Some regular readers know that I spend a week in Salt Lake City at the Family History Library every year. The one thing to avoid are the small pieces of paper for research notes. Don’t take notes on small scaps of paper–they will get lost. A research log is best, or some notes on a printout from the catalog listing the material that you are searching. If you must get a small notebook and keep notes. At least that way you’ve got your notes, unless you lose your notebook. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you are writing a family history (even a brief one), set yourself a deadline. While there are frequently new sources or items that can be discovered, if you wait until you are totally “finished” you may never get any writing done. That doesn’t mean you do shoddy work or create compilations that are incomplete. But sometimes a person has to write what they have. And any compilation can acknowledge that there are still stones left to turn over. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Apparently a Tip fan had difficulty using the code “half” to purchase webinars at 1/2 off. If you had issues with the coupon, email me or try it again at: http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/04/updated-list-of-genealogy-webinars.html Thanks! We’re wrapping a great 7 days in Salt Lake and hoping to have new research experiences to generate tips. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Are you stuck on a problem? Get off the computer. Write down everything you think you know about an ancestor. Don’t refer to your records or materials—write from memory. Why? Because that’s often how people research–from what they think they know, not what they actually know. Now go and look at the records you have on this ancestor. How much of what you thought you knew did you really know? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ll admit it. The man that I’m 99% certain is my ancestor’s brother had not been located in every census in which he should be enumerated. When going back and finding him in every census, I discovered that in 1870 he had a nephew living with him. A nephew with the same last name–meaning that this nephew is either a son of my ancestor or another brother. A good clue obtained from going through the every census for the brother of my ancestor. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In August, I’ll be leading a small research group at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Our trip runs from 1-5 August. The Allen County Public Library has one of the largest genealogical research collections in the United States.We stay at the Ft. Wayne Hilton at a negotiated special rate. For additional details about the trip see this earlier blog post. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If the amount of “consideration,” or what was given for the real estate (often cash) is a token amount, determine if there was a relationship among the people involved. Transfers of significant pieces of real estate for token amounts are often done to clear up title among relatives. Not always, but frequently. Check out the relationships among those who transfer land for little to no cash. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I was working with some deeds at the Family History Library in Salt Lake and for some reason instead of taking notes with the deed volumes and page numbers as indicated in the index, I made scans of the index entries. It was a good thing I did. What I thought was volume “C” was actually volume “E.” When I didn’t find the desired entry, I quickly went back to my scan and realized what I thought was a “C” was really an “E.” If I had to go back to the index it would have wasted time. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When transcribing a document–even in your software program–consider including a quick citation in brackets at the beginning of the transcription. The brackets will tell readers that the information is not part of the transcription. It will also tell your readers where you obtained the material in case the citation in your database doesn’t get printed out with the transcription. Something like [Coshocton County, Ohio, Will Book C, page 212] is better than nothing. Speaking from personal experience. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Before you work across the pond with your ancestor or even across the country, make certain you have done all your research in the area of settlement first. Don’t neglect basic sources in that area–they may contain unexpected clues. Get your groundwork all done before you start working further back. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I spent a some time experimenting with a Chicago newspaper database recently, hoping to find a death notice for a relative there. The man worked for the Pullman Car Company in the paint shops and I knew I’d be lucky to get a death notice at all. No death notice. But he was mentioned in the society pages when his daughter came to visit and apparently he was actively involved in several local social clubs where he held offices. Don’t assume your ancestor won’t be in the paper. I didn’t get the death notice, but I did get a few clues. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We offered this to our Facebook fans yesterday and are repeating it here. You can get my webinar “Using the US Census at Ancestry.com” free by using code uscensus at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars.htm Simply put “Using US Census at Ancestry.com” in your cart and use “uscensus” as your coupon code. Enjoy! ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Henry Smith leaves a widow and eight children when he dies in 1820. It is possible that she is the mother of all his children, some of his children, or none of his children. Simply surviving him does not make her the mother of all his children. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Avoid making unplanned genealogy trips a distance from where you live–particularly if you are unfamiliar with the hours and the facility. Make certain the facility will be open. If visiting the office that holds court records, find out what day(s) of the week are court days and try to avoid those days. Consider not making your last day of research Friday–that way you’ve got an extra day if you make a last minute discovery. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I have put two new webinars on the docket for later this month, based upon requests of attendees. “Crossing the Pond (part 2)” will concentrate on using, interpreting, and understanding passenger lists between 1820 and 1920.“American Revolutionary War Material on Fold3” will discuss what revolutionary material is on Fold3 and effective search strategies. Material from this era is not just for veterans of that conflict.Details are located at the site below (where you can also register). Join us by visiting:http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htmThanks!Michael ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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