The tip of the Iceberg

Any research is only as good as the sources it uses. It is important to find reliable, credible sources. That is especially true for genealogical research. Over the last few decades interest in genealogy has grown exponentially driven largely by the easy access to records and information on the internet. The numerous recourses on the internet are great. Database based websites such as Ancestry.com and Family Search Labs make it possible for anyone to start their family history with a simple search. Genealogists now share information through forums and listservs. Individuals and groups have created websites that share family and local histories. But there are two issues to be aware of whenever using the internet for genealogical research. 1) How to spot accurate and inaccurate sources and 2) the internet is not the only research tool.

The internet is great because anyone can create a website or pot information to a forum. But that is also why the internet is bad. While there is accurate information being shared there can also be inaccurate information being shared. If a research makes a mistake and posts it, it is very hard to remove that information. Other researchers then see the wrong information, copy it without verifying its accuracy, and the false information is passed on. To make sure that the information you find on the internet is accurate be aware of who is posting it. Many genealogists are amateur hobbyists but others have been accredited by various professional organizations. Find out if the person posting the information did the research themselves or just copied someone else’s work. It is okay to copy the work of others as long as you cite your sources. This also helps other researchers determine if what you posted is accurate.

After researching on the internet for a while you will come to find that not every record is available. It takes a lot of work, time, and money to put records in a database. There are also restrictions on what records can be viewed by the public. For example, census records are only released 72 years after they were created. It is important for researchers to use other tools to conduct their research. Courthouses contain any records, including marriages, divorces, land deeds, and wills. These can often only be accessed by traveling tp the courthouse in the county you are researching and searching the records by hand. Libraries are a great resource for genealogists. Besides the many online subscriptions they offer patrons for free, libraries also collect family histories, indexes of records, and records on microfilm. Archives also actively collect important documents that may be discarded by government agencies, organizations, or individuals. Many archives are open to researchers. There is a popular poster in the genealogy world created by the California Genealogical Society and Library that visualizes the idea that there is much more information out there than what can be found on the internet. Simply put, the internet is just the tip of the iceberg.

What information or records have you found without using the internet?

Another reason to floss

Genealogy is a hobby that compliments many others hobbies. Some genealogists are also avid scrapbookers and create artwork from their research. Some researchers have become writers and have been able to publish family histories. So it is very likely that either by choice or chance many genealogists have become the caretakers of their family’s photograph collections. This has forced many to spend time protecting these collections from deteriorating. One of the worst offenders to photo preservation is the once popular magnetic photo album. These albums use strong adhesive to secure photographs. Over the ears the chemicals in the adhesive eat away at the photographs.

The best course of action is to remove the photographs as soon as possible. Because these pictures are damaged it is best to scan them and create a digital version that can be repaired. Once removed these photographs are often sticky and maybe too damaged to scan. In this case consider taking a high quality picture of the photograph. Removing photographs from magnetic albums can seem like a huge protect. Here is a video from the Smithsonian that details an easy way to remove photographs with dental floss.

How so you sort your pictures, by event, person, family, year, or other? How many magnetic albums can you find in your house?

A family tree = a paper mountain

So you’ve been researching your family for awhile now and the copies of records and notes are piling up. So what do you next? Maybe you’ve entered what you found into a genealogy program, but that doesn’t make the paper trail disappear. There are several ways to deal with the overwhelming amount of copies, documents, and pictures you amass while researching. Some people like to scrapbook their findings. This is a great option if you want to share your findings with others and also lets you tell a story through text and image. Another option is to scan each item into your computer and eliminate any originals you do not need. Many genealogy software programs now include the option to upload images and media. This method can directly tie items to the ancestor they relate to.

A third method, and the one I attempt to use, is filing each item. There are several ways to file the documents you have found. Documents can be filed by surname, family or couple, or event. Then records can be further divided by location or type. I currently file by couple/ family. Each marriage or partnership creates a new file. The records of children who do not marry remain in their parents file. I have my files divided by family in order by generation. This system works for me because it is easy for me to find who I am looking for and the files are not too large to search through. I did and still do have problems deciding where some records should go. For example, I keep records such as birth with the individual so a birth record will not be in their parents file unless this individual did not marry. Because census records contain many different individuals I make copies so that each census a person appears in, even as a child with their parents, is in their file. Currently my files are in a filing cabinet, but I would like to transfer them to binders. I like to share my research and taking a binder to a family reunion is much easier than carrying several files and chancing losing some papers or files. The best way to conquer filing all of the papers you collect is deciding what system to use and create rules so when a decision needs to be made there is a set standard for you to follow. Check out this article that further details different organizational options; Binders, Notebooks or Folders? - Organizing Your Genealogy Files by Kimberly Powell.

How do you present your research?

What kind of filing system do you use?

Feel free to share any practical tips you have learned.

Carved in stone

Information about ancestors can be gleaned from other sources than paper records. Tombstones are a great resource for birth and death information. Some stones may even list where a person was born, their marriage date, how they died, or even their occupation. Some cemeteries have been read by genealogists, meaning the inscription on each stone has been documented. This is usually done by genealogy or historical societies or sometimes individual researchers. These records are sometimes published and available for purchase in a book form, but more often they are kept in the research library of the organization that compiled them.

While finding the record of a tombstone in a book is helpful to furthering research, many cemeteries have not been recorded. In this case it is necessary to visit the cemetery and find the tombstone to learn what information has been left there. The best practice is to take a picture of the tombstone once you find it. Not only is this a good way to record the information on a stone without damaging the stone, it also creates a record of the physical condition of the tombstone. When searching a cemetery I like to take along a partner. I find that a second set of eyes makes it easier to find a specific stone in what can seem like endless rows of granite. But not all of your family and friends will understand your interest in hanging out in cemeteries and taking pictures of tombstones so pick wisely. Sometimes it is impossible to visit a cemetery due to distance.

A wonderful website now makes it possible to view tombstones from all over the world. Findagrave.com is a collection of tombstone images. It began as a site for tombstones of famous people, but is now open to all persons around the world. Records are entered by volunteers so not every cemetery is complete. There is an option to request a photograph of a specific tombstone. Any member of the site can answer requests. Not only is this a great way to get images of your ancestors’ tombstones, it is a wonderful way to help other researchers.

Who do you take with you to the cemetery to find tombstones?

Can you find an ancestor on Findagrave? If you already use Findagrave, challenge yourself to answer another researcher’s request.

The role of micofilm

The big news in genealogy over the past couple of years has been digitizing. Records are scanned and put into a database that is usually searchable online. But before digital records were available, the best way to get images of actual records was through microfilm. Although the largest producer of microfilm, the Church Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, has stopped recording original documents onto microfilm, portions of their large collection and many others are not yet available in any database. There are also many local newspapers that are only available on microfilm. This may change in the future, but until then using microfilm is vital to genealogical research.

Most libraries include microfilm in their catalogs so that you can search for a film before you decide to visit. Some libraries may not include films in their catalog, but may have a separate listing available to help you determine what records they have. In general, libraries will try to collect copies of the local newspaper, past and present. Family History Centers, which are run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, maintain a microfilm collection and it is possible to have specific films sent to your local center for a fee. Many libraries are also able to rent films from the Mormons so be sure to ask your genealogy or reference library. Although microfilm is a very helpful tool for genealogists some are too scared or reluctant to use it. As a genealogy librarian, I found that the biggest obstacle for many patrons was not knowing how to load and use the microfilm viewer. Below is a brief animation of how to load the most common microfilm viewer.

GoAnimate.com: How to load a microfilm viewer. by Sabrina.Stradtner

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Have you used microfilm before? If not why?

A never ending journey

Genealogy is the study of family history. But it is really much more. For many people genealogical research helps them understand who they are. It can answer questions or create new ones. Some researchers are searching for information about their family’s medical history; others simply what to learn their ethnic origins. Although genealogical research starts as a search for a person’s family history researchers often learn new details about American and World History from the perspective of their ancestors. Genealogists are a varied group. Many are older, but there are also young people interested in their family history. There are genealogical societies for every ethnic group and region of the world.

I cannot pinpoint the exact moment I became enthralled by American history, but when I was 12 it occurred to me that I wanted know about my own family’s role in history. I was a veracious reader of historical fiction and it occurred to me that I should know how my family fit into the history I was reading about. So I began my own never ending journey to learn about my ancestors. My research began simply with me asking my parents and grandparents about themselves and their parents and grandparents. These interviews led to the discovering of documents and records my family already had at home, such as birth announcements or letters from relatives. My research is now much more in depth. I use online resources, published books and indexes, records on microfilm, and so much more. Genealogy is my passion and something I will be doing for the rest of my life. My current research goal is to find when and where all of my ancestors came from.

What first got you interested in researching your family?

Do you have a set research goal?