Venezuela Resources

Venezuela Venezuela Resources

Introduction

 * It is not necessary that you be fluent in Spanish in order to have success in you research. Learning to recognize key Spanish genealogical words and phrases will also serve you well as you begin your genealogical adventure.
 * You do however have to take the time learn about the genealogical process. A basic knowledge of the history and geography of Venezuela will also prove useful. The following resources will be of assistance to you as you begin your journey in Hispanic research.

Research Resources

 * If you are brand new to family history research, it would be advisable to satart with a free online introductory class from [http//is.byu.edu/site/courses/free.cfm BYU Independent Study]. *FamilySearch Wiki: Patterned after Wikipedia this online library is community based where everyone can share something to assist in genealogical research. There are many articles on basic genealogical research.
 * Brigham Young University research outline for Venezuela available in PDF form is a collection of articles and useful resources for those conducting genealogical research in Venezuela.
 * An excellent book, which has been designed for both beginning and intermediate researchers in all Hispanic countries is by George R. Ryskamp (Baltimore:MD, 1997), FHL INTL Book 946 D27r.

Translation
Deciphering the records is crucial to having success in Hispanic research. The following resources will help you to read your document and translate it correctly.


 * The Spanish Genealogical Word List contains a list of many of the most common words you might find in Spanish records.
 * If you don't find the word you're looking for in the word list, you should consult a Spanish-English dictionary. Cassell's Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary. New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1978. (FS Library Book 463.27 C272c 1978).
 * Websites like Google Translate are also good sources for translating records from Spanish to English. Please beware that any word for word translation prepared by a computer program is likely to have some errors!

Handwriting
Reading Spanish hadwriting can be a challenge for a beginner, but with practice your speed and ability to read the records will improve. The following resources will provide you with instruction and tips to help your read Spanish handwritten records.


 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records is a series of three classes you can view online.
 * In lesson 1 you will learn about the Spanish alphabet.
 * In lesson 2 you learn to recognize names, key words, and dates.
 * In lesson 3 you will explore reading various types of Spanish records.
 * The Script Tutorial website sponsored by the Center for FamilyHistory and Genealogy at Brigham Young University contains exercise, samples, abbreviations, and lists of names and surnames to guide you as you learn to read Spanish handwriting.

Need Extra Help?
If you get stuck and can't read a document, or you're not sure where to go next in your research, you can ask for help through these resources.


 * Hispanic Genealogy Research community on Facebook is a page sponsored by FamilySearch. Here you may also post a question or upload an image of a document for further assistance. The Hispanic Genealogy Research page is designed especially for those who have Hispanic ancestry, but may not be fluent in Spanish. Be sure to click "Like" on the page on your first visit, so you can receive information and updates from the page in your news feed.


 * Investigación Genealógica en Venezuela is another FamilySearch research community page on Facebook where you can post questions and upload images of documents. The majority of the posts on this page are in Spanish, but you are welcome to post on the page in English. Be sure to click "Like" on the page on your first visit. so you can receive information and updates from the page in your news feed.