Meet our Members: Elaine Martzen

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Elaine Martzen. 

Elaine became a Wiki Genealogist in May 2016. Among many other things, she helps lead our US Black Heritage, Jewish Roots, and projects.

When did you get interested in genealogy?

I took trips with my great-aunt Leona (Scoggins) Odom to Dallas-area cemeteries, and with my grandparents to Mississippi cemeteries – we even found the site of a fallen-apart cabin where the Andrew Moak family had settled in the mid-1800s, and viewed a replica of it in the local library at Bogue Chitto. Those trips were the seed – and what started my never-ending interest (around 2015) was 2 things: reviewing my Leona’s gathered materials on our Scoggins history, and seeing a line tracing the Moak family much further back than I have been able to verify! 

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

Hiking with my family, and I just started training to hike a mountain this summer. I enjoy gardening – now I am discovering what the prior owners planted at my new house. Spring is great, surprises keep sprouting in the yard! I also am learning Hebrew, and need to review my Cyrillic letters…. I have learned and forgotten them several times! I am a printmaker, but have not done much lately… now I have the physical space to work, but not really the mental space – maybe in a few months!

What is your genealogical research focus?

For my own family, I’m still periodically working on my James P. Scoggins brickwall. I recently started England’s Orphan trail, so I can gain the skills to jump the pond for some of my early American ancestors. For the projects I am a part of, I like to add as many profiles as I can.

Are you are interested in certain surnames or locations?

Surnames…. I'm researching Scoggins, Graves, Moak, and Weatherall, all in the Southern United States. (Weatherall now worldwide, since I just started an One Name Study for it). 

Amsterdam for a mini-project on behalf of Frank Polak (deceased) and his relative Jerry van Kooten. Pontotoc and Lincoln counties in Mississippi; Abbeville and Richland counties in South Carolina… both for the US Black Heritage project and for my own family.

(interview continues in comments)

Comments

What is your toughest brick wall currently?

I am seeking the father of James P Scoggins. I have his mother Elizabeth Graves, but his father likely passed away when the children were very young. Just recently I discovered the parents of Elizabeth, partially due to her brother living with her in Tennessee, after their move from North Carolina. I also have some new DNA matches which may be able to help solve the mystery. 

How long have you been on WikiTree?

2016…. I think I discovered WikiTree via Google…. WikiTree is pretty well-indexed on search engines! I wanted a place to share my family tree that was user-friendly and open to everyone.

What do you spend the most time doing on WikiTree?

I alternate among adding profiles, doing Data Doctor work, and cleaning up Gedcoms. Each of these activities improves the connectedness of everyone and the health of our shared tree.

Which projects are you most involved in?

Primarily I work on the US Black Heritage Project, Jewish Roots Project, and the Holocaust Project. Lately I’ve been completing (almost done!) the re-categorization of the Holocaust Project, after a very helpful series of G2G exchanges from people all over the world.  I also participate in many of the Challenge weeks; I’m so grateful to our guests for participating, and I even got to meet several of them at RootsTech in Salt Lake City this year! I captain Team L’Chaim for WikiTree thons.

How can others help those projects?

Watch for a G2G announcement soon on adding profiles for Holocaust victims. I am prepping some spreadsheets now. In the meantime, there is always the Needs Profiles Created category. If you are looking for something America-based, then USBH’s 1880 Census Project is the place to go! And of course we have volunteers from all over the world on this project, too. 

What inspires you to contribute so much of yourself to WikiTree's mission?

I love that the community is based on sources for ancestors and kindness to each other.  A free family tree accessible to anyone is a precious resource, and I love contributing to this goal. I plan that part of my legacy will be ensuring there is a family tree for every single known Holocaust victim. Between current WikiTreers and genealogists who aren’t on WikiTree yet …. it will happen.

I also consider my work on the US Black Heritage Path program and Profile Improvement Voyage to be part of my legacy…. I love helping others get situated on WikiTree, and become better genealogists. And they help me, too, we learn from each other!

What is your favorite feature or function on WikiTree?

The connection finder! There’s nothing like it anywhere else. I can see the relationships/connections for me, or between two people unrelated to me.

What feature or function would you most like to see added or improved?

Have a FamilySearch ID link on the mobile page, just like on the desktop site…. Because I’m on my phone a lot and making more connections helps all family researchers! 

---

Do you have a story about how someone was helped through your participation on WikiTree?

I’ve had several non-WikiTreers contact me on Holocaust-related profiles, and I’ve been able to help connect them to previously unknown family. Some of them have then joined WikiTree, and we continue to improve their connections!

Do you have a story about how you were helped through the work of others on WikiTree?

I have had WikiTree cousins sharing my surname who I didn’t know previously, reach out and share information. It’s part of what inspired me to start a Weatherall surname study!

Do you have any tips for someone who wants to get more involved in our community?

Read the how-to pages and try out the Sourcer Extension! Ask questions on G2G, join Discord, and join a project; these have been the best ways for me to get connected others and learn from them.

What could we do to inspire more people to participate in our mission?

I think the new Link Builders Challenge is a great step in the right direction – I was surprised at how many people at RootsTech had not heard of WikiTree. More exposure will help solve that problem! 

Answer 1

Yay, Elaine! It's such a pleasure to learn more about you! You were my patient guide during my early days with the USBHP. You are awesome!

Comments

Aw, thanks! How long has it been, like 3 years? I'm not sure if that feels like a very long time or a very short time ;-)

Answer 2

Congratulations on Your M.O.M. (Meet Our Members) recogntion!  Enjoyed the interview! You are 1 in a million+ and MY 8th COUSIN! 

Comments

8th cousins, not bad! I looked, might actually be able to verify that, ha!

Answer 3

What an inspiring interview congratulations Elaine and thank you for helping so many others and for all you do across WT!

Comments

Thank you, Denise!

Answer 4

Elaine! Thanks for a great interview! So cool to learn more about fellow WikiTreers! We are 13th cousins, twice removed. And I appreciated your reminder about the Link Builders!

Thanks for all of your contributions to WikiTree!

Comments

Sure! I'm trying to add the FS links to WT too, while I'm at it. (that little box down at the right)

Answer 5

Hey Cousin!   It's great to learn more about you and the things you are interested / involved in.   Glad to see you getting the recognition you deserve for all your WORK on Wikitree!

Comments

Thanks, James!

Answer 6

Congratulations on your Meet Our Member article, Elaine! Can't wait to hear more about your mountain hiking preparation. It's a pleasure working and collaborating with you on US Black Heritage!

Comments

You, too! Yup, will tell you about it next meeting :-)

Answer 7

Congratulations on your member of the week. It has been a pleasure working with you in the different projects.

Comments

Thanks, you too, we’ve got quite a list together :-)

Answer 8

Congratulations Elaine on being Member of the Week!

Comments

Thanks, Gary!

Answer 9

Fabulous. It's been a pleasure working with you, and I hope we can work on some things again. Congrats on being Member of the Week.

Comments

You too! Ask and ye shall receive, I have a small something for you, sending today :-)

Answer 10

Hi 16th cousin!

I found your interview and accomplishments impressive. Thanks for all you do and be careful hiking.:)

Comments

Thanks! I hope to go with my dad, he is a careful dude. His attitude is very... If you don't make it to the top, so be it, safety first  :-)

Answer 11

No one deserves WikiTreer of the week more than you, Elaine. I didn't go to RootsTech this year, but if I had, I would really have liked to meet you in person. I still can't figure out how you have time for all the WikiTree work you do with your family and all the other activities you do. Superwoman!

Comments

You are too kind! It's definitely all a team effort, ofc. And maybe next year at RootsTech :-)

Answer 12

ב"ה

Mazal Tov, Elaine, for being selected as WT member of the week. We appreciate your leadership on so many projects.

Thank you, Eowyn, for selecting Elaine.

Comments

תודה (thanks) Marion! :-)

Answer 13

Congratulations, Elaine.  You greatly deserve recognition for all the work you do. I have enjoyed meeting you and working with you on the US Black Heritage project. BTW, we are 11th cousins twice removed!  Who knew!

Comments

Oh, cool! Thank you :-)