Genealogical ResourcesGenealogical Resourcesin the Information Agein the Information Age

Emma S. Clark Memorial LibrarySpring 2005 Educational Program

Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.

A Presentation by:

Joseph A. Betz

Introduction

Technology has transformed the way we do genealogy

• The amount of information has increased

• Speed of moving information has increased

• Search/mining capability of information has increased

Result = overwhelming amounts of information

• Types of information need to be segregated for value

• Approach shifts to accommodate strengths in the technology

• Data management and dissemination increasingly important

• Genealogy increasingly becomes technologically contextual

Introduction

This presentation is a conceptual model for today’s genealogical research. It’s a highly personal observation of how to, that will challenge both novice and experienced genealogist.

Presentation outline Introduction StrategyIT Revolution & Change Expectations

Genealogy Standards Data Management

Types of Sources Dissemination & Sharing

Record Keeping & Citations Case Study

Emma Clark Resources Conclusion

Information Technology (IT) Revolution

Technological Change:– Theories on technological interactionism or determinism that accounts for

changes in culture

– IT Revolution has changed genealogical research in less than decade

– Maturity of 3 unique technological components form this system

New technological system components are:(1) Internet = delivery or transportation system

(2) Data mining / full text indexing = search capability

(3) High-speed OCR imaging = translates images to searchable data

Information Technology (IT) Revolution

Result is a shift in value (v), methodology (m) and economy (e):(v) = Searches are conducted in a fraction of the time (time value)

(v) = Information is inexpensive and accessible from almost anywhere

(v) = Increase interest, participation and interaction on-line (social value)

(m) = Information is searched to find previously impossible matches

(m) = Research is quickly managed and published for dissemination/feedback

(m) = New information is made available and the cycle repeats itself

(e) = Industry of genealogical book publishers in recession/transformation

with books available on line or CD having full text search capability

(e) = Genealogical industry of researchers and services centered around

Salt Lake City is in transformation with records available on

line

Standards for Genealogical ResearchRecommended by the National Genealogical Society

Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers consistently -

• record the source for each item of information they collect.

• test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject those that are not supported by the evidence.

• seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their research conclusions.

• use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records, or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence discussed in them.

• state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others.

Standards for Genealogical ResearchRecommended by the National Genealogical Society

Continued:

• limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement that is based on less than convincing evidence, and state the reasons for concluding that it is probable or possible.

• avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate information.

• state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and acknowledge all use of other researchers’ work.

• recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their work available to others through publication, or by placing copies in appropriate libraries or repositories, and by welcoming critical comment.

• consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached.

Genealogical Sources

Types of Sources

• Primary and Secondary sources

• In Between and Suspect sources

A contemporary, unbiased record of an event is ideal but keep in mind that information given by an applicant or informant:1. May be deliberately false or had a reason for not telling the truth on a

document, i.e., a vested interest

2. May have had a poor understanding or bad memory of the event

3. A clerical error could have been made recording the event

4. Always triangulate all records and information

Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources include: land records (deeds), wills, court records (probate, guardianship, divorce, civil suits), church records (baptism, marriage, death, burial), vital records (birth, marriage and death certificates), military records and Social Security applications.

Secondary sources include: almost all published works, (town or county histories, family genealogies, indexes, abstracts of original records, newspapers), bible records, tombstone inscriptions and almost everything on the Internet.

In Between and Suspect Sources

In between primary and secondary sources include: Census records (accuracy of informant and enumerator), some information on death certificates (accuracy of informant) and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

Suspect sources include: LDS FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service including Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index (IGI - the best of the lot), Pedigree Resource File, RootsWeb’s WorldConnect Search and the memory of very aged relatives.

Record Keeping & Citations

Record Keeping (paper & electronic)• Journal all interviews, file all notes and lists of things to do

• Keep a log of all record requests and correspondences

• Keep certified copies of records in plastic page loose-leaf binder

• Organize family photographs in scrapbooks and scan them electronically

• Electronic filing of all images from internet (i.e., census records, maps)

Citations• The value of your genealogical work in measured by the citations!

• Each event should have one or more simple citations, even if it’s not your work. Always be able to defend where your information came from.

• Standard for heritage societies (DAR, SAR, Mayflower Society, etc.)

Emma Clark ResourcesPremium On-line Resources

Ancestry PlusCensus Records 1790-1930 Birth, Marriage, & Death (abstracts)

Military Records Family & Local Histories

Immigration Records Court, Land & Probate Records

Heritage QuestCensus Records 1790-1930 Family & Local Histories

PERiodical Source Index Revolutionary War Records

NewspapersNew York Times Historical 1851-2001 (obituaries)

Emma Clark ResourcesFree On-line Resources

LDS FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org)

Ancestral File International Genealogical Index (IGI)

Pedigree Resource File Census 1880 US, 1881 B&C

Vital Records Index (foreign) Social Security Death Index

Family History Library Catalog

RootsWeb (www.rootsweb.com)

WorldConnect Project Social Security Death Index

Various Links Death Index (CA, KY, ME, TX)

Genealogical Societies (search/image fee)

NEHGS (oldest & best) NYGBS NGS

Emma Clark ResourcesFree On-line Resources

Cyndi’s List (www.cyndislist.com)

240,000 categorized & cross-referenced genealogy links

Ellis Island Index (www.ellisislandrecords.org)

Passenger Arrival Records 1892-1924

German Genealogy Group (www.germangenealogygroup.com)

NYC Grooms Index 1895-1936 NYC Death Index 1891-1936

MiscellaneousUSGenWeb Project GenealogyBlog.com

WorldGenWeb Project BirthDatabase.com

Strategy

Initial Process to 1850• Always work back, don’t try to link to a family

• Interview family members, keep a journal and record everything

• Find information on entire families and note naming patterns

• Social Security Death Index for exact birth and death dates

• Census records from 1930 to 1850 (mapping out phase)

– 1900 has each individuals birth month & year

– 1880 has every person indexed and is free

– Look for parents or relatives living in the household for surnames

• Write for civil birth, marriage and death records (vital records)

• Check newspapers for obituaries

• Check ship arrival records for immigrants

Strategy

Secondary Process and before 1850• Check LDS FamilySearch and RootsWeb WorldConnect for clues, especially

prior to 1850

• Check published town histories, records, genealogies, and compilations

• Map civil (town/county) and religious (parish) geographic divisions

• Investigate availability and types of records for expectations

• Understand migration patterns, social and religious context

• Check for church and cemetery records

• Check for wills, court records and land deeds

• Check for military records and pensions

• Check scholarly journals (The Register, TAG, NGS Quarterly, NYBG Record)

• Locate historical societies or topical on-line genealogical support groups

Genealogical Expectations

High expectations• Social status linked to family pedigree

• Wealth, privilege and land ownership

• Religious importance of record keeping

• Civil registration requirements, starts to be universal in the 19th century

• Stable social and economic structure

Low expectations• Oppressed social class or ethnic group

• Frontier environments, war, famine or poverty

Data Management

Realistically, the only way to use organize, compile, publish and disseminate genealogical information is through the use of genealogical software. All can export a GEDCOM file (GEnealogical Data COMmunication)

Genealogical Software - Most Popular• Personal Ancestral File 5.2 (PAF) - free from LDS

• Family Tree Maker 2005 (FTM)

• The Master Genealogist 5.15 (TMG)

• Legacy 5.0 Deluxe Edition

• Family Origins

Dissemination & SharingRecommended by the National Genealogical Society

Sharing information or data with others is important but keep in mind -

• Respect the restrictions on sharing information that arise from the rights of another as an author, originator or compiler; as a living private person; or as a party to a mutual agreement [avoid publishing information on living persons].

• Observe meticulously the legal rights of copyright owners, copying or distributing any part of their works only with their permission, or to the limited extent specifically allowed under the law's "fair use" exceptions.

• Identify the sources for all ideas, information and data from others, and the form in which they were received, recognizing that the unattributed use of another's intellectual work is plagiarism [especially for notes and biographies].

• Be sensitive to the hurt that revelations of criminal, immoral, bizarre or irresponsible behavior may bring to family members.

Case Study

Conclusion

• Everyone should be able to trace their family history back prior to 1850 without much effort

• Future = More automated process