Searching Your Family Searching Your Family HistoryHistory

Brought to you by the Staff of Brought to you by the Staff of thethe

Medina County District Medina County District LibraryLibrary

Cardinal Rules of Genealogy ResearchCardinal Rules of Genealogy Research

1. Begin collecting information with the known, 1. Begin collecting information with the known, yourself, and work backward one generation at yourself, and work backward one generation at a time towards the unknown, your ancestors. a time towards the unknown, your ancestors. Don’t skip to a famous person and try to make Don’t skip to a famous person and try to make him/her fit into your historyhim/her fit into your history

Must have at least this much information on Must have at least this much information on each individual:each individual:

Full name including women’s maiden namesFull name including women’s maiden names Date and place of birthDate and place of birth Date and place of marriages & divorcesDate and place of marriages & divorces Date and place of death & burialDate and place of death & burial List of siblings and childrenList of siblings and children

But if that is all you have in your family history, it will But if that is all you have in your family history, it will be very boring. Use these types of sources to start be very boring. Use these types of sources to start filling in the gaps and make your family history come filling in the gaps and make your family history come alive!alive!Adoption Records Family Bibles Naturalization Adoption Records Family Bibles Naturalization PapersPapersBaby Announcements Family Business Papers Newspaper Baby Announcements Family Business Papers Newspaper ClippingsClippingsBaby Books Family Stories ObituariesBaby Books Family Stories ObituariesBank Books Family letters Oral HistoriesBank Books Family letters Oral HistoriesBaptism Records Family pictures Photo AlbumsBaptism Records Family pictures Photo AlbumsBirth Certificates Funeral Guest Books Property Tax Birth Certificates Funeral Guest Books Property Tax ReceiptReceiptCitizenship Papers Graduation Records Report CardsCitizenship Papers Graduation Records Report CardsConfirmation Record Heirloom jewelry ResumesConfirmation Record Heirloom jewelry ResumesDeath Announcements Immunization Records School Death Announcements Immunization Records School RecordsRecordsDeath Certificates Income Tax Forms ScrapbooksDeath Certificates Income Tax Forms ScrapbooksDiaries & Journals Insurance Records Social Security Diaries & Journals Insurance Records Social Security CardsCardsDiplomas Land Records Wedding AlbumsDiplomas Land Records Wedding AlbumsDischarge Papers Marriage Records Wedding Discharge Papers Marriage Records Wedding GuestbookGuestbookDivorce Papers Military Awards Wills&Estate Divorce Papers Military Awards Wills&Estate RecordsRecordsEmployment Records Mother’s Certificates YearbooksEmployment Records Mother’s Certificates Yearbooks

2. Read books on “how-to” do genealogy. The library 2. Read books on “how-to” do genealogy. The library has many fine books that explain the process of has many fine books that explain the process of researching your family history. Learn from other’s researching your family history. Learn from other’s experience and don’t make unnecessary mistakes. experience and don’t make unnecessary mistakes.

Take genealogy classes either from the library or Take genealogy classes either from the library or the local genealogical society.the local genealogical society.

3. Collect family stories and personal 3. Collect family stories and personal testimonies These should be verified in other testimonies These should be verified in other sources. Talk to all of your relatives, particularly sources. Talk to all of your relatives, particularly the older ones, and collect family stories and the older ones, and collect family stories and information from them.information from them.Topics to ask about:Topics to ask about:-Full Name-Full Name -Birthdate & place-Birthdate & place -Hometown -Hometown-Parents-Parents -Marriage-Marriage -Historic Events -Historic Events-Siblings-Siblings -Children-Children -Family Traditions -Family Traditions-Childhood home-Childhood home -Politics-Politics -Sports -Sports-Family relations-Family relations -Military-Military- Hobbies- Hobbies -Friends -Friends-Family Income-Family Income -Schools -Schools-Seasons & Special Occasions-Seasons & Special Occasions -Games-Games-Religion-Religion -Career -Career

AND…AND…

Be sure to ask if anyone else has ever worked Be sure to ask if anyone else has ever worked on the family history!on the family history!

ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/pub/genealogy/roots-l/genealog/genealog.intrview

4. Organize your research and keep it 4. Organize your research and keep it organized!!organized!!

Use Ancestor Charts and Family Groups Sheets to organize your Use Ancestor Charts and Family Groups Sheets to organize your information. These charts are available free online:information. These charts are available free online:

http://c.ancestry.com/pdf/trees/charts/anchart.pdfhttp://c.ancestry.com/pdf/trees/charts/famgrec.pdf

Choose a filing system and/or computer program to contain your Choose a filing system and/or computer program to contain your research.research.

Use a log to track your research. Who have you requested information Use a log to track your research. Who have you requested information from?? Have they replied??from?? Have they replied??

http://c.ancestry.com/pdf/trees/charts/correc.pdf

Make back up copies of all records and computer files and store some Make back up copies of all records and computer files and store some copies away from your home (safety deposit box, someone else’s home.)copies away from your home (safety deposit box, someone else’s home.)

Protect irreplaceable documents in a secure location. Protect irreplaceable documents in a secure location. NEVERNEVER take take original documents on trips to do research.original documents on trips to do research.

5.5. Use a set format for recording your Use a set format for recording your informationinformation

Capitalize surnames, it makes them easier to read. I.E. John SMITHCapitalize surnames, it makes them easier to read. I.E. John SMITH

Dates; month, day, year. i.e. January 1, 1989. The month should Dates; month, day, year. i.e. January 1, 1989. The month should be spelled out or use a three letter abbreviation to avoid confusion. be spelled out or use a three letter abbreviation to avoid confusion. Do not use a number for the month. Use four digits for the year Do not use a number for the month. Use four digits for the year since you will be researching different centuries. since you will be researching different centuries.

Places should go from the smallest, most local to the larger, i.e. Places should go from the smallest, most local to the larger, i.e. City, County, State, Country. i.e. Lodi, Harrisville Township, Medina City, County, State, Country. i.e. Lodi, Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio, USA.County, Ohio, USA.

If you use any abbreviations, be sure to supply a key to what the If you use any abbreviations, be sure to supply a key to what the abbreviations mean. Don’t assume everyone uses the same abbreviations mean. Don’t assume everyone uses the same abbreviations.abbreviations.

6.Completely document the source of your 6.Completely document the source of your information.information.

When gathering information from relatives, be sure to record the date and When gathering information from relatives, be sure to record the date and location of the interview and the full name and relationship to you of the location of the interview and the full name and relationship to you of the person.person.

When using an Internet source, cite the full name of the resource, and the When using an Internet source, cite the full name of the resource, and the date and how accessed.date and how accessed.

For government records, list location (city, county, state) and volume For government records, list location (city, county, state) and volume number and page and the date found.number and page and the date found.

When using books, list the full title, author, copyright date, page number When using books, list the full title, author, copyright date, page number and where the book was located (ex. Delaware County District Library and where the book was located (ex. Delaware County District Library Local History room.)Local History room.)

Put citations on your sources. For an explanation of this process you can Put citations on your sources. For an explanation of this process you can read two resources: read two resources:

““Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian” Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian” ““Evidence Explained, citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace”Evidence Explained, citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace”

Your goal is to make it possible for someone else to retrace the steps in Your goal is to make it possible for someone else to retrace the steps in your research.your research.

Vital records, birth, death and marriage records, are generally held at Vital records, birth, death and marriage records, are generally held at county or parish court houses and state departments of vital statistics. county or parish court houses and state departments of vital statistics. Handybook for Genealogist Handybook for Genealogist and and Ancestry’s RedbookAncestry’s Redbook list where vital records list where vital records can be found anywhere in the world. can be found anywhere in the world. www.vitalrec.com is an online is an online resource.resource.

Census records for the U.S. are held at the National Archives in Washington, Census records for the U.S. are held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. HeritageQuest.com and Ancestry.com (and the library version D.C. HeritageQuest.com and Ancestry.com (and the library version AncestryLibraryEdition) all provide access to the Federal census records.AncestryLibraryEdition) all provide access to the Federal census records.

U.S. military records are held either at the National Archives U.S. military records are held either at the National Archives http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ or theNational Military or theNational Military Personnel Records Center (NPRC), in St. Louis, Missouri Personnel Records Center (NPRC), in St. Louis, Missouri

Libraries are good sources of information on general history, genealogy Libraries are good sources of information on general history, genealogy processes, state and national indexes, and local or county histories.processes, state and national indexes, and local or county histories.

Internet sources, like the ones mentioned above, as well as the GenWeb Internet sources, like the ones mentioned above, as well as the GenWeb network of sites can help further your research. network of sites can help further your research.

All of these sources, and more, are covered in any good All of these sources, and more, are covered in any good genealogy “how-to” book!genealogy “how-to” book!

7.Use these resources to further your research7.Use these resources to further your research

Produce copies of your research and share with interested family Produce copies of your research and share with interested family members.members.

Make a copy for the libraries and genealogical societies in the counties and Make a copy for the libraries and genealogical societies in the counties and states where your ancestors resided.states where your ancestors resided.

Share your research online with others interested in the same names and Share your research online with others interested in the same names and locations as you are, via mailing lists on Rootsweb.com and locations as you are, via mailing lists on Rootsweb.com and familysearch.com (Do not share information on living persons. Not familysearch.com (Do not share information on living persons. Not everyone is as honest as you are!!)everyone is as honest as you are!!)

8.Share your research and your questions8.Share your research and your questions

9.Remember: You are 9.Remember: You are NEVERNEVER “finished” with your “finished” with your family history. For every new person you find, family history. For every new person you find, there are at least two more people you must find, there are at least two more people you must find, the parents!the parents!

Genealogy starts as a hobby, becomes an Genealogy starts as a hobby, becomes an addiction and turns into a disease. addiction and turns into a disease.

-Unknown-Unknown

The End