Basic Genealogy WELCOME Before we get to the

Basic Genealogy

WELCOME!

Before we get to the good stuff… • How many know how to email? • How many feel comfortable using the internet?

What is genealogy? • The study of family origins and history Retrieved from: www. britannica. com

What will we Learn? • • • General Tips Get Organized Identify the goal Record what you already know Gather information Evaluate your information

GENERAL TIPS General Tip #1: Be consistent. General Tip #2: Be thorough. General Tip #3: Be patient and have fun! Source: www. genealogy. com

GET ORGANIZED!

Get Organized! CREATE A FILING SYSTEM Potential Categories • Surnames • Couple or family • Family line • Event Potential subcategories • Location • Record type Source: www. genealogy. about. com

Get Organized! DOCUMENT YOUR RESEARCH PROCESS

Get Organized! Here is an example of a Research Log/Calendar…. Source: www. ancestry. com

Get Organized! … and another one. Source: www. lds. org

Get Organized! And this is an example of a Correspondence Log Source: www. ancestry. com

Get Organized! CITE YOUR SOURCES! • Helps you find the source and information again

Get Organized! What sort of information do you need to cite? Author • Article/Book Title • Website • Date You Accessed Website • Journal Name • Journal Volume • Journal Issue • Publisher Name • Publication Date • Page Number • Title of Database • Newspaper Name • Newspaper Regional Coverage Location • News Section Source: www. genealogy. about. com

Get Organized! Seems like a lot, huh? Take it slow and easy, and remember – this is fun! Let’s look at some common examples.

Get Organized! Citing a website Title of the webpage Date retrieved Social Security Death Index. <Ancestry. com>, Retrieved: March 25, 2012. Web site

Get Organized! Citing a book Author Title Massie, Allan. “The Royal Stuarts: A History of the Family that Shaped Britain. ” Thomas Dunne Books: 2010 (p. 74). Publisher, Publication date and Page number.

Identify your goal Source: www. genealogy. com

Record what you know…. … and you know more than you think Source: www. genealogy. com

Record what you know Pedigree Chart • A direct blood line • Parents only

Record what you know

Record what you know Family Group Chart • Nuclear family Source: www. genealogy. about. com

Record what you know Example of a Family Group Chart Source: www. genealogy. about. com

Record what you know And for those with a large family…

Gather your Information

Gather your information Personal and family documents Birth, Baptismal, Marriage and Death Certificates Pictures Postcards & Letters Family Bibles, Scrapbooks, Diaries, Newspaper Clippings, etc

Gather your informaton Interview Family Members

Evaluate your Information

Evaluate your information Primary versus Secondary Information

Evaluate your information Primary information: • Created at or near the time of an event • Usually carries more weight than secondary information. Secondary information: • Created a significant amount of time after an event occurred or contributed by a person who was not present at the event. Source: Kimberly Powell’s About. com guide on Genealogy. http: //genealogy. about. com/od/citing/a/sources. htm

Evaluate your information Original versus Derivative Sources

Evaluate your information Original Sources: • Records that contribute written, oral, or visual information (not derived). • Usually carries more weight than derivative sources. Derivative sources: • Records which have been derived - copied, abstracted, transcribed, or summarized - from previously existing sources. Source: Kimberly Powell’s About. com guide on Genealogy. http: //genealogy. about. com/od/citing/a/sources. htm

Evaluate your information Direct versus Indirect Evidence

Evaluate your information Direct evidence • Information that directly answers your question (e. g. When was Danny born? ) • Usually carries more weight than indirect evidence Indirect evidence • Circumstantial information that requires additional evidence or thought to convert it into a reliable conclusion. Source: Kimberly Powell’s About. com guide on Genealogy. http: //genealogy. about. com/od/citing/a/sources. htm

Evaluate your information Resources on evaluating your information On the web • Kimberly Powell. About. Com. Genealogy. http: //genealogy. about. com/ Books available from Timberland Regional Library • Richard Lackey’s, Cite your sources : a manual for documenting family histories and genealogical records. 1985. 929. 1 LACKEY 1985 • G. G. Morgan’s, How to do everything: genealogy. 2012. 929. 1072 MORGAN 2012

Genealogical Research Resources

Genealogical Research Resources • • • Libraries Family History Centers Historical Societies Genealogical Societies Archives Courthouses & Records Offices

Genealogical Research Resources Family History Centers • • • The Church of Later Day Saints Centers across the country Volunteers assist in using facilities Microfilm & microfiche Computer resources Printed resources Source: www. lds. org

Genealogical Research Resources Historical & Genealogical Societies • • Preserves local history & heritage Promotes an interest in genealogy Non-profit organizations Does research for a small fee Source: www. lewiscountymuseum. org

Genealogical Research Resources Archives • State and regional • Government documents • Secretary of State website Source: www. sos. wa. gov/archives

Genealogical Research Resources Courthouses & Records Offices • Court Records • Vital Records • Wills, Deeds

QUESTIONS?

References Ancestry. com. Correspondence Record. Retrieved from http: //www. ancestry. com/trees/charts/correcord. aspx Ancestry. com. Research Calendar. Retrieved from http: //www. ancestry. com/trees/charts/researchcal. aspx The Church of Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Research Log. Retrived from http: //www. lds. org/images/howdoibeg/Research_Log. html Powell, Kimberly. About. com Guide on Genealogy. Retrieved from http: //genealogy. about. com/od/citing/a/sources. htm