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GenealogyGenealogyOctober 20, 2005
More than Who and WhenInclude Where and Whyy
Tell a story
Rules of the Game
Play detectiveSearch for cluesEvaluate the meaning of the clues
• Are they telling you the truth or leading you down a false trail and wrong conclusions
Document what you learn
Evaluating InformationEvaluating InformationOriginal vs. Derivative Sources
Original Source: one that contributes written, oral, or visual information not derived from a prior written record or oralinformation not derived from a prior written record or oral communication.
Derivative Source: one that contributes information which was i d ib d b d i d d fcopied, transcribed, abstracted, summarized, or repeated from
information in a previously existing source.
Examples ofExamples of Original vs. Derivative Sources
Original Sources: Derivative Sources:Original willMicrofilm census record
Clerk’s transcription of willIndexed list of censusrecord
Birth certificate original document
Indexed list of census entriesRegistrar’s certified transcription of birth certificate
Evaluating InformationEvaluating InformationPrimary vs. Secondary Information
Primary: A statement about an event or situation that is (a) made orally or in writing by a knowledgeable participant or eyewitness; or (b) made in writing by an official charged by law, canon, or bylaws with creating an accurate record of the matter.
Secondary: A statement made orally or in writing by someone who was not/is not (a) a knowledgeable participant in or eyewitness to the matter; or (b) was not/is not an officially appointed recorder of the information.
Examples of Primary vs SecondaryPrimary vs. Secondary
Information
Primary Information: Secondary Information:Original birth certificateOfficial marriage
Family bibleCompiled family historyObit iOfficial marriage
licenseDeath certificate on file
ObituariesOn-line genealogical forums
at county recorderOriginal willO i i l t d dOriginal property deed
Evaluating InformationEvaluating InformationDirect vs. Indirect Evidence
Direct Evidence: A statement, when taken as a whole, includes essentially all details needed to reach a conclusion – it does not require additional information to explain its meaning. Direct evidence:
Specifically establishes a certain fact.Can be incorrect.
Indirect Evidence: Derived from information statements that are incomplete; additional information is needed before a conclusion can pbe reached. Indirect evidence:
May be correct or incorrect.
Evaluating InformationEvaluating InformationExample
Frank Wolf birth certificatePrimary information
Isidor Wolf – Maria Lowi marriagePrimary information
Original sourceDirect evidenceBut is all the information
marriagePrimary informationOriginal sourceDirect evidenceBut – is all the information
correct?Direct evidence
Evaluating InformationEvaluating InformationExample - continued
Wolf/Lowi wedding Frank Wolf birth
Date of event 8/25/1895 6/27/1905
Izidor Wolf’s age 26 32
Maria Lowi’s age 28 31
Documentationocu e tat oThe hardest part of genealogy
Citations – identify the source of the informationForms – used for recording informationReports – used for presenting information
CitationsCitationsWhere did you find this?
The standard for documentation:Eli b h Sh Mill E id ! Ci i d A l iElizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997)g )Books – Author, title, publisher, date publishedMicrofilm – film or fiche number & location of filmVerbal – person, location, dateFor ALL: repository where information was found
Document as you goDocument as you go
Remember: undocumented genealogy is mythology.g gy y gy
Forms
Pedigree Chart – represents the blood line of an individualN b iNumbering:
• The individual is #1, • The father is double the number of the child, the mother is one
higher than the fatherA typical chart has room for 4 generations – 15 peopleA chart includes vital events: births, marriages, deathsg
More Forms
Family Group Sheet – each sheet represents one f il i f h h ll hildfamily unit: father, mother, all children
Lists vital information for all individuals (BMD)1 h t/f il it h i d hild h hi /h1 sheet/family unit – each married child has his/her own family group sheetPortable – take to library or FHCy
Still More Forms
Research Log – don’t repeat the same search over dand overA separate log for each individual or surnameD t lt d l ti ltDate, source consulted, location, resultsInclude negative results
Reports
Descendant Tree – Outline Formd h di i l f ilDescendant Tree – the traditional family tree
Ancestor Tree – similar to a pedigree chartGenealogy ReportGenealogy Report
The Starting PointYouYour immediate familyy
ParentsSiblingsChildrenGrandchildren
Work backwards in time and sidewaysAunts & unclesC i d th i f iliCousins and their families
Only a genealogist regards a step backwards as progress.
Genealogy goes on . . .and on . . .and on . . .and on . . .
and on . . .and on . . .
Sources of Information
Census dataImmigration dataWills & probatesProperty & land deedsTax records
Additional Sources
Birth CertificateMarriage CertificateChild’s Birth CertificateSSDIDeath CertificateObituary
US Census Information
1790 - PresentPrior to 1850Prior to 1850
Name of head of household onlyNumber of free, white males/females – grouped by age ranges
l h h h ld bTotal other household members1850 – 1930
All individuals listed by name• Relation to head of house (starting in 1880)• Sex, age, birthplace, occupation• Birthplace & language of father/mother (some years)p g g ( y )
Old genealogists never die; they just lose their census
Evaluate Census Information
Primary informationd i iti b ffi i l h d b l ith timade in writing by an official charged by law with creating an
accurate record of the matter
Part original source, part derivative sourceMicrofilm of document is original sourceIndex is derivative – created by organization providing the document to simplify searchesp y
Indirect evidenceNeeds additional information to be conclusive
Example
1920 Census 1930 CensusMax Eisen – age 32
• Parents born in Austria
Wife Gertie age 27
Martin Eisen – age 40• Parents born in Austria
Wife Frieda age 33Wife – Gertie – age 27• Parents born in Sweden
Children:
Wife – Frieda – age 33• Parents born in Russia
Children:• Harry – age 4• Dorothy – age 2• Raymond – age 1
• Roslyn – age 14• Florence – age 10• Howard – age 1Raymond age 1 Howard age 1
Doing Research
In the fieldOn the Internet
Research in the Field
Library of Congress – Washington DCwww.loc.gov
Mormon Family History Library – Salt Lake Citywww.familysearch.com
All C t Lib Ft W INAllen County Library – Ft. Wayne, INNARA – Nat’l Archives & Records Admin. –34 facilities: census records military records passenger34 facilities: census records, military records, passenger lists, naturalization petitions, land grants, etc.Cemeteries
G l i h l h bbGenealogy is the only hobby where dead people can really excite you
Local Research
LDS Family History Centers: Oakland, Concord, DanvilleA A SNARA – San Bruno
CA Genealogical Society Library – OaklandSutro Library (CA State Library) San FranciscoSutro Library (CA State Library) – San Francisco Heritage Rm @ Pleasant Hill Library – Pleasant Hill
County Records
Births, marriages, deathsProbated willsProbated willsReal estate records – land grants, homesteads, etc.Tax recordsContractsLawsuitsNaturalization & citizenshipNaturalization & citizenshipName changesetc
The ProblemThe Problem
Finding The Right County
AniMap County Boundary Historical AtlasEvery county boundary change in US since 1634Every county boundary change in US since 1634Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County BoundariesGeorge B. Everton, Sr., The Handy Book for GenealogistsRonald V. Jackson, Encyclopedia of Local History and Genealogy: U.S. CountiesJoseph Nathan Kane The American Counties: Origins ofJoseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties: Origins of Names, Dates of Creation and Organization Data, and Published Sources
Internet ResearchInternet Research
Internet Research
Cyndi’s List (www.cyndislist.com) - genealogy hsearches
Professional sites (fee-based)ancestry.comgenealogy.comgodfrey org Godfrey Memorial Librarygodfrey.org – Godfrey Memorial Libraryheritagequest.commytrees.commytrees.com
More Internet Research
Free Genealogy Web Sites:LDS F il S h f il hLDS Family Search – familysearch.org CA State Sutro Library – lib.state.ca.us CA Genealogical Society – calgensoc.org New England Historic Genealogical Society – nehgs.org Ellis Island – ellisislandrecords.org Social Security Death Index – ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-Social Security Death Index ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgibin/ssdi.cgiSteven Morse one-step searches – stevemorse.org
Additional Web Sites
State Archives: from the Ancestry.com web sitewww.ancestry.com/learn/library - click on daily news desk – the Oct 3, 2005 article has links to all states
ObituariesObituariesLibrary web sites
All About DatesJulian Calendar
Established by Julius Caesar in 45 BCY 365 d & 6 h l ( l 4 )Year was 365 days & 6 hours long (a leap year every 4 years)Year began on March 25Problem – calendar did not match nature – 11 minutes too long, gaining 1 day every 128 years
Gregorian CalendarPope Gregory XII created Gregorian Calendar adopted by CatholicPope Gregory XII created Gregorian Calendar adopted by Catholic countries in 1582Year began on January 1Added 10 days to compensate for error in length of year in theAdded 10 days to compensate for error in length of year in the Julian calendar: October 4 followed by October 15
More About Dates
England & The ColoniesAd t d th G i C l d 170 l t (i 1752)Adopted the Gregorian Calendar 170 years later (in 1752)By now discrepancy was 11 daysBy decree of English Govt. Sep. 2 was followed by Sep. 14
George Washington: born Feb. 22, 1732Sweden adopted it in 1753Russia remained on Julian Calendar until 1917Greece and Eastern Orthodox Churches changed in 1923
Genealogy Programs
The Master Genealogist 6.01 ($59) – powerful il 0 ($20 $30 i h b k)Legacy Family Tree 5.0 ($20 or $30 with book)
Family Tree Maker 10.0 ($ 29.95) – popularRootsMagic v2 ($29 95) easy to useRootsMagic v2 ($29.95) – easy to useBrother’s Keeper - sharewarePersonal Ancestral File 5.2.18 (LDS program) – freePersonal Ancestral File 5.2.18 (LDS program) free download
NOTE: all programs SHOULD be able to export files in the GEDCOM (GE l i l D COM i i ) fGEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) format.
Example of Genealogy Program
Beware the Genealogy BugIt’s bite can be addictive