Genealogy Basics

How to get started researching your family history.

Presented by: Elaine Jones Hayes Laramie County Library System Cheyenne, Wyoming

Genealogy Basics Overview: Record What You Already Know.

Read a Genealogy How-To Book.

Begin Your Research at Home.

Look for Compiled (published) Information.

Research one Ancestral Line at a Time.

Look for Original Records. Record What You Already Know.

Write surnames in capital letters William James THOMAS Write dates military style 10 Aug 2006 Write names of places from smallest to largest Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming, USA

Work Backwards From Known to Unknown.

Work backwards from the present to the past, one generation at a time.

This will help you keep from making mistakes.

Dates and places of events are just as important as names. What are you looking for?: Who A full name, use a woman’s maiden name if known. What The event: birth, death, marriage, etc. Where A very important thing you need to know is the place where a person was born, married, lived or died, etc. When An (at least) approximate date for a vital event (birth, death, marriage, etc.) How do I keep track of all of this information?

Paper forms and filing cabinets

Genealogy specific software Storage on your computer, on flash drives, external hard drives, in the “cloud”, etc.

Stored in a shared family tree in a database such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. Using paper forms:

Use pedigree (or ancestry) charts, family group sheets, research logs, to get organized.

Paper genealogical forms are available for you in the LCLS Genealogy Room or at: www.cyndislist.com/supplies.htm www.laramiecountylibrary.org/specialcollections/ge ttingstarted www.familytreemagazine.com/FREEFORMS

Genealogy Software Programs:

FREE: Legacy Family Tree – Standard edition www.legacyfamilytree.com Gramps gramps-project.org Family Tree Legends www.familytreelegends.com For a small cost ($25-$50): Family Tree Maker – Generations, Legacy Family Tree – Deluxe edition, The Master Genealogist (TMG), RootsMagic, etc. For the Mac: Reunion, MacFamilyTree, Genealogy Pro, Heredis, iFamily, etc. Family Tree at FamilySearch.org: Family tree at Ancestry.com: Read a Genealogy How-to Book:

See my genealogy bibliography handout

Books are in the 929s on the 3rd Floor

Use Home Sources: These may be in your home or the home of a relative: Birth, marriage and death certificates Deeds, wills, & titles Diaries, journals, & birthday calendars Family Bibles and Family trees Funeral cards Newspaper clippings Military Service Records (and more - see handout)

Look for Compiled Information:

Learn what information on the family has already appeared in books and periodicals.

These resources are published as periodicals, books, e-books and computer databases or websites.

Evaluate Compiled Information:

Evaluate Written and Oral Evidence

Remember the old adage: Just because it's in print (or online, or what Grandma told you) doesn't make it true.

Be particularly wary of copying other’s research.

Finding Published Genealogies:

Look in WorldCat for books in other libraries. From the www.laramiecountylibrary.org, click on “WYLD Catalog”, then “Databases” . Then choose “WorldCat”. You’ll need a library card number and PIN. The default PIN is WYLD.

Ask the 3rd floor “Ask Here” desk to ILL (Interlibrary Loan) the book for you.

More Places to Find Published Genealogies (Family Histories):

The LDS Family History Library www.familysearch.org

Google Books at books.google.com.

Ancestry Library and Heritage Quest databases:

Genealogy Periodicals: Read a general genealogy magazine to learn new search techniques: Family Chronicle Family Tree Internet Genealogy (etc.)

To find past articles use the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Available on the Heritage Quest database. Look for Original Records: Primary Sources

A primary source is one created by an eyewitness of an event.

A secondary source is based on evidence gathered after an event occurred by a person who was not an eyewitness. Census Records: One of the best original records

In the U.S., a census has been taken every 10 years from 1790 through 2010.

1790 to 1940 censuses are available to genealogists to search. More about the U.S. Federal Census:

1790 through 1840 censuses listed head of household plus number of others living there.

Beginning in 1850, census lists all names, ages, places of birth, occupations, etc.

U.S. Federal Census cont.

1870 census indicates if the individual’s parents were foreign born.

1880 and later censuses added: Birthplaces (country or state only) of each person’s parents. U.S. Federal Census cont.

1890 federal census was (mostly) destroyed by fire.

1900 and 1910 censuses include: the age of each individual, how many years he had been married, year of immigration, citizenship status.

U.S. Federal Census cont.

1920 and 1930 censuses also: age & lists the year of naturalization.

Start with 1940 and work backwards.

Searching the U.S. Census:

Start with most recent census (1940) and work backwards.

Note similar names living nearby.

Watch for spelling errors. Do not be wedded to one surname spelling.

Always keep track of the source. Searching Census Information on Computer Databases:

Census Information is available at: Ancestry.com, Ancestry Library Heritage Quest , familysearch.org and elsewhere.

Heritage Quest can be searched at home with your library card # and PIN #. The default PIN is wyld.

Ancestry Library:

Ancestry Library is the library version of Ancestry.com (a paid subscription website).

Available for searching only in the library.

Heritage Quest:

Heritage Quest is another great genealogy database provided through Wyoming libraries. It also provides access to 1790- 1940 census images (and much more).

Vital Records: Vital records are civil records of births, marriage, deaths, etc.

Keeping vital records only began after the mid 19th or early in the 20th century.

Start with yourself and work backwards. Then obtain birth, marriage and, if applicable, death certificates for your parents, then grandparents, etc., Birth Certificates:

Birth certificates reveal: Baby’s name, birth date and parents Birthplaces of both parents, their age, their occupations, and their address The number of other children

Death Certificates: Death certificates can reveal: Place and cause of death. Name of deceased’s parents, Residence at time of death, Exact date of death, and date of burial Name of informant and relationship to deceased Funeral home that handled the arrangements, name of cemetery Marriage Records:

Before the 1850’s look for them with town clerks in New England and county clerks.

After 1850s at State Board of Health/Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Other sources of marriage records: Justice of the Peace registers Church records Where to Write for Vital Records.

“Google it” or use another search engine but look for official government websites (.gov or state.gov).

Websites such as “Where To Write for Vital Records” http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm

Social Security Death Index:

Available at www.familysearch.org www.ancestry.com and Ancestry Library Edition.

With their Social Security number you can write for a copy of the deceased’s “Application for a social security card,” form SS5.

The Original SS Card Application: To obtain a copy, write to: Social Security Administration OEO FOIA Workgroup 300 N. Green Street P.O. Box 33022 Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022

Summary:

1. Record What You Know. . Begin With Yourself and Work Backwards 2. Read a How-to Book. 3. Begin Your Research At Home. 4. Look for compiled information. 5. Research one ancestral line at a time. 6. Look for Original Records: . Census Records . Vital Records . Social Security Death Index The Family and Local History Room at LCLS:

The Genealogy Room (3rd Floor) is open: Monday – Thursday • 10:00 to 9:00 Friday –Saturday • 10:00 to 6:00 Sundays • 1:00-5:00 If no volunteer or staff person is available, ask for help at the 3rd Floor “Ask Here” Desk. Thanks for attending:

Other upcoming genealogy classes: Cheyenne Genealogy Society - Research Night – February 10th Genealogy: Beyond the Basics – February 23rd

We will repeat the basic series (Basics and Beyond the Basics) in February, June and October every year. Handouts are also available on the LCLS website.