User:Aduclos/Sandbox

United States California Alameda

Guide to Oakland, Alameda County,Newspaper Record Collection, 1985-2011: '''birth announcements, marriage/anniversary records, and obituary/death records.

What's in this Collection?
This collection consists of card file indexes created from local newspapers and includes obituaries, wedding announcements, anniversaries, and birth announcements. The obituaries are mixed with biographical news stories. Some obituaries are included from the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register of persons who were natives of Oakland or the Bay Area and died in southern California. The card files for 1985-2002, 2003-2006 and 1986-2011 are located at the Oakland Family History Center. This collection is being published as images become available. [VISIBILITY STATEMENT INSERTED HERE]

Sample of Record Content
The various records in this collection may contain the following information:

Sample of Images
Click on images for a larger view.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Look at each image or record comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images or records and compare the information about the individuals listed to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind there may be more than one person in the records with the same name and you will want to look carefully at dates, places and relations to identify your ancestor from another person. You also may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name if they were known by a nickname or changed their name from the original birth record name. Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life and may be listed in records with any of those variations. For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Search Collection by Name: Fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches.

Search Collection by Image: To view the images in this collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Record Category" ⇒Select the "Record Type, Volume, and Year Range" category which takes you to the images

What Do I Do Next?
Once you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These records are often brief so it can be easy to confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.Next,record any new information about your ancestor found in the record, such as dates, places, event, occupation, immigration year, other relatives. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married or died nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the county.
 * Use the event date and ages of ancestors to search for original birth, marriage, or death records in the county of the event. The County Clerk has marriage records from 1854, probate,divorce,court and land records, birth records 1919-1988 (some from 1873) and death records 1905-1988 some from 1876. These records may have the maiden name of the mother, verify parents, and provide more clues to this family.
 * Search California Census records from this town/county/state to find this person as a child in the birth family and also as a parent in their adult family. Record names of family members listed, immigration dates, occupation, residence, birthplace, parents birthplace, and other information leading to more clues about your ancestor.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate California Land and Property records. These records often name close relatives and also give you more clues into the life of your ancestor.
 * Find more detail about death or burial information by searching for cemeteries, grave markers,sexton's records, or a civil or religious death record. Look for an obituary in a local newspaper archive. Sometimes a person is buried in a city or town in which they did not die. Do not assume that a burial place is the same as a death place. Look for death records in the place of death. The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900. If the officiator of a marriage or death was a minister, you may be able to determine to which religion or congregation your ancestor belonged. Look for church records of the birth, marriage, or death which may provide more information on the family.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they were born, married or died, then try searching the records of a nearby locality.
 * If you cannot find your ancestor in civil records, try searching Church Records of baptisms, marriages or deaths. Oftentimes church records pre-date civil records.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies.

Citations for This Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation: