Transcript Genealogical Resources in the Information Age

Genealogical Resources
in the Information Age
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library
Spring 2005 Educational Program
Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.
A Presentation by:
Joseph A. Betz
Introduction
Technology has transformed the way we do genealogy
• The amount of information has increased
• Speed of moving information has increased
• Search/mining capability of information has increased
Result = overwhelming amounts of information
• Types of information need to be segregated for value
• Approach shifts to accommodate strengths in the technology
• Data management and dissemination increasingly important
• Genealogy increasingly becomes technologically contextual
Introduction
This presentation is a conceptual model for today’s genealogical
research. It’s a highly personal observation of how to, that will
challenge both novice and experienced genealogist.
Presentation outline
Introduction
IT Revolution & Change
Genealogy Standards
Types of Sources
Record Keeping & Citations
Emma Clark Resources
Strategy
Expectations
Data Management
Dissemination & Sharing
Case Study
Conclusion
Information Technology (IT) Revolution
Technological Change:
– Theories on technological interactionism or determinism that accounts for
changes in culture
– IT Revolution has changed genealogical research in less than decade
– Maturity of 3 unique technological components form this system
New technological system components are:
(1) Internet = delivery or transportation system
(2) Data mining / full text indexing = search capability
(3) High-speed OCR imaging = translates images to searchable data
Information Technology (IT) Revolution
Result is a shift in value (v), methodology (m) and economy (e):
(v) = Searches are conducted in a fraction of the time (time value)
(v) = Information is inexpensive and accessible from almost anywhere
(v) = Increase interest, participation and interaction on-line (social value)
(m) = Information is searched to find previously impossible matches
(m) = Research is quickly managed and published for dissemination/feedback
(m) = New information is made available and the cycle repeats itself
(e) = Industry of genealogical book publishers in recession/transformation
with books available on line or CD having full text search capability
(e) = Genealogical industry of researchers and services centered around
Salt Lake City is in transformation with records available on
line
Standards for Genealogical Research
Recommended by the National Genealogical Society
Remembering always that they are engaged in a quest for truth, family history
researchers consistently • record the source for each item of information they collect.
• test every hypothesis or theory against credible evidence, and reject those that
are not supported by the evidence.
• seek original records, or reproduced images of them when there is reasonable
assurance they have not been altered, as the basis for their research
conclusions.
• use compilations, communications and published works, whether paper or
electronic, primarily for their value as guides to locating the original records,
or as contributions to the critical analysis of the evidence discussed in them.
• state something as a fact only when it is supported by convincing evidence,
and identify the evidence when communicating the fact to others.
Standards for Genealogical Research
Recommended by the National Genealogical Society
Continued:
• limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any statement that is based on
less than convincing evidence, and state the reasons for concluding that it is
probable or possible.
• avoid misleading other researchers by either intentionally or carelessly
distributing or publishing inaccurate information.
• state carefully and honestly the results of their own research, and acknowledge
all use of other researchers’ work.
• recognize the collegial nature of genealogical research by making their work
available to others through publication, or by placing copies in appropriate
libraries or repositories, and by welcoming critical comment.
• consider with open minds new evidence or the comments of others on their
work and the conclusions they have reached.
Genealogical Sources
Types of Sources
• Primary and Secondary sources
• In Between and Suspect sources
A contemporary, unbiased record of an event is ideal but keep in mind that
information given by an applicant or informant:
1. May be deliberately false or had a reason for not telling the truth on a
document, i.e., a vested interest
2. May have had a poor understanding or bad memory of the event
3. A clerical error could have been made recording the event
4. Always triangulate all records and information
Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary sources include: land records (deeds), wills, court records
(probate, guardianship, divorce, civil suits), church records
(baptism, marriage, death, burial), vital records (birth, marriage
and death certificates), military records and Social Security
applications.
Secondary sources include: almost all published works, (town or
county histories, family genealogies, indexes, abstracts of
original records, newspapers), bible records, tombstone
inscriptions and almost everything on the Internet.
In Between and Suspect Sources
In between primary and secondary sources include: Census records
(accuracy of informant and enumerator), some information on
death certificates (accuracy of informant) and the Social
Security Death Index (SSDI).
Suspect sources include: LDS FamilySearch Internet Genealogy
Service including Ancestral File, International Genealogical
Index (IGI - the best of the lot), Pedigree Resource File,
RootsWeb’s WorldConnect Search and the memory of very aged
relatives.
Record Keeping & Citations
Record Keeping (paper & electronic)
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Journal all interviews, file all notes and lists of things to do
Keep a log of all record requests and correspondences
Keep certified copies of records in plastic page loose-leaf binder
Organize family photographs in scrapbooks and scan them electronically
Electronic filing of all images from internet (i.e., census records, maps)
Citations
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The value of your genealogical work in measured by the citations!
Each event should have one or more simple citations, even if it’s not your
work. Always be able to defend where your information came from.
Standard for heritage societies (DAR, SAR, Mayflower Society, etc.)
Emma Clark Resources
Premium On-line Resources
Ancestry Plus
Census Records 1790-1930
Military Records
Immigration Records
Birth, Marriage, & Death (abstracts)
Family & Local Histories
Court, Land & Probate Records
Heritage Quest
Census Records 1790-1930
PERiodical Source Index
Family & Local Histories
Revolutionary War Records
Newspapers
New York Times Historical 1851-2001 (obituaries)
Emma Clark Resources
Free On-line Resources
LDS FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org)
Ancestral File
Pedigree Resource File
Vital Records Index (foreign)
Family History Library Catalog
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
Census 1880 US, 1881 B&C
Social Security Death Index
RootsWeb (www.rootsweb.com)
WorldConnect Project
Social Security Death Index
Various Links
Death Index (CA, KY, ME, TX)
Genealogical Societies (search/image fee)
NEHGS (oldest & best)
NYGBS
NGS
Emma Clark Resources
Free On-line Resources
Cyndi’s List (www.cyndislist.com)
240,000 categorized & cross-referenced genealogy links
Ellis Island Index (www.ellisislandrecords.org)
Passenger Arrival Records 1892-1924
German Genealogy Group (www.germangenealogygroup.com)
NYC Grooms Index 1895-1936
NYC Death Index 1891-1936
Miscellaneous
USGenWeb Project
GenealogyBlog.com
WorldGenWeb Project
BirthDatabase.com
Strategy
Initial Process to 1850
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Always work back, don’t try to link to a family
Interview family members, keep a journal and record everything
Find information on entire families and note naming patterns
Social Security Death Index for exact birth and death dates
Census records from 1930 to 1850 (mapping out phase)
– 1900 has each individuals birth month & year
– 1880 has every person indexed and is free
– Look for parents or relatives living in the household for surnames
Write for civil birth, marriage and death records (vital records)
Check newspapers for obituaries
Check ship arrival records for immigrants
Strategy
Secondary Process and before 1850
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Check LDS FamilySearch and RootsWeb WorldConnect for clues, especially
prior to 1850
Check published town histories, records, genealogies, and compilations
Map civil (town/county) and religious (parish) geographic divisions
Investigate availability and types of records for expectations
Understand migration patterns, social and religious context
Check for church and cemetery records
Check for wills, court records and land deeds
Check for military records and pensions
Check scholarly journals (The Register, TAG, NGS Quarterly, NYBG Record)
Locate historical societies or topical on-line genealogical support groups
Genealogical Expectations
High expectations
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Social status linked to family pedigree
Wealth, privilege and land ownership
Religious importance of record keeping
Civil registration requirements, starts to be universal in the 19th century
Stable social and economic structure
Low expectations
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Oppressed social class or ethnic group
Frontier environments, war, famine or poverty
Data Management
Realistically, the only way to use organize, compile, publish and
disseminate genealogical information is through the use of
genealogical software. All can export a GEDCOM file
(GEnealogical Data COMmunication)
Genealogical Software - Most Popular
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Personal Ancestral File 5.2 (PAF) - free from LDS
Family Tree Maker 2005 (FTM)
The Master Genealogist 5.15 (TMG)
Legacy 5.0 Deluxe Edition
Family Origins
Dissemination & Sharing
Recommended by the National Genealogical Society
Sharing information or data with others is important but keep in mind • Respect the restrictions on sharing information that arise from the rights of
another as an author, originator or compiler; as a living private person; or as a
party to a mutual agreement [avoid publishing information on living persons].
• Observe meticulously the legal rights of copyright owners, copying or
distributing any part of their works only with their permission, or to the limited
extent specifically allowed under the law's "fair use" exceptions.
• Identify the sources for all ideas, information and data from others, and the
form in which they were received, recognizing that the unattributed use of
another's intellectual work is plagiarism [especially for notes and biographies].
• Be sensitive to the hurt that revelations of criminal, immoral, bizarre or
irresponsible behavior may bring to family members.
Case Study
Conclusion
• Everyone should be able to trace their family history back prior
to 1850 without much effort
• Future = More automated process