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Discovering Your Family Tree |
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Table of Contents
1. Identify What You Already Know About Your Family
Use Appropriate Forms To Record Information
Recall And Record Information About Your Family
Gather Information Within Your Family
Copy Information From Family Documents Or Records
Organize Records, Documents, And Family Memorabilia
2. Decide What You Want To Learn About Your Family
Identify People For Whom There Is Insufficient Information
Choose One Person To Learn More About
Identify Questions To Answer About The Person
Select One Question As The Research Objective
Prepare A Research Log
3. Select A Record To Search
Identify Major Categories Of Records Available To Search
Select Specific Record(s) To Search
Describe The Record On A Research Log.
4. Obtain And Search The Record
Obtain The Record.
Search The Record.
Record The Results.
5. Use The Information
Evaluate The Information Found.
Transfer The Information
Organize Newly Acquired Records.
Share Your Family History With Others.
Records, The Church And Family Ties
4. OBTAIN AND SEARCH THE RECORD
Throughout the world, many records can be found in libraries, archives, and public and private offices. They can be obtained by personally visiting or writing to the library or by sending a friend, family member, or paid researcher In the United States, collections of genealogical records can be obtained and searched at a variety of archives Ask your public librarian for directories United States National Archives Microfilm copies of many of the records at the National Archives are available at the Family History Library, at other major archives and libraries, and at regional offices of the National Archives. Using forms from the National Archives, you may purchase microfilms or request photocopies of specific records.
Family History Library The library's United States collection includes more than half a million rolls of microfilm The library has a public access computer system known as FamilySearch™
Records from the Family History Library and the FamilySearch™ computer system are available at all family history centers of the LDS Church and at many other libraries and archives. The library also offers classes, instructional aids, and consultation services. It is open to the public, and there are no fees for using the records.
Historical Some of the largest of these societies are—
State Archives Public and University Libraries. Public and university libraries have many published sources and might have some records on microforms. Most also provide interlibrary loan services, which allow you to borrow some records from other libraries.
Some libraries will also respond to written queries. When requesting any research or information through correspondence, make your letter brief and very specific. Enclose a self- addressed, stamped envelope. You will usually need to send a check or money order to pay in advance for research or photocopies, although some organizations will bill you later. Addresses of several of the libraries in the nation with large family history collections follow:
An easy-to-use source that lists the county offices in each state and the types of records each has is George B. Everton's The Handy Book for Genealogists, 8th edition, revised (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1991). For a small fee, most county offices will search an index and provide copies of the information they find.
You can employ private researchers to look at records for you. Lists of professional researchers
Search the records yourself, if at all possible. As you search the records, keep in mind that there might be mistakes. You might find a tombstone showing your great-great-grandmother's birth date as 23 November 1842, and a death certificate with her birth date given as 19 October 1843. You will need to look for a third source to help you decide which date to accept. The following are some other common research problems you should be aware of as you search records.
Name Changes. Many immigrants anglicized or shortened their names after arriving in the United States. For example, a German ancestor named Heinrich Schwartz might have changed his name to Henry Black.
Some Scandinavian immigrants used their fathers' surnames in the United States, while others followed their forebears' tradition of patronymics Town names change, too. And, because of boundary changes, a town might have been included in different counties or states over the years.
Spelling Variations Handwriting. Most original documents are handwritten. Because styles of handwriting vary, you will need to search the records very carefully to be certain you have read the names correctly. Some handbooks illustrate the many ways that letters could be written. Also, if you can see more than one possibility in a character (for example, Dora or Dona), you will want to look at other names in the record to see how that writer made certain letters. Remember too that handwriting might have been misinterpreted by a person who produced an index or transcription of the records.
Dead-end Lines. Do not become discouraged when you come to what appears to be a dead end on one of your lines. Just start on another line. If you cannot find more information on your father's side of the family, start on one of your mother's lines. Keep at it and be patient. An additional clue could come at any time from an unexpected source.
Each time you search a record, consider whether it provides any new information, whether the information is accurate, and whether it suggests any additional records to search.
For every record you search, make an entry in your research log. You should include a description of the information you found. Record enough information so that later you will remember exactly what you found and whether it fulfilled your research objective. Also make notes of information you wanted to find but did not.
If a record contains a lot of information, as in a U.S. census, you may wish to photocopy the document.
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©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Obtain the Record.
to search the records.
, libraries, historical and genealogical societies, and county and town courthouses. Before you go, contact the place you plan to visit and ask for information about the collection, business hours, services, and fees. In most cases, the staff will not do research for you but will help you use the records to do your own research.
that list the addresses of other libraries. For a more complete list of addresses of libraries, archives, and genealogical societies, see Elizabeth Petty Bentley's The Genealogist's Address Book (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1991). The following paragraphs describe a few of the major archives, libraries, societies, and other resources that can help you.
. The United States federal government maintains a vast collection of the documents it has created. Family history researchers most often use census, military, land, and immigration records. The most comprehensive guide to this collection is Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, 1982, revised (Washington, D.C.: National Archives Trust Fund Board, 1985).
National Archives
National Archives Regional Centers. The branches of the National Archives collect records of federal government offices and courts within the areas they serve. These branches are located in or near Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. See local telephone directories in these metropolitan areas for addresses.
Pennsylvania Avenue at 8th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20408
. Since its beginning in 1894, the Family History Library has collected over 235,000 books, 8 million family group records, and many other records. It has acquired more than 1.8 million rolls of microfilmed records.
and 150,000 microfiche; many thousands of books, other printed materials, and copies of manuscripts; and almost 80,000 family histories and newsletters. The library has some records from each state, including probate, land, census, church, and vital records from state archives, county courthouses, church archives, and private collections. The U.S. federal records on microfilm include the 1790 to 1920 United States census schedules, passenger lists, and military records obtained from the National Archives.
. It consists of a collection of easy-to-use computer files and programs developed to help people search for information about their ancestors. FamilySearch includes—
Family History Library
FamilySearch™ Center
35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Telephone: (801) 240-2331
. The FamilySearch Center has two main purposes: to teach people who are unacquainted with family history research how to begin finding their ancestors, and to help researchers at all levels of expertise by permitting easier access to a variety of records. The center houses over 200 computers containing sources for reviewing others' research and compiled records. Those who use the center are encouraged to contribute the results of their research to Ancestral File. The center is open to the public free of charge.
FamilySearch Center
Family History Centers
Utah Building
15 East South Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
. Family history centers are branches of the Family History Library. Most are located in LDS Church buildings. Copies of most of the microfilms and microfiche at the Family History Library can be loaned to nearly 2,000 family history centers throughout the world. Each family history center has a microfiche copy of the International Genealogical Index and the Family History Library Catalog. Small duplication and postage fees will be charged if you use the microform circulation service. Most family history centers in the United States have the FamilySearch™ computer system.
and Genealogical Societies. In each state, most counties, and many towns, you will find historical or genealogical societies. These organizations collect many valuable records, publish newsletters or periodicals, and sponsor conferences and other activities to support research.
National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution1776 "D" Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20006-5392
The National Genealogical Society
4527 17th Street, North
Arlington, VA 22207-2399
New England Historic Genealogical Society
Contact societies near you and near the areas where your ancestors lived. You might find it helpful to join a genealogical or historical society. Ask your local library for a directory of addresses.
101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
and Libraries. Each state has state archives or a state library, and many states have both. These institutions collect state and county government records. They often have some federal records as well, such as the U.S. census schedules for the state.
Library of Congress
1st-2nd Streets, SE
Washington, D.C. 20540
New York Public Library
U.S. History, Local History,
and Genealogy Division
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018
Newberry Library
60 West Walton Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Allen County Public Library
CountyP.O. Box 2270
900 Webster Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46801
and Town Courthouses. Local county governments (or towns in New England) keep many court, land, naturalization, probate, taxation, and vital records. These valuable records are usually at county and town courthouses, although some courthouse records have been destroyed or transferred to state archives.
Search the Record.
are available from the Family History Library and from the Board for Certification of Genealogists:
Board for Certification of Genealogists
You might also ask local libraries and societies for names of people in the area who would search records for you.
P.O. Box 5816
Falmouth, VA 22403
. In a patronymic system, a child of Johan Petersson might be named Swen Johansson (Johan's son). If Swen had immigrated to the United States, you might find him named on a passenger list as Swen Peterson or Swen Johnson.
. Always look for the many ways a name could have been spelled. Because spelling was less a matter of concern in previous generations, do not eliminate possibilities because of minor differences in spelling. Also look for nicknames and abbreviations.
Record the Results.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/8/2001]