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STATE Step-by-step research 1880--present

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records:
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What should be asked?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews What to Ask the Relatives
 * Genealogy: 150 questions to ask family members about their lives
 * Creating Oral Histories

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1880-1950, online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household (depending on the year). their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed. FAMILY DOCUMENT

Use the clues found through family sources to lead to census record searches.
CLUES FOUND
 * CENSUSES TO SEARCH LIKE THIS (EXAMPLE, INCLUDE DATE AND PLACE) Between 1928 and 1946, there are two censuses that should be searched: 1930 and 1940, in St. Clair County, Michigan.

CENSUSES FOUND, SYNCHRONIZE LABELS

==='''Now you try it. Find your ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.''' === For more information, see STATE Census and United States Census.

XXXXSTATE CENSUSES IF AVAILABLE

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. *A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
The census records identified three generations of XXXX couples. In each case, the census record does not give the maiden name of the mother. Finding marriage records can: xxxMARRIAGE EXAMPLE AND COMMENTARY, LABELLING SYNCHED
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death: XXXX DEATH EXAMPLE, COMMENTARY, SYNCH LABELLS
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

Now you try it. Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in STATE, see How to Find STATE Birth Records, How to Find STATE Marriage Records, and How to Find STATE Records.

Studying what you have found and what you need to find:
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 * Next comes a process of going back and forth between various certificates, and back and forth to the census records.
 * Review what you have found to see if there is missing information that could be found in another birth, marriage, or death certificate for your ancestors or their children.
 * If you are missing the names of parents, find a person's death certificate. It may contain the names of the deceased's parents, which would extend your pedigree back one more generation. This can lead to following the new-found parents in census searches.
 * Or if certificates do not show the parents, look for the child listed with the parents in a census.
 * If you find a child listed in a census record, try to find their actual birth certificate to learn their full birth date.
 * If a married couple is shown in the census records, find the wife's maiden name by searching for their marriage record or her death record. The mother's maiden name should also be given in her children's birth certificates.

How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates: XXXX CORRECT LINK*purchasing them through the mail
 * online databases
 * writing to a county courthouse (prior to state civil registration beginning in 1867)

Online databases, indexes and images.
XXXX CAP HOW TO STATEMENTS

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to find all the birth records for one family or other perform searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: STATE Counties.

Ordering certificates through the mail.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).

XXXX GET CORRECT ADDRESS*Where to Write for Vital Records

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details. XXXX EXAMPLES OBIT AND CEME, COMMENTART, SYNCH LABELS

Now you try it. Gather as many obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records as possible.
For more information, see STATE Obituaries and STATE Cemeteries.

Obituary Collections
XXXX PASTE OBITUARY AND CHECK LINKS

Cemetery Record Collections
XXXX PASTE CEMETERY AND CHECK LINKS

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find your ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. '''Although more recent drafts required just 18-year-olds to register, World War draft records covered men born between 1873-1897. The World War II draft covered a wide range of ages also. These records are the most likely to have records for the Pembertons.'''

XXXX WW I AND WWII EXAMPLES

'''Now you try it. Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for your male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see STATE Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records.
Church records function as vital records. An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth. Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister. Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration in 1867. XXXX CHURCH EXAMPLE

'''Now you try it. Follow the instructions and links in these articles to search for possible church records that might fill in the gaps for you.
Try these online records: XXXX PASTE CHURCH LIST - These are the easiest records to access, but more records are available:
 * For help with church records kept in STATE, see STATE Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
For more information, see U.S. Probate Records Class Handout. XXXX PROBATE SAMPLE


 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet. *Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next goal. XXXX COMMENT ON ANY IMMIGRANT NOTES IN CENSUS

STATE Immigration Records
XXXX PASTE IMMIGRATION an, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit}} at FamilySearch; index & images
 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Recordss

STATE Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
XXXX PASTE CITEZEN
 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: STATE; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "STATE" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry ;the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "STATE" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use STATE and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or you can use the "Find" function on your computer. XXXX PASTE BIOGRAPHY LIST

Step 10: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.
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 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked. Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc. Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county. Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked. Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc. Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county. Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.


 * If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.

XXXX TAKE CAPITAL M OUT OF LINKThis online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society. XXXXPICTURE OF HOME PAGE OF SOCIETY

Historical Images
XXXX CORRECT LINKS Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * STATE, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * STATE, United States Historical Images, Old Version

STATE Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in STATE Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the STATE Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * STATE Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in STATE.
This article focused more on STATE state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in STATE. This can help you with other records kept on a county level. PASTE COUNTY LIST


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