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Finding Your Kin: An Finding Your Kin: An Introduction to Introduction to
GenealogyGenealogy
Finding Your Kin: An Finding Your Kin: An Introduction to Introduction to
GenealogyGenealogyPresented October 16, 2009 Presented October 16, 2009
by Jean Cooperby Jean Cooper
Summary
• Why genealogy?• How to begin?• Terminology• How to Record Information• Choosing Genealogical Software• Mistakes to Avoid• References
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 2
Why Genealogy?• To satisfy your curiosity about yourself and your roots.
• To provide your children with a sense of who their ancestors were, where they came from and how they lived their lives.
• To preserve family cultural and ethnic traditions for future generations.
• To compile a medical family history to give family members an advantage in the battle against inherited diseases or defects.
• To qualify for a lineage or heritage society.
• To assemble and publish a family history book, whether for family members or for profit.
• To discover facts that others have overlooked and solve the puzzle of a lifetime.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 3
Percentage of Americans Interested
in Genealogy
45
6073
01020304050607080
1995 2000 2005
Data from Maritz Marketing Research and
Marketing Strategies, I nc. Polls
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 4
Terminology
• Paternal / Maternal• Ancestors / Descendants• Primary sources / Secondary sources• Family history / Local history• Lineal / Collateral / Half / Step
• Relationships chart-http://genealogy.about.com/library/nrelationshipchart.htm
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 5
Great Moments in Genealogy
• 1632 – General Assembly of Virginia requires ministers to keep and report vital records.
• 1783 – Society of the Cincinnati organized; membership limited by ancestry.
• 1845 - New England Historic Genealogical Society (oldest of its kind) chartered.
• 1969 – ARPANET created.• 1977 – First airing of Alex Haley’s “Roots” on
television.• 1996 – Cyndi Howells sets up her webpage
linking to genealogical websites.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 7
How to Begin• Start with you & your parents &
grandparents– date and place of birth – names of parents – date and place of marriage – names of children – date and place of death
• Record everything, even if you don’t think you will need it. Get photocopies if possible.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 8
Cite Your Sources
•ALWAYS record where and when you got the information.
•Record everything, even if you don’t think you will need it.
•Get photocopies if possible.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 9
How to Record Information
• Charts– Family Group Sheet– Pedigree Chart
• http://www.ancestry.com/save/charts/ancchart.htm
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 10
What do genealogists look for?
Recorded evidence of the existence of a person (related to them or not), and facts about the person and that person’s relationship(s) with others.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 14
Primary Sources• U.S. Census • Birth, marriage, death records• Newspapers• Court records• Land records and maps• Medical records
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 15
Secondary Sources• Biographies• Dictionaries, encyclopedias• Guides, handbooks, manuals• Histories
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 16
Choosing Genealogical Software
• http://genealogy.about.com/library/onestop/bl_software.htm
• Family Tree Maker• Family Origins• Brother’s Keeper• Personal Ancestral File (PAF)• Cumberland Family Software
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 17
Virginia Genealogy• A Guide to Genealogical Resources
in the University of Virginia Library. (2005)
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/genealogy/
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 18
Major Websites Containing Genealogical
Information
• Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - http://www.cyndislist.com/
• USGenWeb Project - http://www.usgenweb.org/
• RootsWeb.com - http://www.rootsweb.com/
• Ancestry.com – http://www.ancestry.com• FamilySearch (LDS Genealogy website) -
http://www.familysearch.org/
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 19
Where to Learn More• Introduction to Genealogy (Free) -
http://genealogy.about.com/library/lessons/ blintro.htm• American Genealogy: A Basic Course /
National Genealogical Society ($) - http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/eduhsc.htm
• Brigham Young University Independent Online Courses in Family History ($) - http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/
• Cyndi’s List –Information for Beginners in Genealogy - http://www.cyndislist.com/beginner.htm
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 20
Tips for Genealogists• Talk to your relatives ASAP.• Write down your sources (and make
photocopies of everything, if possible).• Question all information.• Information found on the Internet is often
unreliable.• Verify and cross check your sources.• Family legends must be questioned.• You’re probably not descended from royalty.• Try multiple spellings of your surname.• Dig deeper, past names and dates.• Beware the generic family history.
Jean L. Cooper University of Virginia Library
Oct. 16, 2009 21