Transcript Getting Started With Genealogy

Getting Started With
Genealogy
An Introduction to Genealogical Research
West Warwick Public Library
2003
Presentation Outline
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What is Genealogy
Where to Begin
Charts and Forms
Types of Records
Where to Search
Creating the Family Tree
Book and Web Resources
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What is Genealogy?
An Account of one’s
descent from an
ancestor or ancestors,
by enumeration of the
intermediate persons.
~OED
or
A mixture of living
history, written records,
and family lore.
~The Genealogy Handbook
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Where to Begin
The best place to embark on your
genealogical quest is right in your own
home. Start with yourself and work
backward, one generation at a time. Begin
to collect any documents pertaining to you
and your family such as birth certificates,
marriage certificates, report cards, etc.
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Interviewing
Once you’ve selected the
branch of the family you
would like to begin with,
interview as many family
members as possible and
write or record these oral
histories. Make note of
even the smallest details, it
may come in handy later on
in your search.
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Some Ideas for Questions
 Names and residences
 Pictures
 Schooling and profession
 Migration information
 Religion, culture, hobbies
 Heirlooms and special items
 Skeletons in the closet
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Charts and Forms
Now that you have started gathering information on
your family, there are various charts and forms
that can help you organize the information you
discover.
 Family Group Record
 Ancestral or Pedigree Chart
 Vital Records Form
 Census Extraction Form
 Soundex Card
 Research Calendar
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Family Group Record
This genealogical form depicts a couple and their biological
or adopted offspring. This is useful to organize your family
by family units.
This form includes such information as:
 Religion
 Church
 Occupation
 Cause of Death
 Place of christening
Family Group Record West Warwick Public Library
Ancestral or Pedigree Chart
This chart usually displays 5 to 6 generations and is
useful as an overview of your family. (fathers are recorded
beside even numbers, mothers are recorded beside odd numbers.) This
form includes the following fields of information.
 Date of birth: B
 Place of birth: P
 Date of marriage: M
 Place of marriage: P
 Date of death: D
 Place of death: P
Ancestral Chart
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Vital Records Form
This form allows you to keep track of marriage,
birth and death certificates. It is organized by
town , region, or country so that you know where
the original records are kept.
The following fields are included:
 Year
 Type
 Certificate #
 Copied
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Census Extraction Form
The Census, a mandate of the constitution, was
signed as a law by George Washington in 1790.
These forms help keep track of the census
information from 1790 to 1930.
It is a clear form that is set up according to the
column headings specific to each year.
Census Forms: 1790-1930
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Soundex Card
With the idea of putting many people to work in
government, President Franklin Roosevelt used some
of the WPA workers to organize the Soundex.
There are a few censuses that were indexed using a
code called Soundex, rather than the original name.
The 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 used this form of
indexing. The soundex code consists of the initial
letter of your last name and 3 coded numbers replace
the following letters. Although you can do this by
hand, there is a convenient converter located on the
web.
Soundex Converter
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Research Calendar
It is extremely important to keep track of
where and what you have searched. A
written record of all sources searched,
including both positive and negative results
will save hours of time and energy later on
in your search.
Research Calendar
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Types of Records
There are many records and documents to
search on your genealogical quest.
Probably the three most important types of
records are:
 Census Records
 Judiciary Records
 Vital Records
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Census Records
Federal Census records provide a wealth of information
dating back to the first census in 1790, although many of
the 1790 records were destroyed by the British during the
War of 1812. The Federal Census is conducted every ten
years and is public information after 72 years. The
1930’s census has just been released. The information
provided on each census varies from such information as
occupation to number of insane in a household. They
often times identify citizenship or immigration
information. Beginning in 1880, the Censuses began to
include place of birth of both Mother and Father. The
1890 Census is significant for it provides Veteran
information.
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Census Records-State
The state of Rhode Island conducted a census
every ten years on the fifth year beginning in 1865.
A street address is often times necessary to review
the state censuses. 1905 is a great year to research in
Rhode Island because it begins to list the entry
country and by that point 1/3 of the population was
foreign born. The 1865 State Census provides Civil
War information, while the 1875 Census begins to
document citizenship.
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Judiciary Records
Judiciary records provide genealogists with divorce, criminal, and
naturalization information. For Rhode Island, they are housed at the
Rhode Island Supreme Court Judicial Records Center. You can email
a request or use the facilities to locate the following:
 Civil Cases between 1671-1900
 Criminal Cases between 1671-1900
 Divorce Cases between 1749-1900
 Naturalization Papers between 1793-1974
Social Security was signed into law by FDR in August 1935, before this
point there was not much incentive for becoming naturalized citizens,
also, before 1920, women would not be naturalized.
RI Judicial Records Center
(Andrew Smith)
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Vital Records
Birth, Marriage, and Death records serve as a stepping stone to
most genealogical research. An accurate date is sometimes
crucial to identifying an ancestor. Most state archives or
historical societies house these records. For Rhode Island
records, the state archives contain vital records after 1853 until
1953 for death records and 1903 for birth and marriage
records. Local town halls will carry these as well as previous
vital records. To obtain records after these dates, one can
contact the Rhode Island Department of Health. A good source
for very early records is the Vital Record of Rhode Island:
1636-1850. It is a twenty-one volume set listed by county.
Vital Records
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Where to Search
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There are many places to search ancestral
records. Since each location will vary in their
collections, many avenues may have to be
explored for a complete genealogical search. The
following is a list of places where you can search.
Family History Centers
National, State, and Local Offices
Historical and Genealogical Societies
Public Libraries
Internet
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Family History Centers
Family History Centers are branch facilities of the Family
History Library in Salt Lake City. They were founded to
gather genealogical information for their members in 1894.
Centers provide access to most of the microfilms and
microfiche in the Family History Library to help patrons
identify their ancestors. It is sponsored by The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and everyone is welcome
to use the resources.
The Rhode Island facility is located at:
1000 Narragansett Parkway
Warwick, Rhode Island, 02888
Phone: 401-463-8150
Hours: T 10am-2pm, W 10am-2pm & 7-9pm, Th 6 -9pm, F&Sat 10am-2pm,
closed Sunday & Monday
Website:Family Search
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National, State, and Local Offices
There are various resources one can use to
research genealogy on a national, state, and local
level.
 National Archives and Record Administration-Holdings of Federal
Censuses and Government Documents.
National Archives (New England Chapter)
 State Archives-This may vary from state to state, but for Rhode
Island, the State Archives house Census Records, Vital Records, and
Federal Products of Industry and Agriculture for Rhode Island.
Rhode Island State Archives
 Local Offices- Since Rhode Island did not mandate a control of vital
records until 1853, individual city and town halls kept and still keep
all records of birth, marriages, and deaths.
West Warwick Town Hall
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Historical and Genealogical Societies
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Many Historical and Genealogical societies house unique collections and
documents of local history. Since they specialize in historical and
genealogical documents, they can often times offer great assistance. These
are just a few located in Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Historical Society- is a private, non-profit educational
and cultural organization established in 1822 to collect, preserve and share
Rhode Island's history. (Also town historical societies).
Rhode Island Historical Society Library
American-French Genealogical Society-a non-profit genealogical and
historical organization devoted to people of French-Canadian extraction.
American-French Genealogical Society
New England Historic Genealogical Society-the oldest genealogical
society in the country. For over 150 years, NEHGS has helped new and
experienced researchers trace their heritage in New England and around the
world.
New England Ancestors
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Public Libraries
Public Libraries are a great place to begin your
genealogical search. They will supply you with books on
how to go about your search as well as resources to
search through. City and Town Public libraries will
usually collect the local newspaper, street directories,
yearbooks, and archival maps when possible. They may
also carry church and funeral directories of births,
marriages, and deaths. Lastly, many libraries my have
databases to further your search.
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RI Cemetery Database
It is now possible to search the RI Historical Cemetery
Database on a computer at a few Rhode Island public
libraries or the Rhode Island Historical Society for an
ancestor buried anywhere in the state.
The Rhode Island Cemeteries Database project was
begun in 1990 as a way to document and computerize the
many historical cemeteries around the state. In 1990 there
were 2,833 registered historical cemeteries with an
estimated 430,00 inscriptions. There is a searchable
Master Index located on the USGenWeb website.
Master Index Cemetery Database
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Internet
When searching genealogy on the internet, one could get extremely
lost. There are over 150,000 sites that pertain to genealogy. For an
excellent resource on genealogical internet sites you can refer to
Cyndi’s List which is found in both book and web form: Cyndi's List.
A couple of the most popular sites for genealogical searches are:
 Ancestry
Ancestry.Com
 Family Search
Family Search
 Genealogy
Genealogy.Com
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Creating the Family Tree
Now that you know how to
gather the information,
you can begin to create
your family tree, whether
it be on paper, in a
computer program, or
posted online.
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Programs and Services to Build Your Tree
There are many ways to put together your ancestral tree.
 You can custom order a tree from the Tree Maker service.
The Tree Maker
 You can purchase a software program to create your tree
on the computer
Family Tree Software
 You can download a free program from Family Search
Family Search Program
 You can design your own on paper
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Book and Web Resources
Since Genealogy has become on of America’s favorite
hobbies, there are a prolific amount of books and
websites to be searched on the topic. Your local library or
bookstore will have an ample selection of books for you
to choose from, while the Internet will overwhelm you
with sites. Handouts on some popular websites will help
to minimize the confusion. A handout of a few of the
book resources found at the West Warwick Public Library
is included in your packet. You are now ready to begin
your genealogical quest and discover who your ancestors
are.
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