Transcript Document

Missouri Western State University
Merit Badge College
16 March 2013
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To sign off the merit badge today you should
have already completed the following:
 Created a timeline for yourself or a relative and from
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that timeline written a short biography or Kept a
journal for 6 weeks.
Interviewed a relative or family acquaintance
Obtained at least on genealogical document.
Created a pedigree chart with at least 3 generations
Created two family group records
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Please fill out the workbook as we discuss the
different aspects of Genealogy.
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Genealogy (ge·ne·al·o·gy):
the study or investigation of
ancestry and family histories.
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Who were they?
Where did they live?
What were they like?
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Ancestor (an·ces·tor)
 a person from whom one is
descended (parent, grandparent,
great-grandparent, etc)
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Descendant (de·scen·dant)
 an individual descended from
another (child, grandchild, greatgrandchild, etc)
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Create a timeline of your life.
▪ List Important Events: Birth, Schooling, Vacations, Scouting,
Family, Memories.
▪ Ask parents and grandparents to tell you about things that occurred in
your life before you can remember
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Use these notes to write a short biography of yourself.
Update this timeline and biography every year.
Write in a Journal
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Talk to your parents and grandparents.
 Ask them about their childhood.
▪ Where did they go to school?
▪ What were their friends like?
▪ What did they like doing?
 What were their brothers/sisters/cousins like?
 What do they remember about their
parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles.
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Record their stories (Tape and Written)
Letter from my Great Grandfather
Obtain as much information as you can from
your parents and grandparents.
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Get Names, Dates, and Places
If possible obtain records and documents
Get copies of photographs (label them)
Record the Information you obtain on Pedigree
Charts and Family Group Records.
Include where you got the information!
Legacy Family Tree
(www.legacyfamilytree.com)
Family Tree Builder
(www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder)
Personal Ancestral File
(https://www.familysearch.org/products)
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Vital Records
 Birth, Marriage, Death records
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Census Records
 Every 10 years from 1790. Privacy laws mean that only
through 1930 have been released
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State Records
 Land deeds, wills, pension records
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Libraries
 Books and microfilm resources
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Internet
Family papers, bibles etc.
Birth
Obituary
Will
Census
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Primary Records:
 A record that was created at the time of the event. Birth
Certificate, Death Certificate, Marriage Record, etc.
 Only primary source for that event.
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Secondary Records:
 Information recorded at a time other than the event.
Example: Birth date listed on death certificate.
 Secondary information can be incorrect. If a close family
member were to die, and you were asked to fill out the
death certificate, would you be able to accurately remember
that person’s birth date, mother’s maiden name, etc.
 Primary Source:
• Death date
• Death place
• Burial Place
 Secondary Source:
• Birth Information
• Parent’s Information
• Spouse Information
Taken every 10 years as required by the US Constitution
1790 – 1840: Lists heads of households only
1850 – 1930: Lists all members of household
1940 – 2010: Not released to public yet.
1890: Destroyed by Fire
Information obtained from Censuses:
Names of Family Members
Ages at time of Census
Birth Locations
Where the Family Lived
Not Terribly accurate! - neighbors frequently gave information.
Only as accurate as the census taker.
Information gathered
and published by
other researchers
May Contain Errors
Motherwell Memories
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Family: Check with your parents/
grandparents, etc to see what records they
have. Make photocopies or scanned images
of these records.
Record Repository: courthouse, state or
national archive, state library, genealogical
library.
Internet: Watch for Primary, Secondary, and
“Dubious” records.
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Storage of Information:
 FamilyTreeMaker
 Legacy
 Ancestral Quest
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Sharing of Information:
 Internet Sites
 E-mail
 Digital Photos
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Finding Information:
 Online Records
 Computerized Document Searches
 Google
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Microfilming: Copying old records onto film that
can be viewed and copied.
 Allows more access to records that are falling apart.
 Allows microfilms to be copied and stored in multiple
facilities (libraries).
 Duplicate copies in case originals are destroyed.
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Microfilmed copies are now being digitized and
copied into computer databases.
Do your detective work!
That’s great evidence –
make sure you record where it came from.
• Do you have an original record?
• Did you get it from someone else’s research? That’s
questionable – check out their sources – hang on to the
information as a “possible”
• State something as a fact only when it is supported by
convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when
communicating the fact to others.
• Keep your mind open – your ancestors may not be who you
think they are
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Use this time to complete
 Timeline / Personal History
 Prepare questions for relatives
 Fill in Pedigree Chart and Family Group Records
 Search Internet for Resources
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I will come around and check off
requirements for those who have completed
the prerequisites.