Introduction
to Genealogy
Off-line and
On-line
Software &
the Internet
Presenter: Ray
Youngberg, Genealogist, Computer Consultant, Computer Mechanic, Computer
Instructor, and President of Spruce Creek South Computer Club.
This
workshop was originally presented at the SeniorNet
Digital Media Conference in Wilmington to help outline a logical
step-by-step approach to beginning or enhancing your study of your family
genealogy. Off-line we will outline
sources for gathering family data. We
will then look at several software packages that are available for posting your
data as you proceed to gather data about your family. On-line we will look at places on the Internet where genealogists
post interesting information, which may be just what you are looking for to
further line data. Suggestion is that,
if you have started gathering some data bring a "copy" with you and
we can discuss some personal hands-on searches and posting.
Genealogy Software For Discussion:
1. Family
Origin
2. Family
Tree Maker
3. Brothers
Keeper
4. Personal
Ancestral File
5. GenBook
6. Kit &
Kin
The 5-Step
Genealogy Research Process,
like
most any other kind of research,
involves
a cycle of 5 basic steps:
1. What do I already know?
2. What specific question needs to be answered?
3. What records might answer my question?
4. What do the records actually tell me?
5. What conclusions can I reach now?
The first step in doing genealogical research is to identify
what information you already know to be true.
This information generally comes from your own experience or from
documents already in your possession.
Because human memory is fallible, it is important for you
to keep permanent records of the information already known to you. For many years, genealogists have recorded
information using printed forms such as pedigree charts and family group
sheets. (These forms are explained in
detail later). Today, it is becoming
increasingly common for genealogists to record their information into databases
on their personal computers, and then print out pedigree charts and family
group sheets as needed. Therefore, you
may wish to begin by purchasing and installing genealogy software for your home
computer, and then recording the information already in your possession. Don't forget the importance of backing up
your information!
Even if you store your genealogical research in a computer
database, you will usually want to print out copies for your files. This means that you'll need to organize a
filing system to keep track of what you already know and what you are working
on. You may want to create a separate
file folder for each surname in your family, and then file these alphabetically
in a filing cabinet.
Pedigree charts are a graphical way to represent the
ancestry of an individual. Usually each
individual on the pedigree chart is identified by full name, date and place of
birth, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death. Lines connect the individual with the
individual's father and mother. You
will want to begin your genealogical research by completing a pedigree chart
with yourself on the far left, and then information about your parents and
grandparents on the right, writing down as much information as you already
know. Don't worry if you're unable to
fill in all of the information at this time -- you'll be collecting more
information as your research progresses.
Family group sheets are a way to record information about
the basic unit of genealogy: the
family. Each sheet records information
about the father, the mother, and all of their children. The date and place of marriage is recorded
for the parents, and for each individual, the full name, the date and place of
birth, and the date and place of death is recorded. If the dates of birth are known, the children are listed in order
of birth. In some cases, the names of
the children's spouses are also recorded.
There is often space on the family group sheet to record additional
notes about the family, as needed.
Once you have recorded all of the known information on
pedigree charts and family group sheets, you are ready to move on to Step
2: What Specific Question Needs to be
answered?
Step 2: What's the Question?
Doing research means trying to find the answers to
questions. With genealogy, there are an
unlimited number of questions that we could ask about each of our ancestors and
other relatives. (To avoid saying
"he or she", I'll use "they".) These include:
1. What was their name?
2. When and where were they born?
3. When and where did they marry?
4. Who did they marry?
5. How many children did they have, and what
were the names of
the
children?
6. Where did they live?
7. What type of work did they do?
8. What religious institutions, military
organizations, or other
organizations did they belong to?
9. What did they look like?
10. When and where did they die, and what was
the
cause of
death?
11. Where were they buried?
The number of questions that need answers could quickly
overwhelm us. Even worse, as you go
back in time, you'll have more and more ancestors to ask questions about!
Therefore, you will need to focus on just a few
individuals at a time (usually several closely related members of the same
family), and also focus on just a few questions about those individuals. In many cases, it is best to focus on only
one individual, and only one question at a time. Make sure to use your pedigree charts and family group sheets to
help you identify the questions that need answers.
At this point, you will probably want to use another form
to help you keep track of your research.
For each individual, make a "research plan" document. On the left you'll list which questions you
want to answer, and on the right you'll list the steps you plan to take in
order to obtain the answers.
Once you've decided which question you want to focus on,
you're ready to move on to Step 3: What
Records Might Answer My Question?
Step 3: What Records Might Answer My Question?
Before you can fill out the rest of your research plan,
you'll need to figure out which records are likely to be best for answering
your question. If you're just beginning
with genealogy, you'll need to understand the different kinds of records that
can be used for genealogical research.
There are two basic types of records: primary sources, and secondary sources. Primary sources are records that were created
at or near the time of an event, usually by someone who was a direct observer
or participant in the event. Secondary
sources are records that were created either much later than the time of the
event, or by someone who was reading or interpreting a primary source.
Primary sources are generally preferable to secondary
sources because they are more likely to be accurate. (It is interesting to note that the same source might be a primary
source for one kind of information, and a secondary source for another kind of
information. For example, a tombstone
may be a primary source for the date of death, but is usually a secondary
source for the date of birth.)
In the absence of primary sources, however, you may have
to depend on secondary sources. Even
when primary sources are available, using secondary sources first may speed up
your ability to locate a primary source.
For instance, it is often a good idea to locate research that has
already been done by others. While it
is possible that this research may contain errors, it may save you a great deal
of time in locating the primary source documents you need.
There are many different types of primary and secondary
source records. You will find many of
these described in the Genealogy Forum's Resource Center. They include vital records (births,
marriages, deaths), census records, obituaries, cemeteries, church records,
military records, and many others. Once
you have determined which type of record is most likely to answer your specific
question, it is time to move on to Step 4:
What Do the Records Actually Tell Me?
Step 4: What Do the Records Say?
Once you have decided which type of record is most likely
to answer your specific question, you will need to obtain a copy of the record,
and examine it. This may be easy or
difficult depending on the type of record, its availability, its location, and
the ease with which it may be searched.
In any event, make sure to include which records you plan to search on
your research plan.
Some records are available online, via the Internet. You may want to visit the Genealogy Forum's
Internet Area to see what is available.
Other records can be purchased on CD-ROM and then searched
on your own home computer. See
genealogical supply houses for information about these products.
Copies of some records, especially vital records, can
often be obtained via postal mail. For
more information on obtaining records held by U.S. states, counties and towns,
see the book "Ancestry's Red Book", edited by Alice Eichholz.
Many records, especially census records, can be searched
at your local public library or Family History Center (FHC). Public libraries also often have city
directories or copies of old local newspapers.
Call or visit your nearest library or FHC for information about
this. Family History Centers are
usually listed in the telephone book under "Church of Jesus Christ
Latter-Day Saints" (the Mormons), who operates them for the benefit of all
genealogists.
Whenever you are searching for a record or within a
particular record, be careful not to miss information because you used too
narrow a time period or because you overlooked a misspelled name.
As you search the record, use another form to record what
you have learned. A research log (or
calendar) form is often used to indicate which records you have searched, when
you searched them, and what you found or did not find. It is important to record even when you find
no information, so that you will avoid having to search the same record again
later.
Once you have located the records, searched them, and made
notes about what you have found, it is time to move on to Step 5: What Conclusions Can I Reach?
Step 5: What Conclusions Can I Reach?
Once you have obtained records, searched their contents,
and made some notes as to what you have found, it is time to evaluate the
results. The new information you have
learned may have answered your original question, or it may have been
unsatisfactory. It may even conflict
with other information that you already have.
If new information conflicts with existing information,
you will have to decide which, if either, piece of information is more likely
to be accurate. Is one from a primary
source and the other from a secondary source?
Is one from a more authoritative or believable source? The more time you spend doing genealogical
research, the more skillful you will become in deciding these difficult
questions.
As you accumulate new information, be sure to document its
source. Identify the source in such a
way that others can easily find it if they wished to check your sources. This will help you, as well, if you decide
later to recheck the original source.
Incorporate the new information into your pedigree charts
and family group sheets, if appropriate.
Check this information against the information already in your pedigree
charts and family group sheets to see if the new information makes sense.
Don't forget to share what you have learned with those
members of your family interested in family history. You may want to include the new information in a family
newsletter, announce it at a family reunion, or file it until you decide to
write a family history!
Now you're ready to start back at Step 1, and go through
the entire cycle again.
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH REVIEW
A SUGGESTED CHECKLIST
WHERE TO GO & WHERE TO START
PERSONAL RECORDS
Gather all your own records & photos Family
writings
Secure
records from ALL family members Cemetery
Records
Check
the Family Bible Grave
Markers
Birth
Certificates Wills
Marriage
Certificates Probate
Records
Death
Certificates Pension
Records
Church
Records Social Security
Records
Old
letters School
& College Records
GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Civil Government
City, County & State
Offices
Court Records & Probate
Records
U. S. Government
Government Archives
Military Records
Immigration &
Naturalization Records
Census Records
Social Security Department
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
Start with the nearest consulate office of the country
of origin. They can direct you to the
proper overseas agency to correspond with.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Have you organized all your family records - starting with
yourself first?
Have you written your life history? It's simple to do - just start at the
beginning.
Have you verified and documented the information to
insure accuracy?
Have you solicited help from ALL family members? (Will they share the cost?)
Created
& Donated by H. Ray Youngberg
Computer Cat Consulting, The Villages, FL
WWW.COMPCAT.COM
WebMaster - dhooton@atlantic.net