Roots & Branches

Through the years I have tried to do genealogy research in several different ways and from many different sources. Two of my favorite places are the state Vital Records offices or State Archives. They are usually most helpful and go out of their way to help you find the records you need.

For instance, my mothers line in from Chariton County, Missouri. About 15 years ago I began writing to the Missouri State Archives. The office sent me a form to fill out with instructions to send the form back with payment for the look-up (the fee at that time was 50 cents a look-up). Also there was information stating that only one look-up would be permitted at one time.

I sent the request off and waited. To my surprise a few weeks later I received an envelope with a copy of the record (marriage record) I needed, along with another blank form. Again I filled out the form and this time asked for death record info. A few weeks later that record arrived. As time went, on I continued this path of requests and mailings. From time to time there would be a note stating there was nothing found, but on the whole it was a very valuable tool. When the Missouri State Archives could not find what I needed, they would send suggestions with the “unable to fill” notice. I found this very helpful.

Each office will have its own rules and regulations, as well as charges and fees. Hint: if your research does not require a notarized copy, request a photocopy. Photocopies are much cheaper. Be prepared to pay, but you can also request a scanned copy sent to your e-mail. Not all offices have this available, but there are a few. Think outside the box. Ask questions. See what all they offer.

Most states have a State Archive and all have a Vital Records Office. These offices are there for our use. Give them a try.

To locate the state archive offices try:

http://www.statearchivists.org/states.htm

To locate the vital records offices try:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm

Good Luck with your research!

Self-help Aides for Genealogists

Many times we start out to do a project and we find we quickly become overwhelmed. For the beginner or novice it is can be very discouraging. There are facts and figures, names and names that sound like what are looking for. We have pictures and papers, we have maps and documents. It may all seem to pile up and bury us.

But what do we do with all of this?

There is hope. Do not give up. It will all be worth it when you are able to gather all your info and organize it well. You will be able to actually find what you need more easily and feel so much better about the project in general.

Try some of the following:

“How to Research Your Family History”

by PBS Home Video

Volume I-

Getting Started and Leaving a Legacy

Volume II-

Looking at Home, Gathering Family Stories, and he Paper Trail

Volume III-

Census and Military Records, African-American Research, and Your Medical Heritage.

Volume IV-

Libraries and Archives and High-Tech Help

I found the video series to be very helpful. When thinking of starting out, the information and ideas, can help to get you started.

“The Genealogist’s Question & Answer Book” by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk

Get the answers to your genealogy questions!

There’s never been a better time to discover your ancestors. More family history resources are available now than ever before-making your research options almost limitless. So much information, however, makes determining where to begin, what to believe, and how to decipher it all a challenge.

The Genealogist’s Question & Answer Book helps you overcome these hurdles and make the most of your research time. It provides answers to more than 150 of the most commonly asked genealogy questions in a friendly, easy-to-browse format.

Questions are conveniently grouped according to the different resources you’ll use: from census, church and immigration records to oral histories, websites, electronic databases, and more. You’ll learn what to look for in each document, how to interpret the information you find, and where to go next with your research.

“Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors” by Maureen Taylor

A Step-by-step Guide to Uncovering Your Family’s History

Have you ever looked at an old black and white photograph of a relative, long since dead and possibly forgotten, and wondered what his or her life might have been like? What is you could find out? This book can help you uncover the secrets and adventures of your own family in the “personal detective story” that is genealogy.

“The Weekend Genealogist” by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk

Timesaving techniques for effective research

Let’s face it, life doesn’t always allow you the freedom to make genealogy research your number one priority. And when it does, you still don’t seem to have enough time to accomplish what’s needed. The Weekend Genealogist can help overcome this problem by showing you how to get the most out of whatever time you have available.

*Implement organizational techniques to streamline research and create a timesaving filing system for notes, documents, and forms.

*Get research information more efficiently using mail, fax, and e-mail.

*Utilize local historical and genealogical societies, relative, and microfilm rental programs.

*Let the Internet work for you while avoiding the pitfalls of Internet research

*Master organizational forms-everything from pedigree charts to correspondence logs.

*Make the most of every record you collect by learning the 10 questions to “ask” each document

*Find and access research facilities such as the National Archives and Records. Administration, vital records offices, and local libraries.

*Plan a research trip and make every minute on the road worthwhile

*Create an information network with your fellow genealogists.

Your local library will have many other titles to choose from or there is a multitude of information on the internet.

Have you ever thought “Where do I start?”
I am here to say, start with your local library. This is always a good place. Most libraries have great resources. Internet, newspapers, local history, books on genealogy, scrapbooking, photos, to name a few. Many also provide microfilm of back issues of newspapers and photo copiers.

The Sweetwater County Library System provides two databases for genealogy use, Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest.

Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use only. You may access this service by logging on one of the public computers or on your personal laptop. The library provides Wi-Fi wireless internet access. The database provides census, birth, marriage, death records and more. Searches are available in Historical Records, Stories & Publications, and Photos & Maps.

Heritage Quest is available in-library and from home. The database provides Census, Book, PERSI, Revolutionary War, Freedman’s Bank, and U. S. Serial Set records. You will need you library card and pin number to access the database however. To receive this information, contact the library.

I have always felt that starting with the library is an excellent place. When traveling from home I have found most libraries have phone books to help you find the city offices, cemetery sextons, and local museums. Internet is available in at the libraries in most towns and cities at small or no cost to the user. You will need to pay for print-outs.

Librarians are great reference sources themselves. Say you need to know who how to find a grandfather that lived in Green River and owned a business in 1935. Many libraries have the old business directories that you can view. Usually the proprietors of local businesses were listed and at times employees. Ask for City Directories also. If that did not work, you could try the local museum or historical society. It really helps to talk to “a local” and librarians can usually provide contacts for you.

Genealogy Societies are a great resource also. The local library can usually provide the contact information you need. You will find Genealogists are some of the most helpful people in the world. Once you find someone local, they are almost always ready to help you with your search. Have your information handy and be ready to pay for copies or faxes. It has been my experience that if they could not find the information you needed, they would ask for your e-mail address and send what they could find later. This has worked very well for me.

Take time to do your research. When ever possible, schedule time to visit with contacts, look around the town, ask questions, take photos, etc. Try not to be in a hurry. Many times when I have been visiting, people will get started and talk for a long time. What they say might not always be totally important to you, but keep nudging them back to your subject. This really helps. Be patient.

A tip I have learned is make contact cards or business cards to take and leave as you need. It is helpful to add your name, address, phone and e-mail. On the back I usually write the name and basic info of the people I am researching, just in case the local contact forgets what they have agreed to look for. It happens.

Best of Luck with your search!

Have you heard someone talking about genealogy, or telling some great family story that their family shares and wish that could be you?  Or did someone you work with tell you that they had found out they were related to Thomas Jefferson and it made you wonder if you were?  Don’t despair.  You can start your family history and find your own intriguing stories.

This is my attempt to help to start your search.  Please follow the basic steps below and the information will hopefully help you get started. 

Step #1:  Print out blank Family Group Sheet forms and Pedigree Chart.

The Family Group Sheets will be used for each family group, father, mother, and children.  (These are available on-line or master copies are available for your use at the Sweetwater County Library or print out by using the Blank Forms link on this page.)

Step #2: Always start with yourself. On a Family Group Sheet add your spouse or significant other.  Fill in all the blanks-birth date, place of birth, etc.  Once this is done, add any children that you may have natural, adopted, living and deceased.

Step #3: On additional Family Group Sheets, do your parents, you and your siblings.   From here continue with any information you might have on the grandparent and do a new sheet for each family group.  Continue in this way until you have all the generations that you currently know to be true.  Do not add anything that you are not sure of. 

Step #4: Transfer the information for your direct bloodline on to the Pedigree Chart. This will give you a better idea of your line and how far back you have gathered information.  As you continue, add any additional persons you find to this sheet that are in your direct line.

Step #5: This is where the true research begins.  Take the most current sheet that is missing information and begin with it.  For instance, your great-grandfather is only know by is last name and no other information is know about him.  Each family has a person or two that are the usual story tellers or record keepers.  Ask your family if there is such a person in your family line.  If so great, go to them and hopefully they will be willing to share.  If not, start doing family interviews.  Ask alot of questions. Get people talking.  Video record or audio tape the interview, this can be very useful for future use.  Ask for pictures and documents, family bibles, anything that might have more information.  Be prepared to pay for copy fees or scans.

Step #6: Try to find a birth certificate for the person you are working on.  Most birth certificates will have both parents’ names and basic information included.  If you do not have access to this document you can write or in many cases go on line, to the Vital Records Department for the state they were born.  Prices vary by state. Keep in mind when ordering, you might choose to request a photocopy not a notarized copy of the birth certificate.  Photocopies are much cheaper.  Not all Vital Records Departments offer these, but it is worth asking for.  (Out of country research might be done on-line).

Step #7: Death records are next on the list.  Contact the local cemetery sexton or City Hall for the area you are researching.  They should have the records you need.  Ask for a photocopy of any records such a cemetery plot records. In the past I have found complete family group by doing this.  I requested a copy of the plot record and my great-grandparents and several of their children were buried in the same family plot.  There were dates of death and full names, which is so important.  Also the country they were born was listed.  This is a big help as well. 

Step#8: From here you will have to try several other avenues.  Church records, school records, local museums and libraries, etc. Most libraries allow Inter-Library Loans which allows you to barrow items from another library.  If you are looking for a history of  say Coalville, Utah , you could ask your local librarian to help you find the right item.  Also don’t be afraid to try the LDS Church Genealogical Library.  They are very helpful and you do not have to be LDS to use it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at any of these places to see if they can point you in a new direction.  Many people are very kind and will be willing to help you along.

Step #9: The Internet has a vast listing of sites that can be used.  Some are free, some are not.  Be prepared to take your time and read the basic information for each site. For instance, The Ellis Island website, will give information on passengers and ships, but you will usually need to look through several records before you find the right one.  (http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/)

The Sweetwater County Library subscribes to two databases for your use, AncestryPlus (in-library use only) and Heritage Quest.  For assistance ask at the library’s Front Desk. 

The library also has several books that will assist you with your on-line search.  One book that might be of use to the new researcher is “Genealogy Basics Online” by Cherri Melton Flinn.  You will find helpful hits and websites that will make your search a bit easier.

Step #10: Keep good records.  Try to list your contacts and internet sites for future use.  If you have information that is not always complete, file it.  It may come in handy at another time when you have filled in a few blanks.

Genealogy takes patients.  Yes it can be a long drawn out process, but once you start to see the results it will all be worthwhile. 

 Best of Luck in your search!