Genealogy for Beginners

Lesson 3

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Legal Notice
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation of this report, notwithstanding the fact that he does not warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet. The Publisher will not be responsible for any losses or damages of any kind incurred by the reader whether directly or indirectly arising from the use of the information found in this report. This report is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field. No guarantees of income are made. Reader assumes responsibility for use of information contained herein. The author reserves the right to make changes without notice. The Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of the reader of this report. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if we use one of these terms. All contents copyright C 2012 by Avis Genealogy. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Introduction
Welcome to the third class of our free online course of Genealogy for Beginners. (You can find Lesson 1 here and Lesson 2 here) This is a selfpaced, four-lesson class packed full of new concepts, techniques and ideas which will hopefully get you started on your way to a fulfilling lifetime of tracing your family tree. In this lesson, you can find an Appendix at the end of the text with the common mistakes beginners do when they start with the research. Please take your time and read it properly, it can save you time, money and effort. Before we will start, lets see some preliminary information about the course.

Duration
This class is self-paced so you can go as slowly or quickly as you desire. Ultimately is designed to take approximately six weeks, with one lesson per week.

Course Overview
This Introduction to Genealogy class is designed to take you step-by-step through the process of genealogical research. You will be introduced to the resources and techniques needed to track down the information about your family's history and to build a family tree. This class is intended for beginners and for people who have been doing genealogy for a while, but need some help putting it all together and keeping it organized.

Objective
In this course, you will learn how to:

start your search for your ancestors organize your search (we'll have an entire class on this at a later date) track what you find in a variety of formats properly record names, dates and places locate sources for family information locate sources for published information find birth, marriage and death information for your ancestors use proper source citations for the records discussed in this lesson

Class Schedule
3

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) This class is self-paced so you can start and finish whenever it fits your schedule. There are four lessons, each of which include reading, a summary, a quiz and discussion points as well as optional homework assignments. For each lesson there will either be a quiz, a homework assignment or both. These are not by any means required, but it is well known that practice is the best teacher. Completing these assignments gives you the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences with your teacher and fellow classmates either on our FB Page or on our email. They will not be difficult or demanding assignments given that this class is only six weeks long and genealogy can be a life-long hobby.

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter I: Research Basics

Now that you have gathered together information from around your home, interviewed your family members and entered your information onto pedigree charts and family group sheets it is time for the fun to begin! You are now ready to fill in some of the blanks on your pedigree charts and family group records. This missing information will become your quest. I know by now you must be impatient and ready to jump in with both feet, but before you run out to the library or start searching in Internet databases there are a few more things you should do: 1. The first step of your research is to decide which branch of the family you want to begin with. The best place to start is usually with one of your grandparents - your maternal grandmother, your maternal grandfather, your paternal grandmother and your paternal grandfather. You aren't limited to these four branches, of course. You may select a family group or branch even further back in your tree if you have enough information, the point is just to choose a particular section of the family so that you have a defined goal as you start out on your research. There is nothing more discouraging than blindly searching the Internet for information about ALL of your surnames at once. The bits and pieces of info start swimming around in your head making it very easy to miss potential clues. There will be times, such as a trip to a distant library, where it makes sense to research more than one branch at a time but, for the most part, start with a single surname or family group and stick with it for a while. 2. Once you have selected a family group or surname to research, the next step is to learn a little about the geography and history of the area in which they lived. Having a good understanding of the political and historical events of the time period in which your ancestors lived may give you insight into where to look for records. Geographical and political boundaries as well as place names have also changed over time. For example, several areas which were once in Poland are now a part of Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. You don't need to be an expert, but you will find yourself less frustrated with your search and more fascinated with your ancestors if you have at least a passing familiarity with the area and time period in which they lived. 3. The final step is to set a research goal - look at the blanks in your family group sheet and decided what you want to learn about your family. Some people stick to just names, dates and places, choosing to collect as many ancestors as possible. My preference, however, is to put the "history" in my family history. Beyond the names and dates, I also look for information which will help me "walk" in my ancestors footsteps. This includes things such as their occupations,

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) their property (land and personal), their friends and neighbors, their religious denomination, military participation, education, recreational activities and more. Basically, my personal goal is to collect every scrap of information I can find on my ancestors. Your personal goal may be either of these two extremes, or somewhere in between.

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter II: Preparing to Search

As mentioned in the previous chapter, it is important to set goals when doing family history. These will include both long-term and short-term goals. For example, your long-term goal may be to learn when your maternal family emigrated from their ancestral homeland to their present location. That probably happened several generations ago and you will most likely not find success if you immediately start searching for an immigration record. Remember the first premise of genealogy research and start with yourself and work backwards to the immigrant ancestor. Intermediate goals in this example would include:

tracing your family back to the immigrant family. Use birth, marriage and death records among others to trace your family back, generation by generation. locating records for the immigrant family which may indicate the year of immigration. These will vary by country, but may include census records, passport applications, church records, etc. locate the immigrant family's port of departure or port of arrival. These will also vary by country, but may include census records, naturalization papers, newspapers, published indexes of passenger and immigration lists, a familiarity with ship passage routes, etc.

Write your short-term goals down on a piece of paper or in a research notebook. Have a specific place where you keep a running list of shortterm goals for each family group, and then make sure that you use it to jot things down as you are sitting at home going over your information. It doesn't need to be fancy, just a list of questions that you hope to find answers to - when was Great-Grandpa born and where? what was GreatGreat-Grandma's maiden name? where was the family living in 1910? You will thank yourself the next time you are at the library!

Preparing for Outside Research

At some point in your research you will probably go to a library, archives or some other location to look for information on your family. We will learn more about possible places for genealogical research in next Lesson, but no matter the location your research trip will be much more productive if you do your homework before you go. 1. Call ahead to find out what days and hours they are open. Be sure to ask about:

directions special requirements such as needing a photo ID for access (in some archives you must pay daily entrance fee, too)

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

whether you need to sign up in advance to use computers, microfilm readers, etc. (one of the most crucial question. Theres nothing more frustrating than to spend the whole day travelling to the institution, only to find out you need to order documents first and wait one week until they are prepared) what materials you are allowed to bring with you - some libraries and archives only allow pencils and paper, others will allow cameras, laptops, etc. (never try to use camera when archivist tells you not to tak a picture. Not only you can damage the original, in some rare cases you can be banned from the institution) fees such as usage and photocopying fees (don't forget to ask the details about the photocopying like the maximum format available, B/W and Colour, etc.) parking lot locations and fees

2. Pack your research bag. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the library or archives on what you are allowed to bring with you on your visit. Include things such as your family group sheets, your list of research questions, extra pencils, blank research forms, a magnifying glass or bar, tissues and a roll of quarters for photocopies. You may also want to bring (if allowed) a laptop and/or a digital camera for taking photos of documents. 3. Plan your trip for a day when you will have several hours free for research with no distractions. There is nothing more frustrating than finally finding your ancestor in a record which is full of clues for further research and then having to leave! Get to the research location as early as possible and try to keep your research organized. It is so easy when faced with an archives full of records to flit from place to place like a butterfly trying to cram everything in, but you will lose out in the long run.

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter III: What to Look For

Once you have your list of questions you need answers to, the next step is determining where you need to look for the answers. We will go into greater detail about each of these record types in later lessons, but for now we would like to introduce you to the types of genealogical resources available to you and how they can help you to find the answers to your questions. Each question that you have most likely has several sources where you can look for the answer. For example, a birth date can usually be found on birth certificates, census records, marriage records, death certificates, obituary notices and so on. Here is a list of records which you should search and the order in which you should search them in, depending on the question you have.

Find a birth date or location:

What You Need:
Full Name Before searching for an ancestor's birth date or location you will need to know their full name (including maiden name for your female ancestors). Without this information you will find it very difficult to locate records and, even if you locate them, you will find it almost impossible to verify that it is indeed your ancestor. Approximate Year of Birth If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate year in which your ancestor was born. This can be estimated by using his/her age at various events in their life. Approximate Place of Birth If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate location in which your ancestor was born. This can usually be found on records which were generated later in their life or by tracing the movements of relatives (siblings and children) and neighbors.

Where to Look:
The following records are all good places to look for approximate year or place of birth, as well as an actual birth date. Please keep in mind that the availability of these records will vary by time period and country/region. They are listed in descending order of importance. Vital Records Birth, marriage & death records Church Records Baptism, christening or marriage records 9

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) Newspaper Notices Birth announcements, marriage banns, obituaries Family Sources Bible records, interviews, passports, driver's licenses, citizenship papers, birth announcements Military Records Service records, pension files, draft registrations, awards, discharge papers Census Records Many census and tax records will give the age at the date of the census as well as country/locality of birth. Keep in mind that availability and usefulness of census records varies widely by country. Cemetery Records Tombstones, funeral home records, sexton's records Immigration/Emigration Records Citizenship papers, ships passenger lists, port entry/exit records Land Records Deeds, homestead applications, mortgages and other property records may provide clues as to place of birth. Probate Records Wills and estate records will often provide the age at death, from which you can approximate the year of birth International Genealogical Index The International Genealogical Index is a partial index to vital records from around the world created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). While it is a good source for birth information, it should always be verified by going back to the original record.

Find a marriage date or location

What you need
Full Name Before searching for an ancestor's marriage date or location you will need to know their full name (including maiden name for your female ancestors) as well as the name of their spouse. Without this information you will find it very difficult to locate records and, even if you locate them, you will find it almost impossible to verify that it is indeed your ancestor.

10

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) Approximate Year of Marriage If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate year in which your ancestors were married. You can often estimate a wedding date using records which give the number of years married (i.e. census records) or from the date of birth of the couple's first child. Approximate Place of Marriage If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate location in which your ancestors were married. The best way to determine this is to look for the birth location of their oldest child. Locating the place where their parents lived prior to the marriage may also help lead you to a marriage location.

Where to Look:
The following records are all good places to look for approximate year or place of marriage, as well as an actual marriage date/location. Please keep in mind that the availability of these records will vary by time period and country/region. They are listed in descending order of importance. Marriage Records Marriage records are indexed at the national level for many countries, although in the U.S. they are kept at the state level (or county level prior to the late 19th century) and in Canada they are maintained at the provincial level. Besides marriage certificates, marriage information can also be found in marriage banns, marriage license applications, marriage licenses, declarations of intent and marriage returns. Death Records Death records were kept in many areas long before marriage records and, therefore, can often be easier to locate. A death record may contain a marriage date and/or the names of the parents of the deceased. Church Records Church registers contain some of the earliest records for marriages usually predating any type of civil registration. Newspaper Notices Marriage banns, marriage announcements, obituaries... Family Sources Bible records, interviews, letters, diaries... Census Records Census and tax records may include the number of years married. Ages or birth locations listed for the children can also help to narrow down marriage date/location. Keep in mind that availability and usefulness of census records varies widely by country.

11

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) Cemetery Records Tombstones, funeral home records and/or sexton's records may include the spouses name and/or the date of marriage. Pension Records Pension application records, especially military pension records, will often include marriage information. Land Records Deeds, homestead applications, mortgages and other property records may help to narrow down a marriage date as they may often mention the spouse. Probate Records Wills and estate settlements may help you to narrow down a marriage date. For example, a will for one of the parents of the couple in question may name children and spouses among the family and heirs. International Genealogical Index The International Genealogical Index is a partial index to vital records from around the world created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). While it is a good source for marriage information, it should always be verified by going back to the original record.

Find a death date or location

What you need
Full Name Before searching for an ancestor's death date or location you will need to know their full name (including married name for your female ancestors). Without this information you will find it very difficult to locate records and, even if you locate them, you will find it almost impossible to verify that it is indeed your ancestor. Approximate Year of Death If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate year in which your ancestor died. You can often estimate a death date using records such as wills, deeds and estate settlements. A death date may also be narrowed down by the omission of the individual from census or tax records. Approximate Place of Death If you do not already know, you will need to find the approximate location in which your ancestor died. The best place to start is their last known location. If that is unsuccessful, then check localities where other family members were living at the time.

12

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Where to Look:
Many of the same sources that help us with birth information can also give us death information. Please keep in mind that the availability of these records will vary by time period and country/region. They are listed in descending order of importance. Death Records Death certificates are the most obvious source of information for a death date, but can be hard to locate when the approximate time and location of the death are unknown. Church Records Church registers will usually contain death dates and are also possible sources of information on funeral records, burial location, etc. They can be hard to locate, however, if you do not know which church your ancestor attended. Newspaper Notices Obituaries are an obvious source for a death date and are usually fairly reliable since they are created so soon after the event. Cemetery Records Tombstones, funeral home records and/or sexton's records are also good sources for the date of death. Family Sources Bible records, interviews, letters, diaries, insurance papers, funeral cards... Census Records The omission of the individual from a census or tax record may indicate that he/she has died. Census records in a few locations and time periods may include mortality schedules which are excellent sources of death information. Military Records Service records, pension files, draft registrations, awards, discharge papers... Probate Records Wills and estate settlements can be a big help in helping to narrow down a date of death. Probate records will often indicate the date of death. Even when they do not, just the fact that the estate has gone into probate or settlement indicates that your ancestor died prior to that date. A will, on the other hand, can indicate that your ancestor was still alive on the date when it was written. Land Records The transfer of property which belonged to your ancestor may be an

13

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) indication of date of death. They are not proof in themselves, but can help to support other records which also suggest a date of death. International Genealogical Index The International Genealogical Index is a partial index to vital records from around the world created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). While it is a good source for death information, it should always be verified by going back to the original record. U.S. Social Security Death Index For ancestors who died in the United States since 1937, the SSDI is a good place to search for a date and location of death.

14

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Find names of a persons parents

What you need
Full Name Before searching for an ancestor's parents you will need to know their full name (including maiden name for your female ancestors). Without this information you will find it very difficult to locate records and, even if you locate them, you will find it almost impossible to verify that it is indeed your ancestor. Location To find a record which lists an ancestor's parents, you will need to know where your ancestor was living at the time the record was created. For example, to find parent's names on a marriage record you will have to know where your ancestor was married.

Where to Look:
The following records are all good places to look for the names of your ancestor's parents. Please keep in mind that the availability of these records will vary by time period and country/region. They are listed in descending order of importance. Vital Records A birth record is the best place to look for the names of an individual's parents. You may also be able to find the names of both parents on a marriage record or death certificate. Keep in mind that death certificates are often not a very accurate source for parent's names so verify with an additional source. Church Records Baptism, christening, marriage and death records Census Records Census records which list all members of a household make it easy to find the parents for an individual. The one drawback is that many census records do not have an every name index so you will have to have a pretty good idea of the location where the family was living and then do a search of all families with that surname. Keep in mind that availability and usefulness of census records varies widely by country and time period. Newspaper Notices Wedding announcements, birth announcements, obituaries... Family Sources Bible records, letters, diaries, wedding announcements, birth announcements, citizenship papers, interviews...

15

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) Cemetery Records Families are often buried together in family cemeteries or in adjoining plots in larger cemeteries. Land Records Deeds, homestead applications, mortgages and other property records may provide clues as to a person's parents. Examples include deeds where land was sold to your ancestor for a token sum or land which was transferred to your ancestor in an estate settlement. Probate Records Wills and estate records will often list children among the heirs.

Find a maiden name Where to look

Marriage Records The best place to locate a woman's maiden name is on her marriage record. These can include not only the marriage license, but also the marriage certificate, marriage announcements, marriage banns, and marriage bonds. You will need to know the spouse's name, marriage location and approximate marriage date to find these records. Cemetery Records The cemetery may be the only place where you will find proof of the existence of a female ancestor. Tombstones may list women under their maiden names, with "wife of so and so" as the record of their married name, or may include the wife's maiden name as a middle name or initial. For those with no mention of the female's maiden name, check nearby plots for possible family members. Census Records Check every census year available for your female ancestor, up until the year that she died. Young couples may be found living with the wife's parents; an elderly parent may have been added to the household; or brothers, sisters, or other family members may be found living with the your ancestors' family. Clues may also be found in the names of families living nearby. Land Records Land was important, and often passed down from father to daughter. Examine deeds for your ancestor and/or her husband which include the Latin phrases "et ux." (and wife) and "et al." (and others). They may provide the names of females, or names of siblings or children. Also keep your eye out for a man or a couple selling land to your ancestors for a

16

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) dollar, or other small amount. The ones selling the land are more than likely the parents or relatives of your female ancestor. Church Records Churches are a good source for birth or christening records which usually include the names of both parents, including the maiden name of the mother. Church marriage records will usually include the spouse's maiden name, and are an alternate source for marriage information for periods where civil registration was not in effect. Probate Records & Wills If you have a possible set of parents for your female ancestor, search for their probate record or will. Surnames of female children, along with the names of their spouses, are often listed. Since estates often involved the division of land, deed indexes for your female ancestor may be able to lead you to probate proceedings. Newspaper Records Check newspapers for the locality where your ancestors lived for birth or marriage announcements or obituaries. Even if you can't locate an obituary for your female ancestor, you may find notices for siblings or other family members that provide helpful clues. Combining a list of your ancestor's siblings with census research can help determine potential families. Death Records If your female ancestor died recently enough to leave a death certificate, this is potentially one of the few places where her maiden name may appear. Since death certificates can often include inaccurate information, check the certificate for the name of the informant. The closeness of the relationship between informant and the deceased can help you assess the likely accuracy of the provided information. Military Records Was your ancestor's spouse or children in the military? Pension applications and military service records often include good biographical information. Family members also often signed as witnesses. Naming Patterns It is only a clue and quite often very tricky, but the maiden name of a mother can sometimes be found buried somewhere among the names of her children. Unusual middle names, among boys or girls, might be the maiden name of a mother or grandmother. Or the eldest daughter might be named for her maternal grandmother.

17

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter IV: Where to Look

When looking for information on your family in outside sources, there are a wide variety of genealogical repositories available to you. This list should include public & private libraries, your nearest Family History Center, historical societies, genealogical societies, ethnic societies, archives, courthouses and records offices. Public & Private Libraries Most large cities around the world have a library with a large repository of genealogical information. Such a library may be public, as is the Allen County, Indiana public library known for having one of the largest collections of genealogy material in the United States, or private such as the libraries of many genealogical and historical societies which are limited to use by members only. Most public libraries cannot handle genealogical research by correspondence because the staff is either not trained for genealogical research or they just don't have the time to answer all of the requests they would receive if they offered such a service. Many private libraries, on the other hand, do offer research services by mail for a fee. If you can't find what you are looking for in a library near you, many libraries make portions of their genealogical collections available through inter-library loan, a procedure in which one library lends a book or a microfilm to another library for use by a patron. Several large genealogy lending libraries also exist around the world which lend out books and/or microfilm by mail for a small fee, often to members only. Family History Centers The largest genealogical collection in the world is the collection of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). The main library building is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and contains 142,000 square feet of space on five floors. The collection housed in this library contains over 2.2 million rolls of microfilmed records, 742,000 microfiche, 300,000 books and 4,500 periodicals from around the world - all devoted to genealogy! You don't have to travel to Utah to have access to this collection, however. The library operates more than 3,400 satellite branches, known as Family History Centers, which operate in 75 countries and territories. These Family History Centers are open to use by everyone, not just by members of the church, and are a genealogist's best friend. Historical & Genealogical Societies Genealogical and historical societies libraries offer a great potential for the family history researcher. The facilities, collection and hours of operation will vary greatly from one site to another, however. Some of these collections are housed in local public libraries and others in small offices open only to members. The majority are staffed entirely by member volunteers who may or may not be experts at genealogical research in the area. The best rule of thumb is to call ahead and ask for details of the

18

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) collection, the hours of operation and when the best time to visit is if you need someone available to help you with your research. Archives Many countries around the world maintain huge collections of primary source documents of interest to genealogists including vital records, census records, wills, military records, land records, etc. Depending upon the country, large collections of records may be maintained at the national archives, in regional or provincial archives or both. The primary difference between archives and libraries is that traditional libraries generally collect books, microfilm and other published items while an archives contains the raw primary source documents which make up the history of the region or nation. Courthouses and Record Offices Records kept at the local level (town, county, district, etc.) can be found in a wide variety of locations. This is where you will need to have a general knowledge of the area in which you are researching. In the United States, for example, many local records can be found in county courthouses or other local government offices such as the office of the Recorder of Deeds. In France many civil records, especially more recent ones, are handled by the local registrar's office (bureau de l'tat civil), usually located in the town hall (mairie). The location of such records can even differ in the same country - wills in Queensland, Australia can be found at the State Archives, wills in Victoria are held at the Public Record Office and wills in New South Wales are available from the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The motto here is "Do Your Homework!" When visiting a library or archives for the first time, there are some basic steps you can take to help ensure a successful visit:

Know what you are looking for and have your list of questions and a pedigree chart with you in case you need help locating records. Take advantage of an orientation tour, if the library or archives has one. This will help you to become quickly acquainted with the materials available to you, where they are located and the libraries policies and procedures for handling and photocopying of records. Allow plenty of time for your research trip and keep your search organized. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of material available to you, but if you don't take time to scan records for all clues which they may contain and make careful, detailed notes and source citations, you will regret it later.

19

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter V: Correspondence 101

Letter Writing 101
While it would be the best solution, most of us do not have the luxury of being able to travel wherever our research takes us. Therefore, there will come a time when you will need to write a letter to obtain the records you need. The people who work at various record repositories, such as libraries, archives, record offices and genealogical societies are usually happy to help you with your research but very short on time. It is best to keep your letter short and simple. Tips for Ensuring A Response to Your Letter:

Contact the organization before writing to see if they have a correspondence policy with information on which type of questions they will answer, how long they will search to answer one request, how long you may expect to wait for your response, how many copies they will make of records and what they charge for this service (if anything). Keep your letter short and simple. State what information you need and include only the background information that may help someone find the answer to your request. A harried clerk or librarian will be much more likely to respond to your questions when they can tell, at a glance, exactly what you are looking for. Do not ask more than one or two questions in a single letter. If you have several requests, then you are best off sending them as separate letters. Be sure to include alternate name spellings, nicknames, etc. under which any records may be found. You should also be sure not to use too many abbreviations in your letter as they increase the chance of misinterpretation. Always enclose a S.A.S.E. (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) with your letter. Many libraries and societies do not have the budgets to pay for luxuries such as return postage. Say "please" and "thank you." A little common courtesy goes a long way. Even if the organization doesn't have a specific fee schedule for genealogy requests it is always nice to include a few dollars with your letter to cover photocopying expenses. You should also offer in your letter to cover any additional expenses which your request may entail.

20

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Proofread your letter for grammar and spelling, make sure that your request is easy to understand and that you have included accurate names, dates and places. Keep a copy of your letter, at least until you receive a reply. You will also want to make a note of it in your correspondence log which we will discuss on the next page.

Query Writing 101

When it comes to correspondence via the Internet, many people seem to lose their writing skills and/or their manners. Just because the letter or query is electronic, doesn't mean there isn't a human being at the other end who would appreciate a well written, polite and concise request. Yet people ask questions everyday such as "Send me everything you have for SMITHS." When posting questions or queries to online bulletin boards (forums), electronic newsletters or mailing lists there are some basic guidelines you should always follow to make sure that your query is clear and effective. Tips for Writing a Successful Query:

Select a focused topic for your query - you will achieve the best results if you limit your query to a single surname or question. Use your subject line wisely - make sure that it clearly reflects the information you are seeking. "Need help" is not as likely to get results as a subject heading which contains a surname and location. Separate your information into paragraphs - this makes it easier to scan quickly. The first paragraph should contain the who, what, when and where of your request. This helps to attract the attention of your audience. The second paragraph should state what you already know. Letting people know which places you have already checked for information will help to cut down on unnecessary suggestions. The final paragraph should provide any further details about what you don't know and what you specifically are hoping to find. Include only one surname or question per query. Too many requests may decrease your chances for a response. You will have much better results if you post each individual surname/family as a separate query. Include your name and email address at the bottom of your query.

21

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Read through your query at least once before sending it. Did you include all of the pertinent information? Does it make sense? Is it easy to read? Post your query to the appropriate forum - there are forums available for a wide variety of topics, including surnames, countries/regions and specialty topics such as military research. Keep a log of the times and places where you post your queries. This makes it easier to go back and check for responses. Be sure to thank anyone who responds to your query, whether you found the information helpful or not.

Tips for Ensuring A Response to Your Query

Include surnames in CAPITAL LETTERS in the Subject line and the first time you use it in the query. Be specific. People do not often respond to queries such as "Send me all information about the POWELL family" Check online sources for answers to general research questions before posting to a list. Genealogists love to help those who help themselves. Try to stay away from too using too many abbreviations unless your space is limited. Many researchers may not recognize the abbreviations you are using. Try to use an email address you will be sticking with. There are thousands of queries on the Internet with no way to reach the posters because the email address is invalid.

22

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter VI: Track Your Progress

How many times have you grabbed a book from a library shelf, checked the index for your surname and then put it back without making any notes? Can you name all of the Internet databases that you have searched for your surname? If yes, then great! But if you are like the majority of us who have wasted time duplicating our own research then this lesson is for you.

Research Logs
It is very important in genealogy research to keep track of the resources you investigate, even those that yield nothing of value. A research log or research calendar can help you organize your finds, decide on the next steps and eliminate duplicated research. You can maintain your log by surname, by individual, by geographic area or whatever organizational method you find the most effective. Each log usually provides space for the date in which you searched the source, the location of the source, bibliographic information for the source and a small section for notes and/or results. Here are several research calendars/logs to get you started. They are available for free download and each is in a different format, so if one will not open or print for you, then try another: Research Calendar A Microsoft Word for Windows document file from Family Tree Magazine. Research Log A PDF document file from the U.S.-based Ancestors television series. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file. Research Calendars For Word Perfect versions 7.0 & 8.0 from Ancestor Detective. Research Log An html version from the LDS Church.

Correspondence Logs
Remember those letters and queries we discussed on the previous page? A correspondence log is a record of the letters you have written and the replies received. It typically includes a blank for the surname at the top and room to record information for each letter sent concerning that surname. You don't even have to use a fancy form to track your correspondence, but be sure that for each letter you write you make a note of the date sent, to whom it was sent and a summary of your request. Then, once you receive the reply, you can make a note of the date the 23

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) reply was received and the results (positive or negative). It may seem easy enough to keep in your head as you are just getting started, but considering that replies to genealogy queries can take anywhere from a week to six months you will probably lose track over time.

Here are a few free examples of correspondence logs to get you started: Correspondence Record A nice PDF document file from amateur genealogists, Mary & Duane Bailey. Available in both English and Spanish. Correspondence Log This free form from Family Tree Magazine is compatible with Microsoft Word for Windows 97 and 2000 as well as WordPerfect.

24

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter VII: Computer Software

If you own a computer (and since you are taking this class, we assume that you do) then you will eventually want to buy a genealogy software program and use it for storing the genealogy information that you find. Genealogy software can make it incredibly easy to enter all of your information and chart it in a variety of formats. It also makes sharing info a breeze - you can print out a new family group sheet or create a GEDCOM file and have it on its way to another researcher in a matter of minutes. With more than 40 genealogy software programs available to choose from, selecting the right software program for you can be a daunting task. Genealogy software programs offer a wide variety of options including the way they format data, the types of charts they produce, their ability to help you organize your research and opportunities for storing extra information such as photographs and scanned documents. They can even speed up your research by allowing you to search for patterns or interesting statistics in your data or by letting you keep a research log right with your family data. Entire books have been written about how to select the right genealogy program, but it basically boils down to what is right for you. Almost all genealogy software programs do a good job of letting you enter your family data and view it in a variety of formats. Prices range from free to upwards of $100 U.S. Options will be limited for people who use Macintosh computers as well as for people who live outside of the U.S. and don't want to pay for the many U.S.-based data CDs which seem to accompany the majority of genealogy software programs. The best way to choose the right program is to make a list of your requirements and then try out the programs which seem to meet those requirements. Most genealogy software vendors have free trial or demo versions available just for that purpose. Some things to keep in mind as you make your list of requirements:

What do you want to do with your genealogy information? Some genealogists want to create beautiful wall-sized trees, some want to include photos, audio and video, some want to use the software to create a family Web page for them and some are just looking for a basic program that can store names, dates and events. Would you prefer a software program which is lineage-based (linking individuals by direct bloodlines) or event-based (linking individuals through common life events)? Do you plan to share your research online with other family historians? The major genealogy programs offer you the ability to upload your family tree data online in a variety of formats right from

25

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) your computer program. Some also offer simple Web-page creation capabilities.

Will you want to write a book with the information that you enter? Some software programs offer more features for printing family history books than others. Do you prefer to use keystrokes to enter data or do you prefer to click from box to box with the mouse? What kind of charts and reports would you like your software to be able to print? Do you want to be able to easily read in genealogy files created in other software programs without any loss of data? Are you tracing your familys history for eventual submission to the LDS church? If so, you will want to use software that supports the special fields needed to document rites of the church. How willing are you to take the time to learn all of the features of the program? If you are easily frustrated and hate to read instruction manuals, you may want to forgo the fancy software program with all of the whiz-bang features for a somewhat simpler program which you can become comfortable with quickly.

Since you are most likely new to genealogy software you may find yourself having a hard time even answering some of these questions right now. If that is the case you may want to consider downloading one of the free genealogy software programs or one of the ones with a free demo program and playing around with it for a while until it is comfortable for you to use. Then try out several more programs in the same manner. You will quickly learn which programs offer the features you need and are the most intuitive for the way in which you work.

26

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Chapter VIII: Lets Put All Together

Congratulations and welcome to the end of Lesson Three! In this lesson you have learned:

the basic steps of genealogy research how to prepare for a successful search which records you should search for answers to your questions where you can go to find large collections of genealogy books and records how to write successful letters and queries how to use research and correspondence logs to avoid duplicating your own research how to decide which genealogy software program is right for you

Homework Assignment:
1. Decide which branch of your family which you want to research first. Pull out your pedigree chart and family group sheet for that branch which you created in lesson one and make a list of questions for which you need the answers. Under each question make a short list of places in which you might find the answer. Once you have completed your research list, please post the file on our FB Page. Homework is not required, but it is encouraged. You can't learn if you don't practice! 2. Download and try out at least one new genealogy software program. Even if you already use a certain program, you may find it informative to see how some of the other ones work.

27

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com)

Appendix I. Common Genealogy Mistakes

On a lighter note, heres a list of 15 most common genealogy mistakes: 1. Forget Your Family - Dont bother talking to your relatives. It takes too much time to track them all down. Besides, most of them wont be helpful. Its not like your relatives knew your ancestors. 2. Jump On the Internet - Isnt it obvious? The internet is the future. Everything is on the internet, including information about your ancestors. You just have to know where to look. Let the internet do the hard work for you. Why waste your valuable time poking around dusty old archives. It will just make you sneeze anyways. 3. Trust the Internet - If it is on the internet, it must be true. Take Wikipedia. Everything on Wikipedia is true. Well, the same can be said of genealogy records. Why would anyone make up a genealogy record? 4. You are Related to People Who Have the Same Family Name People with the same last name are related to you. Did you know that? Everyone in your family has the same last name right? Therefore, everyone with the same last name must be in your family. You just have to take your family tree back far enough to realize it. 5. You Have Royalty in Your Family - Most people can trace their family back to Europe. Everyone knows that Europe was once ruled by kings and queens. Royal families always produced lots of offspring. Your family must have also produced lots of offspring or else you wouldnt be here today. Therefore, you must be descended from royalty. 6. Everyone Does Genealogy 7. Family Trees Can Go Back 1,000 Years - Coming from royalty, you can trace your family tree back at least 1,000 years. How? Everyone knows that royal families kept good records and constructed elaborate family trees. Once you establish your royal connection, you can use the royal family tree to go back several hundred more years. 8. Get a Family Coat of Arms - All families have a coat of arms. Make sure you grab yours and display it prominently on the front cover of your family tree book. This will add an air of importance and authenticity to your epic tome. 9. Citations Are Not Necessary Who has time to create elaborate citations for every new piece of information about your ancestors? Everything is on the internet. Simply bookmark your sources and move on.

28

 AvisGenealogy (www.avisgenealogy.com) 10. Ignore Minor Things Like Spelling The great thing about having all genealogy records on the internet is that someone has taken the time and effort to transcribe original documents. You dont have to spend your time trying to read and decipher them. You can trust the people making the transcription to do a good job. They are experts in their field. After all, it is not like the largest genealogy company in the world at one time had many of their records transcribed in China, where English is not their first language. And the records were written by hand in a script that is often hard to read. Even for a native English speaker. Not a problem. Don't worry about it. Besides, people know how to spell and there is no such things as unusual names. 11. Fill in the Blanks Gaps often occur when building family trees. Dont worry about it. It happens. The important thing is to make sure it doesnt slow you down. When you have a blank space in your family tree, take an educated guess, fill it in and move on. Your intuition is most likely correct. 12. Dates Are Fluid Your ancestors, unfortunately, were not very good at writing down dates. Like what year they were born. Often they guessed. This can occasionally lead to unusual date combinations. Such as children being born before their parents. Dont worry about this kind of minor detail. 13. Fact Checking is Not Necessary Need we say it? A total waste of time. All genealogy records are on the internet and all records are transcribed by experts. So why bother to check facts? What do you expect to find? Errors? 14. Copy and Paste is Your Friend Genealogy is such a popular hobby that many millions of people have already put their family tree on the internet. Someone distantly related to you may have already done part of your family tree. Go and look for it. You can create your own family tree by copying and pasting branches of other family trees that you find on the internet. What could be easier? And by the way, don't bother crediting your sources. 15. It Just Takes a Weekend - If you spend more than a weekend building your family tree then you are doing something wrong.

29