Alona Tester from Gould Genealogy has proposed a Family History through the Alphabet series over the coming 26 weeks. I decided that my theme would be the Attributes we need as family historians: the skills, experience and talents you bring to your research.
K may not bring to mind many attributes but the one it does is important!
K is for Kudos: As family historians we owe it to others to recognise their hard work, whether it’s building a tree, family photos or stories. We also owe it to those whose books etc we source for our stories. So our own research should be honest and include the references for all these works so that we acknowledge the contribution of others.
Can you think of any other K attributes?
These great additions have been provided in the comments:
Kindness (Kristin and Kate): generosity with our fellow researchers in sharing information or discoveries. The Kiva Genealogists for Families group founded by Judy Webster also reflects this kindness beyond our specific interests.
Keen as Mustard (Alex), yes we’ve all got the enthusiam.
Kinky (Fiona): my ancestors are pretty mundane so not too many kinky stories that I’ve found.
Knowledge (Mr Cassmob): the store of knowledge we acquire as we research our ancestors.
Family history across the seas 
Bless the English language and words that aren’t spelled the way they sound! Just as the London cabbie needs “The Knowledge” to get you safely to Vauxhall Station, the family historian needs all sorts of K-nowledge: to get you from Dublin to your Irish townland, to get you around the caralogue at the State Archives, to get you through the maze of 4th cousins twice removed. I think you’re doing a great job of sharing this K attribute through “Beyond the Internet” (best I declare my interest here!)
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Well thank you kind sir! I’m glad you thought of knowledge -K kind of stumped me I’m afraid, and not due to the spelling/pronunciation either.
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I immediately thought of “kindness” but couldn’t figure out how it fit in. Now I’m thinking of the kindness of cousins, both newly found and old, in sharing their knowledge of family. And the kindness of other bloggers in sharing information and kudos and ideas to keep us going.
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Excellent addition Kristin…definitely an attribute to aspire to as family historians.
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Keen as Mustard! That’s all family historians I thinK 🙂
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Love it Alex -a great addition.
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Kinky. Or is that just me???
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Think it might be you Fiona, given your posts 😉
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I also thought of ‘kindness’. One genealogy site I found really useful was Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness, until its founder died last year, and it was closed down. As genealogists, we show kindness whenever we help someone else with their research.
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Thanks Fran -yes those RAOGK are wonderful and when we share our research or experience then we are definitely showing kindness.
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All wonderful K words and attributes 🙂
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I was particularly pleased with the additions from my blogging mates.
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Thanks Pauline… and what a great bunch of “k” attributes, indeed 🙂 … reckon I must have an oversupply of the “kinky” that Fi suggested cos my lovely daughter pointed out only yesterday; “the difference between us, mum, is that you love hanging out with our dead ‘rellies’ and I prefer the living…” ha ha ha … must add Kirrily to my bunch of “Jolly Jokesters”.
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Ah yes, perhaps that does make us kinky -and there I was thinking that was normal 😉
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Ha ha ha… what is “normal” one may well ask 😀
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