Transcript Primary & Secondary Sources www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/2082.asp Steps 6 & 7 Primary Sources (Original) – is a record of an event written, spoken or photographed.

Primary & Secondary Sources
www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/2082.asp Steps 6 & 7
Primary Sources (Original) – is a record of an
event written, spoken or photographed by an
eyewitness or that event at or near the time of the
event. Recorded by someone with firsthand
knowledge of the facts.
Secondary source (copied) – is written record of
the event that was created long after the event
occurred. Usually by someone not directly
associated with the event.
Primary Sources
► Letters
► Eyewitness
newspaper accounts
► Ship passenger lists
► Diaries
► Deeds and other land ownership records
► Baptismal certificates
► Photographs of family reunions
► Business ledgers and notes in the margins
► Military
records
► Family bibles with listings of births, marriages
and family events
► Census records
► Home videos
► Voice recordings, oral histories
► Immigration records
► Wills
► It
is from these sources that we can gain
valuable insight into the personality or our
ancestors.
Primary sources still can have
potential shortcomings
► Eyewitnesses
can unintentionally distort his
or her perception of an event
► Recording the wrong dates
 Example of a college class:
►Someone
came into the class and shot the professor
after the shock of the mock shooting, all were asked
to record what they saw. It was amazing that there
was little similarity between the accounts.
Vital Records
► These
are records of life’s events
► Birth, death, marriage, divorce
► The government started to require records of vital
records
► These records are maintained by the level of
government closest to where the event took place
► Before the 1900’s records found at local
community
► After 1900’s either the local or state level would
have the records
► It
is rare to be able to see the actual
records unless:
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Write to the appropriate office
Supply the correct amount of money
If the records are available you requested
The biggest challenge is knowing the
correct place to send for vital records
►Ancestry’s
Red Book
►The source Book
►Use the internet http://vitalrec.com/
General guidelines to follow when
sending for vital records
► Determine
the correct cost
► Determine the correct address, phone
number and name
► Supply as much information as possible
► Enclose payment
► Provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope
► Be patient for your reply, can take 2 or 3
letter to complete the process
Using the information found
► Always
use the information given exactly as
it is in the original source. Especially the
spelling.
► Make any notes on your logs.
► Do not make assumptions about any data.
► Make sure you file the information found in
the correct folder or binder.
► Place a copy of your source in your filing
system.
Secondary Sources
►2
fundamental rules
 Document your sources, write down the
identifying source, even if you find nothing,
note that
 Verify any information, use of compiled sources
can lead you to the original source
Examples of Secondary Sources
► Family
histories and local histories
 Does the book contain relevant information to
your project
 How is the book structured
 Does the book have an index of names or
places
 If the book does not have an index, use
patience and perseverance
Organization of histories
► Take
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time to skim the contents
How was the work organized
Who is the key person
What format does the book use
When was it published
Who is the author
Is there and index
► Learn
the numbering system used in the book
► Verify all information found
Town and County Histories
► Virtually
every village, town, city, county or state
has had someone write a published history.
 Historical context
 Day-to-day life, which allows you to have a glimpse of
what the townspeople did for a living, where they
shopped, how they farmed and where they paid their
taxes
 They can even provide a history of the people
 They can provide births, deaths and marriages that
occurred in that area.
Libraries worth checking
► Family
History Library
► Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
► State Libraries (usually located at the state’s
capital)
► Heritage Quest (use your library card to
access)
Genealogical Dictionaries
► Multi-volume
sets of books
 DUP “Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude”
 “Heart Throbs of the West”
► Frequently
female family members are left
out
► Check the card or computer catalog at the
library for these general sources
Assorted Compiled Sources
► Family
association Newsletters
► Genealogical Society Newsletters
► Historical Society Publications
► Ethnic Society Publications
► Newspaper Obituaries
► Published Cemetery Inscriptions
► Biographies
► College Yearbooks
Primary
Secondary
Death
Certificate
Date of Death, name of
decedent, residence at time
of death, cause of death
Birth date of decedent,
birthplace, parents’ names
and birthplaces
Birth Record
Name of child, date and
place of birth, parents;
names, residence at birth
Parent’s ages and
birthplaces
Census
Records
Names of person,
relationships, residence,
occupation at the time
Birthplaces of adults,
parent’s birthplaces, year
of immigration
Obituary
Name of person, current
residence, survivors at the
time, burial information
Parent’s birth date and
place, migration
information, early
occupations
Passenger list
Name of person, date of
arrival, previous residence,
destination
Birthplace
Web Sites
► Primary
& Secondary Sources
http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/tip12.html
► How to cite your sources
http://progenealogists.com/citationguide.htm
► Genealogy help web site
http://genhelp.org/index.php
► Use the “Printed Sources” book pages 4-12 (most
libraries have this book, or see Cathie’s copy)