Genealogical Research
Gathering
your family history usually involves a genealogical search at some point. It’s
the framework of your family history—your lineage. Ancestors are those to whom
you are directly descended—no aunts, uncles, or cousins. It traces where your
ancestors came from, when and where they were born, who their parents and
siblings were, who they married, when they died, etc.
There’s
a ton of information online—some free. You can also gather a lot of
misinformation. A genealogical search can be time consuming and expensive, and
you don’t want to waste either on bad information. Buy a good book that will
steer you in the right direction. Here are some I recommend:
-
Complete Idiot's
Guide to Genealogy by
Christine Rose and Kay German Published
by Alpha Books $12.89
-
How to Do
Everything With Your Genealogy by George C Morgan Published
by McGraw Hill Osborne Media $16.49
-
Unpuzzling your
Past: The Best Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy by Emily Anne Croom Published
by Southern California Genealogy Jamboree $12.91
-
The Genealogy
Sourcebook by Sharon
DeBartolo Carmack and Marsh Hoffman
Rising $60
-
The Everything
Online Genealogy Book by
Paty Richley
When to do the research
Genealogical research will probably be an ongoing endeavor during
your family history quest. Do some preliminary searching, however, before you conduct any
family history interviews. That will help you establish a guide for the
interview.
Organize your data from the start
Use index cards to record your data.
Divide your research into categories. Each index card should contain
information about one incident, place, or person. Write the category at the top
of the card. Include on each card:
- Source and document date for the data
- Source location—be specific
- Date you recorded the data
- Copy text verbatim and use quotes—you can paraphrase later
Record general information about your
data collection event in your Family History
Control Notebook:who was
helpful, leads on other sources, etc.
Question
and verify
Just because it’s written, doesn’t mean it’s accurate. People
make mistakes, embellish on the truth, and see things from different
perspectives. Try to verify putative (questionable) data from another source. If
you can’t, note that you are not sure it is reliable.
Where to search and what to look for
HOME: start with your closet, attic, bookshelves, and basement.
Encourage other family members to do the same and share your findings. Look for
photos, letters, diaries, journals, wills, deeds, mailing lists, family bibles,
account books, home movies, scrapbooks, report cards, diplomas, yearbooks,
needlepoint samplers, military records, newspaper clippings. . .
LOCAL LIBRARY: many have a genealogy section where records of
local residents are kept.
GRAVEYARDS: gravestones have names, dates, relationships, and
other information. Take photos of the gravestones. Search the records of the
cemetery office, adjacent church, or check at the courthouse or veterans
administration.
CHURCHES: look for baptismal, marriage, confirmation, and funeral
records.
COURTHOUSES: are a repository for deeds, wills, certificates of
birth, death, marriage, and divorce, court proceedings, etc.
MUSEUMS: your hometown may have a local museum with local
artifacts and history.
INTERNET: search genealogy data sites, family websites, historical background
1|2 >Next Internet
Search, GEDCOM, Charts
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Copyright September 2009 Family History Coach All rights reserved Last update April 27, 2010
