Beginning Genealogy: Free Resources
Maggie Rose 30 April 2019 [email protected] Best Beginnings
Suggestions for Successful Searching Stay on Track
– Research Log – Record which ancestor your are researching – List resources consulted – Questions regarding research – Notes of Transcriptions Staying on Track Resources
Free Print Resources Free Digital Resources – Repurpose scrap paper with a – WPS Office: similar to Microsoft 3-hole punch and build a binder Office – https://www.wps.com/office- free?__c=1 – Notebooks, journals, composition books, etc – Fillable research logs: – https://bit.ly/2WpLQK2 Recording Your Ancestors
– Record names in their given order: First Middle Last – Women are always recorded with their Maiden Names – Nicknames in parenthesis – Isabella Katherine March (Kate)
– Record dates in the Day Month Year format: – 20 May 2016 or 05 August 2013 – 7/6/77 = July 6th 1977? Or June 7th 1877?
Recording Your Ancestors Resources
Free Print Resources Free Digital Resources – Printable Forms – Fillable and downloadable forms: – https://www.archives.gov/resear – https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/r ch/genealogy/charts-forms esources/family-history-forms – https://www.mymcpl.org/genealo – Free Software: gy/resources/family-history- – https://gramps- forms project.org/introduction-WP/
Gramps
Free: Open-source genealogy program.
Build your own database of ancestors.
Create your own charts and trees and print them.
https://gramps-project.org/introduction- WP/ Citing Your Sources
– Locate sources again for additional information – Lead others to useful sources – Verify correct information – Future publishing opportunities Citing Your Sources
– The Chicago Manual of Style – Humanities Style, “places full citations in footnotes or endnotes and gives the author freedom to add unlimited comments.” (Mills, 2015)
– Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. 3rd Ed. Mills, Elizabeth Shown. 2015, Genealogical Publishing Company. Maryland Citing Your Sources
– Free download from: https://www.familytreem agazine.com/cheatshee t/genealogyessentials/
*requires email
Resources for Citations
Free Print Resources Free Digital Resources – Family Tree Factbook: Key – Familysearch.org Genealogy Tips and Stats for – Gramps-project.org the Busy Researcher. Haddad (2018) – https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en – Evidence Explained: Citing /Citations_(Evidence_Style) History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. 3rd Ed. Mills, Elizabeth Shown. 2015, Genealogical Publishing Company. Maryland
Citing Your – Free Account Sources – Requires Email – Linked to LDS databases and archives
Transcribing Your Sources
– Word -for-word copy of text document – Copied exactly, errors included – Only add your own clarification in brackets [like this].
Lane Family History File, Twinsburg Historical Society http://twinsburg200.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Lane-Letters-Combined-Civil- War-Letters-of-Sherman-Lane-June-September.pdf Transcription Resources
Free Print Resources Free Digital Resources – Organizing & Preserving Your – Transcription Tutorial Heirloom Documents. Chapter – http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/p 9. Sturdevant, 2002 alaeography/default.htm
Census Records
Accessing and Interpreting Census Records
– U.S. Federal Census – Began in 1790 – Every 10 years – Ages, names, sex, address and more about an individual – 72 year restriction to protect privacy
Census Records
– U.S. Federal Census – Enumerators (real people) record information – Transcribers interpret census records for database searching – Alternate name spellings – 1890 Federal Census – Explore the neighbors – Always view the original if available
Census Records
– State and Territorial Censuses – Census years vary – Data collected varies – Identical drawbacks as Federal Censuses
United States Federal Census Abbreviations
From: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/ en/United_States_Census_Abbre viations
Finding Your Census
– Ancestry Library Edition – Accessible only at subscribing public libraries – No account required – Printable original records – FamilySearch -Accessible via any internet connection Account creation with email required Printable original records
Reading Your Census Records
– Each census recorded different information – Census records are organized by the order in which families were visited – Check on your neighbors… – Sometimes neighbors answered enumerator’s questions – Handwriting… – Politics
Census Resources
– National Archives, Census Records – https://www.archives.gov/research/census – How to Read Censuses – Youtube: https://youtu.be/7RRHf0X6LnE – Blank Census Forms – https://www.ancestry.com/cs/census-forms – Census Quick Start – https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Beginning_Research_in_United_States_ Census_Records#Search_strategies
Census Quick Start Jill Shoemaker, Riverton FamilySearch Library
– Search one year at a time – Try name variants, (Rose, Rhodes, Roads, Roos, etc) – Know when to use Married vs Maiden names – Always look at the original record – Check date of enumeration to confirm birthdays/marriage years
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Beginning_Research_in_United_States _Census_Records Accessing Census Records
Family Search Ancestry Library Edition – www.familysearch.org – Available through library – Free Account subscription – Free downloads – No account required – Free downloads Software
The Free Stuff Software
– Build a digital tree – Retain source citations – Print familial charts – Upload to genealogical services Gramps https://gramps-project.org/introduction-WP/
– Free, open source software compatible across all platforms – Offline access – Strong learning curve – Complete package – Unlimited data – Printable charts
My Heritage https://www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder
– Free proprietary software – Syncs with MyHeritage accounts – User Friendly – Frequent Requests for payment – 250 ancestor limit, 500 MB storage limit – Printable Charts
FamilySearch.org
– Web Based – Free Account – Auto links to ancestors – Based upon the works of the Genealogical Society of Utah, founded in 1894 – Largest collection of genealogical and historical records in the world – Primarily funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Other Software
– Legacy 9.0 – https://legacyfamilytree.com/ – RootsMagic Essentials – https://www.rootsmagic.com/essentials/
Resources
– Family Tree Magazine. – Greenwood, Val D. The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 4th Ed. Genealogical Pub. Co., 2017 – Haddad, Diane. Family Tree Factbook: Key Genealogy Tips and Stats for the Busy Researcher. Family Tree Books, 2018. – Kirkham, E. Kay. The Handwriting of American Records for a Period of 300 Years. Everton Publishers, 1981. – Mills, Elizabeth S. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Genealogical Pub. Co., 2007. – Powell, Kimberly. The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create a Family Tree. Adams Media, 2014. – Szucs, L. and Luebking, S. (2006). The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy. Ancestry, 2006. Any Questions?
– Tips Tricks or Ideas to Share? – Let’s talk about it in the comments!
Maggie Rose [email protected]