. I could expound on the principles here, but the response would be too long to print!  I guess you’ll just have to attend session S-321 at NERGC! But I have to stress one more point: DO NOT TRY TO FILL IN EVERY SINGLE SEARCH FIELD WITH EVERY TIDBIT OF MINUTIAE!!  First, speeling duzn’t cownt….really, it duzn’t!  Then, don’t believe everything you read.  Question EVERYTHING!

4.  You are actively involved in generating interest in genealogy on many levels.  Can you give any ideas on how you would get younger generations involved as well?

      Younger generations don’t want to hear about the 7^th cousin of their 4^th great uncle’s wife’s son-in-law 3 times removed.  YAWN!! Find a real story.  As I say in some of my beginner’s classes, you have to pull the person out of the paperwork.  Find out if that 7^th cousin, etc worked on the railroad, helped build a bridge,  raced cars, served in the Civil War, invented something, was a merchant marine or, and this is the best, was a criminal, that’ll get their attention!  Truthfully, one of the easiest ancestors to research are what Judy G. Russell refers to as “Rogues, Rascals and Rapscallions.”  Their names are probably spread out all over the newspapers, police arrest records, court records, a census taken when they were in jail….and the list goes on.  Approach the Boys Scouts and the Girl Scouts.  They have merit badges in Genealogy!  I never knew that until last year.  I’m waiting for a beginner’s class that can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time with some of the troops around here.

5.  Tell us a little about yourself.  What do you do in your spare time?  Hobbies, interests, etc.?
       Question number 5 refers to “spare time.”  Can I get a definition on that!!  But honestly, we have grandchildren that are a blessing to see and watch grow, we are homeowners so there’s always plenty of fixing up and gardening.  I’m not really all that good at either, but I try.  My wife and I really enjoy going to Red Sox games, hockey games, and an occasional basketball game, finding a really good restaurant and I support my wife’s activities at church.  I think she’s on just about every committee you can think of!  And sometimes we just take a long ride and see where we end up.  You may not consider this a spare time activity, but I’ve also become the accidental program committee for Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society.  We intermingle live speakers or activities with Google Hangout presentations with live, interactive virtual programs. We’ve had some very “big name” genealogists such as Dick Eastman, Maureen Taylor, “Dear Myrtle” alias Pat Richley-Erickson and in February, Judy G Russell.