Genealogy

and

Family History

A Path to the Past

Organize  --   Identify Known Information  --   Gather Information  --   Research

General Sites  --   African-American Sites --   Jewish Sites  --   Libraries and Archives  --   Societies

Print Resources  --   Other Resources


 
PART 1:   STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH
               Basic Advice
 


STEP 1: 
GET ORGANIZED
Lay the groundwork for library or internet research.

 

STEP 2:
IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.


Start with yourself

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STEP 3:
GATHER INFORMATION FROM RELATIVES
 

 

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STEP 4:
MOVE BEYOND THE FAMILY FOR INFORMATION.  STARTTHE RESEARCH CYCLE TO FOLLOW THE PAPER TRAIL.
 
 

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:

ALWAYS work backward from the present to the past; from the knownto the unknown.

DO NOT skip generations!

 

Research Cycle:  Develop research strategies.
 

  1.     Evaluate what you know.  What is missing?


 

  1.     Set a goal.  What do I want to find out?

 

  1.     PLAN to find the information. What type of records have the information?

 

  1.     Locate the source for the information.  Where is the record for this information?

 

  1.     Acquire and search the source of the information.


 

  1.     Copy and record the information.    DOCUMENT! DOCUMENT!  DOCUMENT!


 

  1.     Evaluate the information found.  Did the information answer the goal question?


 

  1.     Record the information on your charts.


 

  1.     Reorganize your ideas and materials.  Start over.

PART 2:  RESOURCES:


GENERAL INTENET SITES :  THESE ARE EXCELLENT STARTING POINTS.
 
 

An Important Note about Internet Resources

While the Internet offers a wealth of information and is becoming an invaluable tool for genealogists, do not expect "Star Wars" capabilities. Keep these thoughts in mind. 

    • The Internet can help you find and locate information, but you will still need books. 

Do not expect to do all your research on the Internet. 

    • Most genealogical information is found in Primary Sources, such as 
      • Vital records -- birth, death, marriage 
      • Census data
      • Old handwritten records etc.

Primary resources are too costly to convert to electronic format. Therefore these key sources of information MUST be found in places other than the Internet. 

    • The Internet will not replace traditional research in archives, libraries and courthouses.
    • The Internet will not replace talks with family members.


 

What you might find: 

    • Bits and pieces of information for further research. Clues to searching.Guides to help.
    • Email and mailing lists for correspondence to others doing research on the same names.
    • Some indexes to public information and records such as the Social Security Death Index.
    • A window to the world of available resources.
    • Information and personal web pages from other researchers who have posted their findings and genealogies.  NOTE: These may be wrong and need to be checked.


 

What you will not find: 

    • Your complete family history

How to use the Internet: 

    • Incorporate into your research cycle as a finding and locating tool.

 


http://www.pbs.org/kbyu/ancestors


http://www.ancestry.com

 
 


http://www.cyndislist.com


 


http://www.everton.com


 


http://www.familysearch.org


Records are not restricted to the Mormon religion.
 


http://www.familytreemaker.com

 

 


http://www.genhomepage.com

 


http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/index.html

 


http://www.genealogy.tbox.com

 

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/aboutus/history/teacher/resources.htm

 


http://www.onlinegenealogy.com


 


http://www.rand.org/personal/Genea/

 


http://www.rootsweb.com/


 


http://www.usgenweb.org

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INTERNET SITES FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS:

AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESOURCES:


http://www.prairiebluff.com
 


http://www.afrigeneas.com

 


http://ccharity.com


 


http://www.familytreemaker.com/00000360.html
 


http://www.ancestry.com/home/celebrate/blackhist.htm

 
 

JEWISH RESOURCES:
 


http://www.avotaynu.com


http://www.jewishgen.org


 


http://www.pitt.edu/%7Emeisel/jewish

 

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INTERNET LINKS TO LIBRARIESAND ARCHIVES:
 


http://himalaya.acpl.lib.in.us/Genealogy/genealogy.html


 


http://www.huc.edu/aja


 


http://clio1.cuyahoga.lib.oh.us

 


http://clio1.cuyahoga.lib.oh.us/home/internet.html#GENEALOGY

 


http://www.ipl.org.


 


http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/


 


http://winslo.state.oh.us/services/genealogy/index.html


 


http://www.wrhs.org/sites/library.htm

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INTERNET LINKS TO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES:
 


http://www.ogs.org


 


http://www.ohiohistory.org

 


http://feefhs.org/jg/frgjgscl.html


 


http://ngsgenealogy.org

 


PRINT RESOURCES

Books:


Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Periodicals:

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OTHER RESOURCES:


 


 

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Organize  --   Identify Known Information  --   Gather Information  --   Research

General Sites  --   African-American Sites --   Jewish Sites  --   Libraries and Archives  --   Societies

Print Resources  --   Other Resources

Created by Judith S. Kramer

June 24, 1999

updated 04/03