Learn Where to Find Records Habit # 34
Where do you find family history clues, artifacts and resources
Where do you search? So where do you begin your search?
Where do you search? Family history clues and artifacts are as close as your home
Where do you search? The home of close relatives will reveal many treasures you are not yet aware exists
Where do you search? Family gatherings are an important time to reach out, get to know family and begin and/or continue family history activities
Where do you search? Many local, state and national resources exist to help further research
The home of close relatives and friends
The home of close relatives and friends Mom & Dad
The home of close relatives and friends Grandma and Grandpa on your Dad s side
The home of close relatives and friends Grandma and Grandpa on your Mom s side
The home of close relatives and friends Your siblings (brothers and sisters)
The home of close relatives and friends Aunts and uncles on your Dad s side
The home of close relatives and friends Aunts and uncles on your Mom s side
The home of close relatives and friends Great - grandparents, great aunts and uncles
The home of close relatives and friends First and second cousins
The home of close relatives and friends Selected neighbors & co-workers
The home of close relatives and friends
Where else can I search?
Where else can I search? Local, regional, state, and genealogy libraries
Where else can I search? Genealogy societies
Where else can I search? Historical societies
Where else can I search? Court house and municipal resources
Where else can I search? Religious organizations
Where else can I search? Internet resources
Where else can I search? Professional genealogists
Completely search your home
Learn Every Record Has Value Habit # 35
What information can be found in the home?
Start with you Write down what is known about life events Birth Baptism Christening Marriage Graduations
Gather documents Gather documents in home having potential family history value Awards Certificates Letters Photos Journals Histories Scrapbooks Bibles Diaries
Genealogy information: Personal records Personal Knowledge Biography Autograph Album Scrapbooks Wedding Book Travel Account/Log Wedding Book Bookplates Journal Funeral Book Guest Register Diary Photographs Letters
Genealogy information: Certificates Adoption Marriage Graduation Apprentices Achievements Awards Baptism Divorce Christening Blessing Death Membership Ordination Ministerial Missionary Confirmation Marriage
Genealogy information: Family records Books of Remembrance Bible Pedigrees Family Bulletins Manuscript Histories Printed Histories Family Letters Family Group Sheets Letters & Postcards Family Histories Local Histories Genealogies Family Traditions
Genealogy information: Military records Service Medals Selective Service Discharge Military Service Pension Firearms Ribbons Sword National Guard Bounty Award Separation Papers Personal Knowledge War Rosters Disability Uniform Citations War Memorials
Genealogy information: Legal papers Mortgages Summons Subpoenas Tax Notices Adoption Papers Water Rights Abstracts of Title Guardian Papers Contracts Bonds Leases Wills and Probates Deeds Land Grants Loans
Genealogy information: Announcements Birthday Anniversary Birth Travel Celebration Death Wedding Graduation Divorce Engagement Promotion Graduation Funeral Personal Knowledge Memorial Cards New Home New Job
Genealogy information: Membership records Programs Member ID Cards Awards Uniforms Publications
Genealogy information: Health records Immunizations X-Rays Insurance Reports Medical Records
Genealogy information: School records Alumni Lists Transcripts Report Cards Yearbooks Diplomas Awards Honor Rolls Frats & Sororities Publications
Genealogy information: Citizenship papers Visa Passport Deportment Denegation/ Denials Alien Registration Naturalization Vaccination
Genealogy information: Newspaper clippings Home town Newspapers Human Interest Announcements Obituaries Vital Statistics Special Events Professional Trade
Genealogy information: Licenses Business Drivers Motor Vehicle Registration Occupation Firearms Professional Hunting
Genealogy information: Employment records Income tax Pension IRA/401K Apprentices Graduation Awards Retirement Papers Severance Papers Citations Union Association Professional Association Social Security
Genealogy information: Household items Souvenirs Clothing Tapestries Sampler Tools Coat of Arms Engraved Jewelry Dishes Insignias Plaques Friendship Quilt Needlework Silverware
Genealogy information: Books Foreign Language Journals Atlases Prizes Baby Book Text Books Treasured Volumes Inscriptions Bibles Vocational Yearbooks
Genealogy information: Financial records Check Stubs Estate Records Bills Accounts and Receipts
Learn to use the census Habit # 36
Census Information Fundamental to genealogy Census Tentatively estimating the composition of the family 1940 Tracking the person from one census to the next 1930 1920 1790 1910 1800 1900 1890 1880 1810 1860 1870 1820 1830 1840 1850
What we learn from each census Census Information Location Head of Household Number in Family Names in Household Name and Relation Personal Description Slaves Place of Birth Citizenship Occupation Education Ownership of Home Military Disabilities 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870
What we learn from each census Census Information Location Head of Household Number in Family Names in Household Name and Relation Personal Description Slaves Place of Birth Citizenship Occupation Education Ownership of Home Military Disabilities 1860 1850 1840 1830 1820 1810 1800 1790
Clues gathered from the census Nearby families-families moved in groups related by Blood Marriage Religion Ethnic origins Social cliques
Clues gathered from the census Places of birth of an individual and the birth place of the individual's parents
Clues gathered from the census Family education
Clues gathered from the census Property value
Clues gathered from the census Presence of an elderly person
Census records have limitations Early Census data took 6 to 9 months to gather
Census records have limitations Multiple families lived in dwellings
Census records have limitations Some census schedules are missing
Census records have limitations Census enumerators followed instructions, sometimes
Census records have limitations Paper and ink were poor quality
Census records have limitations Families gave enumerators wrong information
Census records have limitations Only information for the census year was recorded Census Tentatively estimating the composition of the family 1940 1930 Tracking the person from one census to the next 1920 1790 1910 1800 1900 1890 1880 1810 1860 1870 1820 1830 1840 1850
Partial list of census don ts Do not assume census indexes are correct or complete
Partial list of census don ts James Ewell James Yule James Zwille Do not assume spellings are as you think
Partial list of census don ts Do not assume relationships are exactly as stated
Partial list of census don ts Don't forget to copy all of the entries for the surname in the county
Partial list of census don ts Do think the records before 1850 can help
Partial list of do s Do use the state census records
Partial list of do s Do not believe all census data to be true and correct
Partial list of do s Do study the enumerator's handwriting so you can make comparisons
Partial list of do s Do watch for families split onto two pages with the surname not repeated at the top of the next page
Partial list of do s Maxcey Pleasant William F. Francis M. Ewell Ewell Ewell Ewell Abt 1720-1800 1788-1852 1815-1848 1834-1904 During what f U.S. Federal Census did ancestor live? Utah, Co. Do try to find your ancestors in every census taken in their life time
Partial list of census do s Do check family histories and other sources of neighbors who might have come from the same state to locate a town of residence if you cannot determine that information on your ancestor
Partial list of census do s M = Mortgaged F = Owned free and clear If home or farm house owned free and clear or Mortgaged Do take note of real estate and personal property values to determine if a deed or will search is appropriate
Partial list of census do s Do use maps in conjunction with your census searching
Partial list of census do s Do search across state, county, and town lines if your ancestors lived near a border
Introduction to Census
Census among most useful sources Can provide the genealogical missing link to tie together a group of family members
Benefits of using census records Local State Federal
Benefits of using census records 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1. Establishes a date and place for a particular person and/or family group
Benefits of using census records 2. May show or prove relationship between one or more individuals
Benefits of using census records 3. May include information to establish age and/or place of birth
Research collateral lines and neighbors In the census, look closely at the 6-10 families before and after your ancestors
Research collateral lines and neighbors While they may seem unrelated now, you may find something in the future to indicate otherwise
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