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Introduction to genealogy start with yourself
- 1. While you arewaiting, take an index card (or two!) On each card, write a question you are hoping to get an answer for tonight.
- 2. "The bond thatlinks your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.“ - Richard David Bach
- 3. Researching since2004 “Hoarder” of knowledge – time to share what I’ve learned! Board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut (JGSCT) Co-Editor of QUEST – the newsletter of the JGSCT Attendee at three International Conferences on Jewish Genealogy Conducted several presentations for the JGSCT Author of several family history books
- 4. The Research Process UsingForms Online Trees/Genealogy Software Key records to use Resources (Handouts)
- 5. • Gather documents •Use appropriate forms • Record and organize information 1. Identify what you already know about your family. • Work on one family at a time • Set research goals – look for blank spaces on your pedigree chart • Use a research log 2. Decide what you want to learn. • Determine what records are available -What person, object or record will have the information you’re looking for? • Understand the different types of sources 3. Choose the records to search. • Records may be on/offline (research libraries, city/town halls). • Glean all information from the record • Keep track of searches/sources, make copies of records when possible 4. Obtain and search the records. • Evaluate the evidence - is it reasonable? Relevant? • Transfer information to form/tree/database • Use standard format of your choice 5. Use the information. The Research Process, https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Research_Process
- 6. Forms PedigreeChart (handout) Family Group Sheets (handout) Organizational Systems File Folders Binders Use archival storage methods Be consistent in naming/organizing digital data
- 7. Key points tofollow: Start with yourself on line 1. Line 2: Your father’s full name. Line 3: Your mother’s full name Always record male names on the even numbers (except for line 1) and the female names on the odd numbers.) Use the maiden name for females. Write dates using day, month, year 05 MAY 1946
- 8. The pedigree chartis simply a way to organize the information you find about your ancestors. It is not the only chart you’ll use during your family history search, but starting with a pedigree will help you focus your search from here on out.. A pedigree chart is simply a chart that records descent. (screenshot from my RootsMagic software)
- 9. A form usedto write information about parents and children of the same family. Key points to follow: Write your father’s full name, and information about him, in the spaces under HUSBAND - just like you did on the pedigree chart. Write your mother’s full "Maiden" name, and information about her, in the spaces under WIFE. Write the full name and information about each child born to your parents under CHILDREN. List each child (living or dead) in the order of his or her birth.
- 10. Key points tofollow: Use two sheets if needed. Be sure to label as PAGE TWO Use the abbreviation for about (abt.) before the year to approximate the year if necessary (Write: abt. 1946). Write place names as completely as possible (city, county, state).
- 11. You’ll find thatyour family group records will have some blank spaces on them, too. That’s just fine. As you learn more about each ancestor, his or her family will come into focus. There are genealogical software programs that can help you keep track of all of your charts, as well as research notes and other information. But for now, a notebook and the charts you can download from this page should be enough to get you started.
- 12. There arehundreds of official documents that exist and contain information about your own family, living relatives and deceased ancestors. Use the handout titled CHECKLIST OF SOURCES SEARCHED, as a guide to sources of information. Place in front of your binder/file folder for each person.
- 13. Birth, marriage ordeath certificates were usually kept by government officials, and are called “vital” records. Birth – can be found on variety of records Birth Certificate – Health Departments Census Records - Online Marriage Records – Some are online Death Records – Some are online Marriage – Newspapers for the date Certificates – Some are online, City Clerk’s Offices Death – may be best place to start – most recent record Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Obituaries – Newspapers for the date Certificates – Some are online, City/County records
- 14. Technology has affectedthe search for ancestors in three ways: 1. Allows people to access the records housed in libraries, archives and other family history research centers. 2. Allows people to share what they’ve found with relatives and friends. Often these relatives have new information that they share as well. 3. Allows people to organize information in personal databases. Information that used to take up hundreds of pages now can be stored digitally.
- 15. Your pedigree chartand family group records are like the magnifying glass a detective carries with him. They will help you discover more clues to your family story. Armed with these tools, you’re ready to further explore the world of records. Let’s take a look at what might be available online to answer your family history questions . LET’S GO ONLINE!
- 16. http://familysearch.org Thissite is full of goodies - from databases to how-to information. $ -www.ancestry.com A comprehensive site- but you have to pay for it! $ -http://www.myheritage.com Interesting technologies, not found elsewhere $ -www.findmypast.com Focused more on England and Ireland
- 17. A jurisdictionis the territory within which authority may be exercised. Vital records are held in the jurisdiction in which they were created. Determine when the jurisdiction you are researching began recording vital events. Request a record from the state in which the record was first created. REMEMBER – Boundaries change over time. Be sure you are using the correct location for the time you are researching.
- 18. Contact thevital records offices in the state where the vital record is located Go to a Family History Library to find vital records. Take a trip to the repository (City Hall, Clerk’s Office, etc. ) where the record is kept. Investigate first to determine if record is actually available. Call before visiting a repository. Be aware of privacy laws or rules.
- 19. Take a lookat the death certificate 1. What was the person’s full name? 2. What was her maiden name? 3. What was her husband’s name? 4. Do you think that the person listed as the informant was a reliable source of the information? 5. What was the immediate cause of her death? 6. How old was she when she died? 7. What was the name of the place where she died? Found ONLINE! Missouri State Archives https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1916/1916_00042117.PDF
- 20. Found ONLINE! NEHGS- also went to New Canaan Town Hall Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. 1860 Birth Record – New Canaan, CT
- 21. 1875 Birth Record – Tarnopol, Poland FoundONLINE! JewishGen – JRI-Poland Database sets
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- 24. In 1790,Congress decided it was a good idea to count the citizens of the U.S. The Government thought a census would provide information that would help them govern the country. At first the government wanted to count men so that if war were declared, they would know how many men were eligible to serve in the military. Later, the questions on the census changed, depending on the needs of the government at the time. The Census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Each census asks different questions.
- 25. Most recentCensus available – 1940 Privacy laws – 72 years 1950 will be available in 2022 Start with the most recent census in which the ancestors you’re looking for might appear. Check the pages before/after the name you have located - may be relatives living nearby
- 26. The censusis ONLY AS ACCURATE as the “Reporter”, the Enumerator, and the “Transcriber.”Who is DONG MAY????? Why I couldn’t find my mother in the 1940 US Census
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- 28. Passenger Lists Contain vital information for ancestor detectives. They include such things as the immigrant’s name, age, marital status, occupation, and nationality. Naturalization Records The records made during this process of becoming a citizen, of being naturalized, will often include information about the immigrant’s homeland and immigration to the United States Excellent FREE resource for immigration and MUCH MORE!! https://stevemorse.org/
- 29. 1857 Aaron andJohn Samuel – My 2nd and 3rd Great-Grandfathers and original immigrants of my father’s family.
- 30. A more recentexample – September 1938 - My mother and my grandmother • Much more information during this period. • Understand the context (time period) • Capture BOTH sides of image (left and right in this case)
- 31. When animmigrant wanted to become a citizen, he would file a “Declaration of Intent” with his local county courthouse. Between two to five years later, he would petition the court for citizenship. If all went smoothly, the immigrant would be accepted as a citizen. Along the way, other documents might be created. Not only are naturalization records interesting alone, but they also provide clues to the ancestor’s country of origin, his date of arrival in America and sometimes and even what ship he arrived in.
- 33. My Great-grandmother –My mother’s PATERNAL grandmother
- 34. How long didit take? Intent filed 1943. Certificate issued 1947. Notice there was MORE information on the intent than on the actual certificate.
- 36. Primary: First-handknowledge Created at the time the event occurred, or close proximity to that time. Original documents, most vital records Example: birth certificate Secondary Came from other than first-hand knowledge Usually created much later than the event. Example: Census taker recording an age
- 37. Original Arecord in its first original form Example: marriage record Derivative: A record that collects information from other sources Example: Transcription of a census form Authored Work Written work that includes information from original and derivative sources Example: Family history books
- 38. Direct: Explicitlystates a claim or fact Example: Birth certificate is DIRECT evidence of a person’s birthdate. Indirect: IMPLIES claim or fact Example: Source states child was born at home. This is indirect because it requires another piece of information (the location of the home) to prove his place of birth. Negative: IMPLIES a fact or claim by the LACK of information Example: Person in found in every Census from 1790 -1840 but missing from 1850. That evidence can be used to support claim that person died between 1840-1850. Source: “HELP” file from EVIDENTIA Software
- 39. The Genealogical Proof Standard(GPS) • A guideline for establishing the reliability ("proof") of a genealogical conclusion with reasonable certainty. • Is important within the genealogical community for clearly communicating the quality of research performed, such as by a professional genealogist. • -Wikipedia
- 40. • Substantiates theconclusion’s credibility. • If conflicting evidence is not resolved, a credible conclusion is not possible. • Assumes examination of a wide range of high-quality sources • Minimizes probability that undiscovered evidence will overturn a too-hasty conclusion 1. Perform a reasonably exhaustive search. • Demonstrates the extent of the search and quality of sources • Allows others to replicate the steps taken to reach the conclusion. • Inability to replicate the research casts doubt on the conclusion. 2. Complete and accurate citation of sources. • Facilitates sound interpretation of the data contributed by each source. • Ensures that the conclusion reflects all the evidence. 3. Analysis and correlation of the collected information. 4. Resolution of conflicting evidence. • Eliminates the possibility that the conclusion is based on bias, preconception, or inadequate appreciation of the evidence. • Explains how the evidence led to the conclusion. 5. Soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion. https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/genealogy-gps-keeping- your-family-tree-research-on-course/
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