Amazing that everyone or seems as that, has a topic about research and beginners. It must be, because Summer has arrived and Spring is past.
Liking many of the lists that various organizations proposed for Genealogists to use, I take exception with the format of the list.
A new attendee will follow the list down the page and some of these lists will lead them to a slow trail and maybe defection.
We have the ability to make Genealogical Research as expensive or non expensive as we wish.
Having followed the Card Catalog at the LDS Library and it was alphabetical, it left my brain thinking.
Their catalog topics seems well placed generally. Just review what they had for Iowa and it will give you some clues.
We need to be careful when we make lists. The new person will pick it up and go down it in order, more often than skipping around. Sometimes they remake the list to their needs but feed back does not indicate that is happening often.
We should always start with ourselves. What do we have in our home, our files, our pictures our documents, and stories? What nicknacks bring memory of some one? What did you inherit hanging on the wall or setting by the door? What lays on the bed or on a table?
To start research you should always start with what is available to you. I called it the Laundry Basket Approach.
Then reach out to find more clues, contacting family members, well known and hardly to non known.
The social media's of today can make this easily possible. You do not need to use them for social chat but for research.
Having joined a certain counties Media page, meeting many new distant cousins and pictures are being swapped and named and discussed. Years ago you had to go to the Reunion or the site to hope to get a list from the Genealogical Group of whom was hunting a certain name. Yes, you should still do this method but add the social media groups to this search. Does not cost a dime just mostly your time.
Having my funny bone tickled by one Genealogical Media that went all the way to item 5 before they listed we should all start at home.
Here is my List in order of research for Beginners.
1. Home, self, family, pictures, knicknacks, letters, documents.
2. More Home, Inherited items from family members gone, blankets, quilts, vases, pictures,
high chair, rocking horse, cabinets, old radios, phonographs, Bibles and family memory books.
3. More home sources, old newspaper clippings, birth announcements, baby books, wedding or anniversary books. School certificates, church certificates, church notices, Birth Certificates, death Certificates, Marriage Certificate, Divorce, Annulment and any other of kind items. Military Records, do not forget them. We have been at indirectly at War for over 100 years so there is much to look for.
I have my Grandad's wallet with his last Drivers License in it. Mom kept it.
4. Do not forget the garage, barn or shed. Did you get a tool that was your Dad's or Grandad's?
What about Grandma's sewing machine? (Old Hammers and some screw driver sets are worth lots of money. That is a side bar to genealogy.)
5. Once you have inventoried what you already have, you are probably amazed at what you have accumulated.
6. Remember to do this when a death brings more information into your home. It helps to soothe the soul while your mourning to remember the good times these items remind you of.
7. Now your ready to venture out into the world, hoping you have joined and attended a local
Genealogical or Family History Group, as one of the first things out side of the home.
8. Attend their meetings and learn the tricks and tips others have mastered.
9. Check your local library and with the library in region the person came from for assistance.
This is so important. If you can join that society for further assistance it may really help you. Joining was one of the biggest positives I did.
10. Family History Center in your area for further help is many times very helpful. Also in the region of person living. It seems all FHC's have different data in their local facility. Yes much can be ordered to be sent your local facility, but much here is free.
11. FHC's can give you access to the Census Records, and many others we have already mentioned.
12, FHC's may have a film or book on the Land Records, Tax Lists, Church Records, Probates, Wills,
Estate, Guardianship, Boundary changes. They also have Biographies and many other titles look at the Iowa References on previous blog, for ideas.
13. BOUNDARY CHANGES yes you must watch for this in your research whether it is by town, county or state and country. Yes, USA had all of these happen.
14. Almost all religious groups have a home base for original records, though some have been destroyed or never kept. You will need to look up that home base.
15. There are many other records to replace the 1890 census that was destroyed by fire.
16. You can log on a computer at home or a library and access the Rootsweb.com site that is free.
Even though it is affiliated with Ancestry.com what is on this page is free. Surname Lists, Place Lists,
Religious groups, and so much more that is free.
17. Look for Newspaper articles, Occupations, School's records, Medical Records, Cemeteries,
Court Case Files, Business Licenses, Doctor's Directories.
18. Read all the lists for research formats, but work them to start from home then outward. You may have something at home you would not need to get from elsewhere.
19. Anyone can join the FHC and access much data once you have signed in. They also will order data for you for a nominal fee.
20. The book by Val D. Greenwood should be requested for birthday or Christmas for your assistance. The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy
Here is hoping this helps and will share more in the future.
All Rights Reserved. 6-23-14
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