This document provides guidance on proper genealogical research methods, including documenting all information found and sources, recording full names and variations, and keeping backup copies. It then lists several organizational tools for storing research as well as local and online resources available for genealogical research through the Ritter Public Library, including ancestry databases, Cleveland records, census records, maps, and military collections. Tips are provided for effective search strategies in ancestry databases.

1. Ritter Public Library

2.  Always begin with yourself.
 Document all the information you find.
 Document the positive and negative of
your research.
 Don’t believe everything you see or hear
unless it is cited.
 Make photocopies whenever possible.

3.  Always write out the date.
*June 15, 1977 vs. 06-15-77
 Always record a person’s full name.
*Virginia Elizabeth (Wentworth) Peck
 Research the real name, not a nickname.
 Always look for variations in a surname.
 Always record maiden names.
 Always keep a backup copy of your research.

4.  Ancestral Charts
 Family Group Sheet
 Correspondence Record
 Census Chart
 Research Extract

5. Cyndi’s List
 A comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links
that point you to genealogical research sites online.
Family Search
 Create a family tree online and search millions of records from
Church of LDS.
Ohio Obituary Index
 An index to 2,750,000 obituaries, death & marriage
notices & other sources from Ohio from the 1810s
to the present day. Actual obits may be ordered
from over 60 partner libraries.
US GenWeb
 Free genealogy websites for every county in US.

6.  Ritter Room
 Vermilion newspaper on microfilm back to 1890.
 Microfilm machine.
 Vermilion yearbooks.
 Copies of newspaper articles on popular topics.
 Local history collection.
 Nonfiction collection
 Genealogy books are upstairs: 929.1 – 929.3
 Book a Librarian
 Call for an appointment to work on a specific topic.

7. www.ritterpubliclibrary.org
1
2
3

8.  Clevnet Databases
 Ancestry Library Edition (in library only)
 Access to more than 4,000 genealogy databases with a single
search.
 Cleveland Necrology File
 contains local cemetery records and newspaper death notices
for the following years: 1833, 1847-1848, 1850-1975.
 Heritage Quest Online
 Contains US Census, periodical index, Revolutionary War
records, and US Serial Set (actions of Congress).
 Ohio Historical Society
 Full text documents and images plus research tools.

9.  More than 4,000 genealogy databases with a single
search.
 Databases include
 Complete U.S. Census & Index 1790-1940
 Birth, marriage, death records
 Church records
 Court records
 Immigration records including ship details
 The Map Center contains more than 1,000 historical
maps.
 Other notable collections include
 WWI Draft Registration Cards
 Federal Slave Narratives
 Civil War collection with over 6900 photographs
 World War II news reels
 Stars & Stripes newspaper

10. Start
searching
in a
specific
collection.
Blank census
forms and
charts to help
record
information.

11. Limit
results to
a specific
location.
Limit
results to
a specific
type of
record.

12. Usually it’s best
to start with a
broad search
and then
narrow results
down.

13. Tips:
• Allow for variations
in spelling of names.
•Look for occupations,
value of home.
• Who lived in the
same house?
• Where were parents
born?
•Neighbors or relatives
nearby?
•Use address and
locate home on map
or Google Earth.

14. Occupation
is Baseball
Notice he lived with his in-laws, was married with two daughters, his parents
were born in Germany, many neighbors were immigrants.

15. Many people will have
links to their
obituaries and photos.

16. Browse Histories, News,
and Photos for primary
source information.

17. Search for a person or
use Keyword search for
a location.
Click
thumbnail
image to
enlarge.

19. Immigration & Travel >
Immigration &
emigration books >
Keyword Search for Ellis
Island

20. Stars & Stripes
Nov. 24, 1963
Sears Catalog - 1900

21. Tools for viewing
and printing on
right sidebar.
HINT: Save a copy or a screen print of the original
document. Then it can be cropped, highlighted or
manipulated as desired for a project.
You can email up
to 300 images
(documents) to
yourself.

23. www.ancestry.com
Click on
Site Map