Do you still print on Paper?

Yes I've thrown maps away to be replaced by latest editions. I recently however, wanted to know about streets where my ancestors had lived which had been demolished as part of slum clearance/redevelopement in Manchester. I put in a request to the A to Z publishers and was kindly sent some copies of the relevent pages from their first issue of Manchester Street Atlas. This was very helpful and I was able to locate the relevent streets featured in the census records. However, I then wondered when these streets or houses had ceased to be. This was when I regretted having thrown away street atlases I had used during my working life in and around Manchester, in favour of each new edition. It is when embarking on family and or local history that the significance of maps etc. as historical documents is realised.

 

Another regret - not keeping old directories

 

Couldn't help but respond to your remarks emjay this is precisely what my wife says as she is a great one for bits of paper tucked into books. These enable her to go back and find out who is who. She is fairly new to ebooks and persistently tells me she cannot go back and mark the pages as she does with books. There must be a solution somewhere.

 

As a postscript...I would have kept them 'but my wife won't let me'. I have to admit we just don't have the space. Pre 2001 would have fallen victim to our move from family house to retirement bungalow anyhow.

 

Maybe, but still an ebook doesn't have the lovely smell (and feel) of pages in a book, especially an old book.

 

When we emigrated from Lancashire to Australia in 1977 we brought some of our books with us and one in particular has been so useful in finding where places in the UK are is "The Readers Digest AA Book of the Road", printed in the early 70's it has OS maps 4in to the mile plus a huge amount of information within its pages. There is a gazetteer of 28,000 place names in the British Isles with map references and town plans of 83 main towns, we wouldn't like to be without it, as it has helped us find places for others as well as ourselves, of course we were using this great book long before the internet came along. I see it is still available on several used book sites.

 

I have 1986 publication of OS "National Atlas of Great Britain", another informative 'paper atlas'. I'm sure that somewhere we have an old school World atlas with lots of pink coloured lands.

 

I think I've mentioned before that I have an AA book from about the same era that I often refer to which has the added bonus (for me) of having belonged to my mum and step-dad. It has lots of quite charming pen and ink drawings.

 

I use reams of scrap paper (used printer paper) - not to print things out but to jot down notes from different FH sites which I have open concurrently, as my memory doesn't serve me well and I find it difficult to remember facts when I am comparing information. (I also type out all the census details in the 'notes' section for all my ancestors and find it easier to write information down than keep swapping pages.)

However, I am eternally grateful that I made paper copies of some lovely FH photos I was sent years ago, as I had no idea how to save them on my computer or transfer them to the new computer so the originals were lost. Also, in the process of revamping my tree having recently purchased FTM, I have referred back to old letters from the 90s and early e-mails from my first computer which has long since expired. (I did print out e-mails in those days.)

Those who work regularly in paper free environments at work are no doubt proficient with computers, but for people like me, paper is still more reliable. Peter and Alexander will testify to my abysmal computer skills!

 

Chrissy, don't sell yourself short! I think that you are brilliant - miles ahead of me!

 

Margery - I have improved my computer skills 100-fold in the past 2 months, SOLELY with the patient assistance of members of this forum. It took Peter about 3 days to help me to find my way into the forum initially.....let alone post on it! My (often very basic) questions have been answered almost immediately by the kind, knowledgeable folk on LC forum and it was their support that gave me the confidence to progress. It has taken me years to find the courage to update my FT program, so many, many thanks to all concerned.

I decided that I might as well admit publicly to my very considerable failings and seek help to address the problems and I am so glad that I did, as I hadn't mastered any of the basics. I have plenty of free time this summer as we have no holiday plans as my OH hasn't been well this year, so I am putting it to good use.

Mind over matter Margery - if I can do it, anyone can - so give it a go! Seriously, once you get over all the initial problems that seem far too basic for anyone to document, yet are so incredibly frustrating when you don't know what you are doing, with the help and guidance of the forum you can learn so much. It's been like having an instant tutor to hand. Often it has been the simplest of things that has prevented me from progressing and everyone has been incredibly understanding and patient. (However, remembering it all might be another thing entirely!)

 

It's really nothing to do with paper or computer skills per se but when I came back from the country on Friday I forgot my USB mouse and hate my lap top's touch pad aaaghhh. It's probably Bob's fault because I was almost in Cahoots....

 

A widespread affliction !