Regarding Brother's Keeper (BK)
6/22/2000
Brother's Keeper (BK) is a database program designed for use with genealogical data. I have been using it for many years and have seen it grow from a hard-to-use DOS program to a quite sophisticated and ease-to-use Windows one (although you might run across a few DOS-ish things here and there). With the thought that you might be interested in playing around with it and possibly adding your own family data to it, I have included a copy of the BK installation file and the current version of the Gateley-Ogden BK database on the Ogden-Gateley Disk (OGD).
To install the program, simply double-click on the file bksetup.exe on the OGD and follow the instructions (I'm assuming a reasonable competence--if you lack this, seek help...)
This is a shareware program. It and updates can and should (if you make extensive use of it) be obtained from its author at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Brothers_Keeper/
The BK-OG-Data folder contains the basic information for both Gateley and Ogden families. To use this database, first copy the folder to your hard disk. Then open BK and click on "File" (upper left corner of the BK screen) and then on "Open Database" which will ask you browse to the directory containing the Brother's Keeper data files (this will be the BK-OG-Data folder) ; click this directory and then click "OK". The bottom of the BK screen should then indicate about 1535 names and 468 marriages (the values as of 6/22/2000)
The Help file in BK is very good and will be of great assistance in using the program if you get bogged down.
For an introduction to the database, you might try one or more of the following:
The heart of BK is the Edit function which allows the entry and manipulation for an individual's data. To us it:
Click "Edit" (just under "Brother's" on the top line).
The data for the last person edited will be shown (who appears here can be set by clicking on "File" (from the main BK page) and then on "Options"). To see a specific person, click the "Find" button in the upper-right corner. This will bring up a request for a Name or number. Type your first and last name and see what happens! The "number" needed is the BK number which was assigned to a person when his or her data record was created. (See "Select Person" in the help file for information about using wild cards, etc.)
A person's data can then be edited by clicking on the person's name. For now, click on "Cancel Changes" to avoid altering the database at this time.
Play around on the Edit screen--lots of things to see and do... Click on "Close" to get back to the main BK page.
See a Family Group Report: these are included in the Gateley-Ogden Family Web (OGW) for each family. Click on the "Group" box on the right end of the boxes shown on the main BK screen. You are then asked to enter a Name of number. Simply type in you name, click the Find button, select the name which appears in the box below and the click the Select button. An options screen will appear; using this you can modify the report in many ways, but for now just click the Preview button on the upper-right side of the screen. A Print Preview screen will appear with the Family Group Sheet of interest. After inspecting it, you can return to the options screen (e.g., click the little X in the upper-right corner) and then click Close to return to the original BK screen (or first play with some of the Family Group options).
See a list of your ancestors: click "Ancestors" button and then the "Ahnentafel book" option. and go from there (try the the other options at your leisure; also clicking the "Ancestor chart" box provides a nifty display.)
See a list of your descendants: click the "Descendant" box (or the "Descendant" button for more choices), etc...
Compute your relationship to, say, Simon Willard: click the "Other" button and then "Compute relationship". When you type "Simon Willard" you will get a list of possibilities; the Simon you probably want is #72 but try one or two of the others--most of them are cousins of one kind or another.
You're on your own now. Make lots of use of the Help file and don't be afraid to experiment and add new data if you wish--it's your database now. If you find any data errors--they just possibly might exist--, please let me know about them so that I can correct my version and the OGW if necessary..