Lisa Alzo lives in Ithaca New York and is a writer extraordinaire. I first met Lisa a few years ago at RootsTech when we both participated in a panel discussion on writing Family History books.
Lisa impressed me with her passion and her knowledge and later I attended a webinar she gave on writing. It was excellent and if you ever get the chance to hear Lisa speak or attend one of her presentations, I urge you to attend.
I interviewed Lisa for this blog post and hope you enjoy reading more about her!
1.
How and when did you become
involved in the field of genealogy?
I began researching my
roots in 1991. I wish I could say that some family experience, medical reason,
or curiosity inspired me to search for my Slovak ancestors, but to tell the
truth I became a genealogist quite by accident.
I was in my second year of
the Master of Fine Arts Degree program in Nonfiction Writing at the University
of Pittsburgh and enrolled in a class, “The Literature of Pittsburgh” for which
one of the required readings was Out of This Furnace, Thomas Bell’s classic
novel about three generations of Slovak men working in the steel mills of
Braddock, Pennsylvania. Bell’s book prompted me to ask my mother about our
family history and I subsequently learned about the life of my grandmother,
Verona Straka Figlar, who immigrated to the United States from the tiny village
of Milpos, Slovakia in 1922. After barely making it through Ellis Island,
Verona began her life in America as a domestic, and through an arranged
courtship, married Janos Figlyar, a hardworking, but stern Rusyn coal
miner/steelworker. Once married, Verona struggled to raise seven children during
the Depression, and withstood her husband’s fondness for alcohol and frequent
violent outbursts. As the details of Verona’s background, journey to America
and struggles as an immigrant woman were revealed to me, I came to appreciate
her as more than just my grandmother, but someone with a poignant life story.
Thus, I embarked on my
genealogical journey, researching my maternal grandmother’s side of the family.
This was in the days before the Internet was an integral part of daily life.
Before the availability of millions of genealogical Web sites, online census
records and immigration databases, I searched courthouses, spent countless
hours viewing microfilm in the Carnegie and Hillman Libraries in Pittsburgh,
PA, wrote to the National Archives, conducted approximately 30 oral history
interviews, walked in my grandmother’s footsteps during a visit to Ellis
Island, and traveled to towns such as Barton, OH, and Wilkes-Barre, PA. I read
numerous books and articles on Slovak and Carpatho-Rusyn history and culture,
immigration, the Great Depression and other topics.
After six years of
thorough research, and several more years of writing and revising I earned my
degree, and also finished my first book, Three
Slovak Women, originally published by Gateway Press (2001). The book is now
in its second edition, published through CreateSpace, and sold via Amazon.com
2.
What is your main genealogical
focus?
I am a freelance writer,
blogger, instructor, and lecturer.
3. Please tell us
more about your main focus.
I specialize in
Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and
using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors.
4.
What are your website(s) and blogs?
5.
Do you have a Social Media
presence?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaalzo
Twitter @lisaalzo
Google+ Lisa Alzo
Pinterest
www.pinterest.com/famhistwriter
6.
Do you believe a Social Media
presence is important?
I think when used
correctly, social media is a great way to connect with cousins and colleagues,
and essential for any professional who wants to build a genealogy-related
business.
7.
Are you a member of any
genealogical societies or organizations? YES.
Association for
Professional Genealogists
International Society of
Family History Writers and Editors
Genealogical Speakers
Guild
Czechoslovak Genealogical
Society International
National Genealogical
Society
Carpatho-Rusyn Society
Mifflin Township
Historical Society (Board of Directors)
8.
What does genealogy mean to
you? Why do you believe it is important?
Genealogy is important
because it provides a window into ourselves. My work as a genealogist
(and writer) goes beyond the usual collecting of names, dates, and places.
Using oral and social history, I take great care to explore who the people were
rather than just “names without faces.” I strive to give a voice to the
silences of those who have gone before.
9.
What do you believe is the most
exciting development in genealogy today?
Genetic Genealogy (DNA) –
it is breaking down brick walls and helping genealogists make discoveries they
otherwise might not happen upon. Also, I
love all of the apps and tools to make it easier to record and share family
stories.
10. Do you have a prediction or hope for the field of genealogy in the
future?
I see collaboration being
more of the standard. We are seeing it now with social media and online family
trees. I think technology will continue to drive when, where, and how we
connect with family members and fellow genealogists. With watches, bracelets
and other devices our family trees and information will hopefully become even
more accessible.
11. Please feel free to add
anything you would like to say that hasn’t been addressed by the questions
above.
I am the author of nine
books, hundreds of magazine articles, and several genealogy Quick Guides. I
enjoy writing about topics that serve to educate and inspire others.
Thank
you for asking me to do this guest interview.
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