User:Ccsmith/Sandbox

Principles of Family History Research
There are many reasons why people begin researching their family history. A person may want to join a lineage society, such as the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), or find the town in the old country where the family originated. Others seek to understand their own traits and characteristics by learning about grandparents and other relatives, or they may want to have a reunion of all the descendants of a pioneer settler. Latter-day Saints (Mormons) desire to share religious blessings with their deceased relatives. All of these, and many others, are good reasons.

Regardless of the reasons, each person seeking to learn about their family history is embarking on a quest. Just like the journeys of pioneer ancestors, such quests may seem almost impossible or never-ending. However, a quest is just an “over-all” goal and like every other journey, proceeds one step at a time.

As with every journey, you will have to set and reach several intermediate goals in succession during this quest. In family history, goals often focus on learning about an ancestor or family. Later in the research process, you will learn how to further break these goals into specific achievable research objectives that will keep you on the path, goal by goal toward achieving your quest.

At least part of the overall quest should involve sharing what you find. For example, publish a family history, put up a web site, or contribute to the Pedigree Resource File.

FIRST STEP – PEDIGREE CHART
What do you know? Let’s just see how much you really know about your ancestors. You might know more than you think.


 * Secure a pedigree chart. You can get one by clicking here.


 * In space 1 write you FULL name.


 * In space 2 write your father’s FULL name.


 * In space 3, your mother’s FULL name. Be sure to record her MAIDEN name, not her married name. This applies to all females on the pedigree chart.


 * In spaces 4 – 7 record grandparents.


 * In spaces 8 – 15 record great grandparents.


 * Note that the male names are always by even numbers.


 * Under each name, fill in the dates and places for birth, marriage and death estimating dates or guessing places if your are not sure.


 * To record a Date use the European form of recording dates, that is, Day, Month, Year: “3 April 1836.” Spell out the month.


 * To record a Place, go record as City, County, State, Country, for example: Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA. In a foreign country, it may be parish, town, province, country.


 * If you would rather do this on your computer, you can secure a free genealogical program at FamilySerach.org by clicking here.

SECOND STEP – FAMILY GROUP SHEET
What do you know about each family on Pedigree Chart? Here is where you record your cousins, second cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.


 * Secure a family group chart for each couple on the pedigree chart. You can get one by clicking here.


 * Fill in all the spaces as best as you can. Again estimating dates or guessing places if you don’t know for sure. To learn how to guess click here.


 * As you are filling in the Family Group Sheet please site your sources of information. Whether if be your own memory or someone else’s. Or if you have a birth certificate for example, cite it as the source of the birth information on the sheet. This is a very important step and critical if someone comes along to challenge your information. Here are a four articles to help you with how to cite your sources. You will find that citations are almost a science in an of themselves
 * Document your sources as you go
 * Citing your sources
 * How to record footnotes
 * Evaluate your evidence

THRID STEP – SHOEBOX
Go though your home and look for anything that will help you fill in the blank spaces. Recommend you gather up all you genealogical records such as birth certificates, marriage, death, school records, diaries, family bibles, letters, etc and put them into a shoebox. Take a few days to look around. You might think of something while doing something else.

FOURTH STEP – ORGANIZATION

 * Create a folder for each couple on your pedigree chart. This will keep all the information gathered in one place instead of being in a stack of papers.


 * Into each couples’ folder put the Family Group Sheet.


 * Place any and all records on this couple that you had accumulated in the shoebox.


 * On the folder tab, put the husband’s name and date of birth. You will probably have other folders with the same name so the date of birth is how you tell one from another. Record the maiden name of the wife.


 * In this couple folder, you put in all information on the couple and THEIR children. The children's birth certificates, etc.


 * If either the husband or the wife were married more than once, create a folder for each marriage.


 * When a child marries, you create a new folder of that married child.


 * Since you might accumulate folders on aunts and uncles, you might want to put a mark or a colored dot to tell the direct line ancestors from the others in your file.

FIFTH STEP – WHAT DO OTHER'S KNOW?
Here we start going to other family members or family friends that might help us fill in the blanks.


 * Look at your pedigree chart and see what spaces are blank?


 * Create a “To Do List” recording who you want to visit.


 * A sample of a To Do List can be had by clicking here.


 * Write a specific question for each blank space on the Pedigree Chart. This is important. Specific questions bring specific answers.


 * In addition, write specific questions for each blank space on the Family Group Sheet as well. For example: What was the name of my mother’s mother? When was Grandpa Jones born? Where was Grandpa Jones born?


 * Create a "Research Log." On this form you record the results of the searches that you had listed on your "To Do List." If there should be a lapes of time between working on a particular family, the "Research Log" will let you see what you have looked at and the result. It also keeps you from researching the same record twice. A sample of a "Research Log" can be had by clicking here. For more insights on keeping a research log click here.


 * A time line would be helpful as well. To see a sample click here. Lets you see at a glance the events in this families life such as births, relocating, deaths, etc.


 * Maps of the area the family lived in is handy as well. You can see just exactly where they lived so you can go visit these places as well to see what problems the landscaped gave them.


 * While you’re at it, you might take a recording devise, to have them tell you what they remember about the person your interested in. This may be a good time to get recorded personal histories when interviewing your relatives. For a list of possible questions to ask click here.


 * At the same time, gather pictures if they will let you have them or make copies for yourself.


 * Do not forget family friends. Sometimes they were closer to your particular family member than were members of their family.

SIXTH STEP – RESEARCH
Here's where you are to start your research in official records and libraries.


 * For a list of possible resources to search for information click here. It is a long list. Do not be discouraged. Longer the list of resources, the better chance you have of finding something.


 * On your "To Do List" select what sources from the above list you may think will give you the information you seek whether it be government records or libraries that may have the information you seek. For example you might put in your "To Do List" searching the US Census to find out all the children of a great grandparent.


 * To search the Family History Library to see if the record you want to examine is available to be check out if not available locally click here.


 * Record the results of each of your searches in your "Resarch Log." It is hard to remember all the records you have search if you have look at a lot of them or it has been awhile between searches.


 * Look in genealogical research books for ideas as to where to look for information from official sources such as county seats, land records, court records, immigration, census, etc. Click here for a list of books to study.


 * FamilySearch Wiki. For specific instructions on how to search in an area of interest, check out FamilySearch Wiki. There are thousands of articles on how to research in FamilySearch Wiki all over the world both on topics and locations. This will be an envaluable tool for you. Other help articles:
 * Search Tips
 * Boolean Searches

ON THE WEB
Look on line for help. Here are just a few places to look.


 * Google – Google the name you are interested in, you might get lucky.


 * FamilySearch Forums - Get the world to help you. Click here to ask questions. Someone in the world might know the answer.


 * FamilySearch Wiki - Thousands of articles on how to search in almost all parts of the world. Click here for access.


 * FamilySearch.org - Type in your ancestor's name and see if someone has already entered information on them by clicking here.


 * Genealogical online courses - For a list of free genealogical research courses that can be taken on lineclick here.


 * University &amp; Home-Study Courses - For a list of genealogical home-study courses click here.


 * Cindy’s list. - A free site with a hugh source of genealogical information available. Click here to check out this great recourse.


 * List of Websites -- List of Genealogical Websites.


 * Major Databases -- Click here for a list of major databases for searching in the United States.


 * Paid sites - There are paid sites that for a fee you can access their records. Many of them have millions of records.


 * Professional help - You may need to seek the help of a professional particular in parts of the world where records have not been photographed and posted in libraries or on the internet. For a list of certified genealogist click here.

OTHER ARTICLES FOR BEGINNERS

 * Beginners Grin and Dare It
 * Search the Records
 * Rookie Mistakes
 * Also see Category:Beginners for more articles on beginning research.