Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
 
PART I Begin Your Family History Odyssey
CHAPTER 1 Why Explore Your Genealogy?
Start at the Beginning: Yourself and Your Family
Discover Sources of Information in Your Own Home
Vital and Civil Records
Religious Records
Personal or Family Bible
Photograph Albums
Scrapbooks
Letters
Diaries and Journals
Family Histories
Local Histories
Baby Books
Marriage Books
Funeral Books and Memorial Cards
Identification Documents
Immigration Papers
Naturalization Papers
Land Records
Military Records
Directories
Religious Publications
School Records
Employment Records
Search for the Less-Than-Obvious Items
Interview All Your Relatives
Consider Several Types of Interview
Schedule Interviews for Best Results
Ask the Right Questions
Use the Right Equipment for Your Interviews
Set the Tone of the Interview
Don’t Forget the “Thank You”
Begin to Organize What You Find
Get Started
CHAPTER 2 Analyze and Organize Your Family Information
Evaluate Primary vs. Secondary Information
Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Death Certificates
Obituaries
Cemetery Markers
Bible Entries
Recognize and Evaluate Original vs. Derivative Sources
Understand Types of Derivative Sources
Avoid Errors in Derivative Sources
Apply Critical Thinking Skills to Your Genealogical Research
Place Your Ancestors into Context
Format Names, Dates, and Locations Correctly
Record Names
Record Dates
Record Locations
Work with Pedigree Charts
Work with Family Group Sheets
Record Multiple Family Units with a Common Spouse .
How to Handle Nontraditional Family Units
How to Handle Adopted Children
Create Source Citations for Your Data
Select a Family Tree Format
CHAPTER 3 Balance Traditional and Electronic Research
Be a Modern Genealogical Researcher
Understand Traditional Research
Discover Documentary Evidence and Where It Is Found
Books and Periodicals
Manuscripts
Maps
Indexes
Histories
Biographies
Newspapers
Documents from Many Traditional Locations and Sources
Understand Electronic Research Materials
Email and Mailing Lists
Message Boards
Web Pages
Compilations and Indexes
Search Engines
Subscription Internet Sites for Genealogy
Blogs
Podcasts and Videocasts
Webinars
Live Online Radio
Integrate Traditional and Electronic Research Findings
CHAPTER 4 Place Your Ancestors into Context and Locate Vital Records
Place Your Ancestors into Context
Become a Student of History
Family Histories
County and Local Histories
State and Provincial Histories
National and World History
Use Maps to Locate the Right Place to Research
Avoid Wasted Time and Energy
Use Maps for Multiple Purposes
Use a Methodology That Works
Maps Can Equal Success
Locate Birth, Marriage, and Death Records
Locate Birth Certificates
Find Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Research Divorce Records
Locate Death Certificates
CHAPTER 5 Use Census Schedules and Records to Locate Your Ancestors
Understand and Work with United States Census Records
Understand Originals vs. Copies of Census Documents
Use Strategies to Work with Population Schedules
Don’t Overlook the 1885 Census
Use Substitutes for the 1890 Census
Use the 1940 Census
Use More than Just Population Schedules
Use Census Finding Aids to Locate Your Ancestors
Use Soundex and Miracode Index Resources
Use Excellent U.S. Census Reference Books
Access the Census Images on Microfilm and in Online Databases
Don’t Forget to Search State Censuses
Understand and Work with British and Irish Census Records
Work with England’s and Wales’ Census Records
Learn the Status of Irish Census Records
Use Quality Reference Materials When Working with British Census Records
Access the Census Records for the British Isles
Understand and Work with Canadian Census Records
Explore the Depth of the 1871 Census for Canada
Locate Additional Information on the Censuses
 
PART II Expand Your Research
CHAPTER 6 Extend Your Research with Advanced Record Types
Use Religious Records
Locate the Right Institution
Determine What Records the Institution Might Have Created
Locate the Records Today
Gain Access to the Records
Interpret, Evaluate, and Place the Records into Perspective
Consider a Variety of Religious Records
Obtain and Analyze Mortuary and Funeral Home Records
Read Between the Lines in Obituaries
Locate and Delve into Cemetery Records
Search for Other Death-Related Documents
Get Inside Your Ancestor’s Mind Using Wills and Probate Records
Understand the Meaning of a Will and Testament
Understand the Probate Process
Learn What a Will Can Tell You—Literally and by Implication
Examine the Contents of a Probate Packet
Watch for Clues and Pointers in the Probate Packet
Learn Why You Really Want to Examine Documents Yourself
Locate and Obtain Copies of Wills and Probate Documents
Obtain Information from the Social Security Administration and Railroad Retirement Board
Use Historical Newspapers to Learn About Your Ancestor’s Life Events
Consider Other Institutional Record Types
CHAPTER 7 Use the Many Types of Military Service Records
Expand Your Knowledge of the Military Services
Investigate Military History for the Appropriate Time Period
Identify Possible Sources for Military Records
Locate Military Records in the United States
Locate Canadian Military Records
Locate Military Records in the United Kingdom
Locate Australian Military Records
Examine Samples of Military Records
Locate Enlistment and Draft Registration Records
Military Muster Rolls and Pay Records
Seek Out Educational and Training Records
Look for Military Station and Duty Assignment Orders
Promotions and Commissions
Locate Military Discharge and Separation Records
Death and Burial Records
Locate Other Military-Related Records
CHAPTER 8 Understand and Use Land and Property Records
Locate and Use Land and Property Records in the United States
Learn About the Organization of State and Public Lands
Locate Land and Property Records
Learn About Types of Records
Learn About Land and Property Records in Canada
Land Measurement in Canada
Land Systems Used in Canada
Taxation and Duty Records
Locate the Land Records
Learn About Land and Property Records in the United Kingdom
How Many Manors Were There?
Manorial Records
Locate Land and Property Records Online
Place Your Ancestors into Context with Property Records
CHAPTER 9 Locate and Use Immigration and Naturalization Records
Understand Why People Migrate
Locate and Use U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Records
Learn About How Our Ancestors Traveled
Learn About the History of Ships’ Passenger Lists
Locate and Access Canadian Immigration Records
Consult the Library and Archives Canada
Locate and Access Australian Immigration Records
Learn About Australian History
Use Strategies for Determining Your Ancestor’s Migration Path
Start with What You Know
Refer to Vital Documents and Ecclesiastical Records
Don’t Overlook Voter Registration Records
Look for Passport Records
Locate and Use the U.S. Federal Census Population Schedules .
Study Published Histories
Look for Books About Early Settlers
Search for Shipping News
Use Other Strategies for Determining Your Ancestor’s Place of Origin
Use Photographic Images
Look at Home for Letters Written in Another Language
Consider Family Customs
Find Clues in Culinary Styles
Pay Attention to Family Physical Traits
Use Alternative Record Types to Identify Clues
Use the Resources at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Website
Understand the Naturalization Process
Locate Repositories Where Naturalization and Related Documents Are Housed
Work Immigration, Naturalization, and Census Records in Tandem
CHAPTER 10 Discover Where to Locate Evidence About Your Family
Determine Where to Look for Different Document Types
Use Indexes, Compilations, and Other Finding Aids
Use Indexes
Use Compilations
Use Other Finding Aids
Use Libraries and Archives
Learn How to Use the Library Catalog
Start with What Has Already Been Done
Use the Library of Congress Online Catalog
Use the FamilySearch Catalog and the LDS Family History Centers
Consult Reference Books and Other Resources
Locate the Repository on the Internet
Contact the Repository
Seek Help from a State, Provincial, or National Library or Archive
Contact Genealogical and Historical Societies at All Levels
Engage a Professional Researcher
Deal with Closed or Limited Access to Materials
Be Prepared to Provide Proof of Your Relationship
Offer to Pay All the Expenses
Provide Letters of Authorization or Permission to Access
Invoke the Use of the Freedom of Information Act
Obtain a Court Order
Order Document Copies by Postal Mail and Email
Keep Track of Your Correspondence
Use a Research Log
 
PART III Learn Research Methods and Strategies
CHAPTER 11 Learn How to Successfully Research Your Ancestors on the Internet
Categorize the Major Types of Internet Resources
Categorize the Major Types of Genealogical Web Page Resources
Compilation Sites
“How-to,” Educational, and Reference Sites
Genealogy Charts and Forms
Online Databases
Genealogical Societies
Structure Effective Searches to Locate Information
Define the Difference Between Search Engines and Directories
Use a Search Engine to Get Great Results
Use Mailing Lists and Message Boards to Share Information and Collaborate with Others
What Is a Mailing List?
What Is a Message Board?
Write Effective Messages and Postings That Get Results
Locate and Use Additional Resources in Your Research
Online Map Resources
Dictionaries
Language Translation
Historical and Biographical Resources
Calendars
People Finders and Telephone Directories
CHAPTER 12 Research and Verify Your Ancestors Using Genetic Genealogy (DNA)
Learn About DNA and Its Place in Genealogical Research
Discover the Difference Between Paternal and Maternal Testing and the Results
Learn About Genetic Testing Services
Join a DNA Surname Project on the Internet
Learn More About Genetic Genealogy
CHAPTER 13 Use Alternative Research Strategies to Locate Difficult Records
Recognize When You Have Hit a “Brick Wall”
Take a Fresh Look at Your Evidence
Reevaluate the Quality of Your Sources
Dissect Obituaries
Widen the Scope of Your Search to Include New and Different Sources
Use Photographs in Your Family Research
Learn About the Types of Photographs
Date Photographs Using Clothing and Hair Fashions
Switch to Another Family Member to Bypass Your Roadblock
Seek Help from Libraries, Archives, Museums, and Societies
Engage the Help of a Professional Researcher
Locate a Qualified Professional Genealogical Researcher
Define the Scope of the Work to Be Performed
Establish Guidelines, Goals, and Milestones
Document the Relationship
Conclude the Relationship
CHAPTER 14 Use the Latest Online Resources and Social Networking in Your Genealogy Research
Locate and Use Blogs
Use Wikis and Collaborate with Others
Enjoy Podcasts and Online Radio Broadcasts
Learn More About Genealogical Research with Internet Videos
Attend Live Webinars and Access Recorded Webinars
Learn About and Use the Latest Social Media Resources
Facebook
Genealogy Wise
Google+
Twitter
Summary
Case Study
Index