際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

Genealogy Crash Course Handout

K
Kerri Milliken

This document provides information on various genealogy resources and record types for conducting family history research, including subscription and free websites, census records, vital records, newspapers, city directories, military records, ship passenger lists, and records specific to African American genealogy research. It outlines the key information contained in different record types and provides starting points to search various collections online and in libraries. Guidance is given on organizing research and addressing issues like conflicting information or unknown details.

1 of 3
Download to read offline
MyHeritage: Subscription service to over 6 billion historical records from the US and across the globe; access through your librarys databases page FamilySearch.com: Immense, free collection of family trees, genealogy records, and resources; contains a large help wiki and learning center www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Ancestry-PA.aspx Pennsylvania State Archives free access to their records on Ancestry.com for PA residents www.archives.gov/research/genealogy: Genealogy Guides and Tools from the National Archives and Records Administration goo.gl/r7rHs2: Zeef Directory Page containing links with guidance and resources for various categories; must have link to access cyndislist.com: A comprehensive, categorized and cross-referenced list to point you to genealogical research sites online FindaGrave.com: Used for finding graves and creating virtual memorials, this site can also connect family members 1. Start with your closest relatives and work backwards. 2. Analyze and cross-reference sources to verify information; be aware that much of the information you find might conflict. 3. Vary how much information and what type of information you include when searching. 4. Search in individual collections for specific record types, but know whats in the collection before you spend time searching. 5. Use wildcards like ? and * to fill in unknown or variant characters. 6. Stuck at a brick wall? Write everything down and look at it again, create a timeline, and be willing to ask for help when needed. [Via www.thoughtco.com] Put last name in all caps: First Middle LAST Enter women with their maiden name. Some genealogists also record the husbands surname Enter nicknames in quotes after given name (unless common): James Sully Patrick SULLIVAN If a person is known by more than one name, include the alternate in parentheses preceded by a.k.a.: William Tom LAKE (a.k.a. William Tom FRENCH) Include alternate spellings by recording the earliest use first, followed by later usages: Michael HAIR/HIERS If middle name is not known, you can use just an initial Enter locations smallest geography to largest: Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States Genealogy Information
Get Organized Check US Census Check Vital Records Go Beyond US Residential Census MyHeritage FamilySearch Census.gov/history Vital Record from time of birth indicating place of birth, gender and race of child, and names of parents Federal Survey of the population taken every 10 years that can give information on a family and link generations; 1790- 1940 available MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA http://www.phmc. pa.gov/Archives Record type Description Where to start the search Birth Record Vital Record from time of marriage indicating names of bride, groom, and parents, date of marriage, and more MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Marriage License MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Vital Record from time of death indicating name, next of kin, parents names and birthplaces, date of death, place of burial, and more Death Record Death Master File for persons possessing social security numbers MyHeritage FamilySearch SSDI (Social Security Death Index) MyHeritage FamilySearch Statelibrary.pa.gov GenealogyBank ($) (Newspaper Resources) Notice of Death traditionally placed in a newspaper that contains a brief biography of the deceasedObituaries MyHeritage FamilySearch Newspapers.com Chronicling America Power Library Newspapers might contain information like birth and marriage announcements, obituaries, events family was involved in, and even announcements for where they spent their holidays Newspapers
Popular before phones (and phonebooks), city directories listed the name, occupation, and address(es) of residents in a certain area MyHeritage FamilySearch Archive.com DonsList.net City Directories Publications of histories for certain areas or family lines MyHeritage FamilySearch WorldCat Local/Family Histories Military Record filled out at the start of service; registration cards also exist MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Draft Card Military Record of application or record of pension, often includes a wealth of genealogical information Ancestry PA FamilySearch MyHeritage Pension Record Publications providing details on the organization and achievements of a particular unit in wartime activities FamilySearch MyHeritage CivilWarArchive.com Regimental Histories Ship lists documenting the name of ship, names of passengers, ages, ports of arrival and departure, date, country of origin, and occupation MyHeritage FamilySearch CastleGarden.org LibertyEllisFoundation.org Passenger Ship Lists Records of immigrants naturalization into the US, providing date of immigration, ship name, ages and addresses of family members, and more MyHeritage FamilySearchNaturalization Records Banking institution established 1865 primarily for the benefit of freed slaves and former African American military FamilySearch Freedmens Bank Records Records from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, est 1865 to supervise relief efforts, education, healthcare, marriages and labor contracts, and more www.archives.gov/ research/african- americans/ freedmens-bureau Freedmens Bureau

More Related Content

Genealogy Crash Course Handout

  • 1. MyHeritage: Subscription service to over 6 billion historical records from the US and across the globe; access through your librarys databases page FamilySearch.com: Immense, free collection of family trees, genealogy records, and resources; contains a large help wiki and learning center www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Ancestry-PA.aspx Pennsylvania State Archives free access to their records on Ancestry.com for PA residents www.archives.gov/research/genealogy: Genealogy Guides and Tools from the National Archives and Records Administration goo.gl/r7rHs2: Zeef Directory Page containing links with guidance and resources for various categories; must have link to access cyndislist.com: A comprehensive, categorized and cross-referenced list to point you to genealogical research sites online FindaGrave.com: Used for finding graves and creating virtual memorials, this site can also connect family members 1. Start with your closest relatives and work backwards. 2. Analyze and cross-reference sources to verify information; be aware that much of the information you find might conflict. 3. Vary how much information and what type of information you include when searching. 4. Search in individual collections for specific record types, but know whats in the collection before you spend time searching. 5. Use wildcards like ? and * to fill in unknown or variant characters. 6. Stuck at a brick wall? Write everything down and look at it again, create a timeline, and be willing to ask for help when needed. [Via www.thoughtco.com] Put last name in all caps: First Middle LAST Enter women with their maiden name. Some genealogists also record the husbands surname Enter nicknames in quotes after given name (unless common): James Sully Patrick SULLIVAN If a person is known by more than one name, include the alternate in parentheses preceded by a.k.a.: William Tom LAKE (a.k.a. William Tom FRENCH) Include alternate spellings by recording the earliest use first, followed by later usages: Michael HAIR/HIERS If middle name is not known, you can use just an initial Enter locations smallest geography to largest: Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States Genealogy Information
  • 2. Get Organized Check US Census Check Vital Records Go Beyond US Residential Census MyHeritage FamilySearch Census.gov/history Vital Record from time of birth indicating place of birth, gender and race of child, and names of parents Federal Survey of the population taken every 10 years that can give information on a family and link generations; 1790- 1940 available MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA http://www.phmc. pa.gov/Archives Record type Description Where to start the search Birth Record Vital Record from time of marriage indicating names of bride, groom, and parents, date of marriage, and more MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Marriage License MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Vital Record from time of death indicating name, next of kin, parents names and birthplaces, date of death, place of burial, and more Death Record Death Master File for persons possessing social security numbers MyHeritage FamilySearch SSDI (Social Security Death Index) MyHeritage FamilySearch Statelibrary.pa.gov GenealogyBank ($) (Newspaper Resources) Notice of Death traditionally placed in a newspaper that contains a brief biography of the deceasedObituaries MyHeritage FamilySearch Newspapers.com Chronicling America Power Library Newspapers might contain information like birth and marriage announcements, obituaries, events family was involved in, and even announcements for where they spent their holidays Newspapers
  • 3. Popular before phones (and phonebooks), city directories listed the name, occupation, and address(es) of residents in a certain area MyHeritage FamilySearch Archive.com DonsList.net City Directories Publications of histories for certain areas or family lines MyHeritage FamilySearch WorldCat Local/Family Histories Military Record filled out at the start of service; registration cards also exist MyHeritage FamilySearch Ancestry PA Draft Card Military Record of application or record of pension, often includes a wealth of genealogical information Ancestry PA FamilySearch MyHeritage Pension Record Publications providing details on the organization and achievements of a particular unit in wartime activities FamilySearch MyHeritage CivilWarArchive.com Regimental Histories Ship lists documenting the name of ship, names of passengers, ages, ports of arrival and departure, date, country of origin, and occupation MyHeritage FamilySearch CastleGarden.org LibertyEllisFoundation.org Passenger Ship Lists Records of immigrants naturalization into the US, providing date of immigration, ship name, ages and addresses of family members, and more MyHeritage FamilySearchNaturalization Records Banking institution established 1865 primarily for the benefit of freed slaves and former African American military FamilySearch Freedmens Bank Records Records from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, est 1865 to supervise relief efforts, education, healthcare, marriages and labor contracts, and more www.archives.gov/ research/african- americans/ freedmens-bureau Freedmens Bureau