Transcribing records in a foreign language and an unfamiliar script can be a challenge. Both differences work together to make interpreting the records correctly more difficult. There are some things you can do to improve your transcription of older records in a foreign language and an unfamiliar script: And…be patient with yourself. Check out Michael’s books!
It can be easy to waste “research” time by mindlessly looking at online sites for one thing or another. Some ways to avoid these time wasting activities are: Chasing some research leads down those “rabbit holes” can be a good thing–sometimes. But it can be easy to waste an inordinate amount of time chasing after half-baked, uncooked leads on your computer, when you’ve got three perfectly good cookies sitting on the counter. The only problem is that you have to get off your chair to get them.
There are a variety of ways one can organize and track their research while they are working. I find it particularly helpful to have an open word document where I can paste screen shots of record images, paste copies of index entries, and type in my own notes. I put a footer on these documents and page numbers. I should have put a date and time stamp on them as well as I occasionally print them out and take notes on them as well and knowing which one is the most recent one is a good thing. There are programs one can use to manage your research, but this works for me–and can easily be saved as a PDF file to be placed in the same digital folder […]
Transcribing foreign language records can be difficult. Comparing a record to others in the same series to see which text is repeated is one helpful approach. Using words common to a record is another way to work out how a writer usually wrote certain letters or words. Determining place names mentioned in records is sometimes difficult. But it pays to think about the logistics, especially with christening records. If a child is born on one date and baptised a day or two after and the location of a sponsor is difficult to read, remember how news would have travelled at the time. A sponsor from a different town is not traveling far for a baptism in 1756 and if the baptism is a day or two after the birth, […]
Many researchers claim they do the “genealogy happy dance” when they make a discovery. I don’t as my preference is for the “genealogy happy swear” instead. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Whether you dance or shout an epithet upon making a discovery, the next step is the same. Record your findings, save your images, and site the source. If you do none of that you may later be swearing for a different reason.
After fits and starts over many years, I finally spent some time working on my Trautvetter family in Bad Salzungen, Germany, and finally located the 1765 christening entry for my ancestor Erasmus Trautvetter. It pays to read and translate the entire entry. Erasmus Trautvetter was named for his sponsor, Erasmus Trautvetter. Fortunately the pastor indicated that the Erasmus the sponsor was the grandfather of Erasmus the sponsee. Always read the entire entry and always get everything transcribed and translated. And keep looking. Sometimes you finally get answers. But, in an attempt to be honest, it also bears saying that sometimes you do not.
Digital images are great, but one shouldn’t get too hasty when using them. It can be easy to make mistakes. Recently I was using digital images of German church records. I had zoomed in to read the records better and kept on scanning down the set of images that popped up on my screen after I hit the “next” button. I just kept doing that. It was several minutes later that I realized because of the magnification I had chosen, I was only scrolling down the right hand page. I was not looking at the left hand image at all. I had to go back and start over. Always orient yourself to the records carefully before viewing them, particularly when it’s a new set of records. Always zoom […]
Reminder: If you’re going to donate materials to a small historical or genealogical society, in addition to asking them first, organizing your materials, and the like, remember that some organizations have funding issues. What would happen if they had to close their doors five years after you’ve made the donation? I realize that no one can control the future, but if you’re going to donate items to a small, non-profit historical/genealogical group, see if a financial donation is also in your budget or if they need cabinets, shelves or other physical means to help with storage. Just a thought.
For most of American history, people could change their names or alter the spelling of their names relatively easily–without going to court. Among the places where you may find evidence of those name changes are probate and pension records. The court may notice that deeds of property acquisition do not quite match with the name of the deceased. Pension application examiners may notice that the name at marriage does not match the name on the application. There may be affidavits about the name differences in the record, or a judge or clerk may make some notation about it.
A cousin was married in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1911 and apparently became estranged from his wife approximately fifteen years later. Obituaries, death certificates, census, and other records were used to piece together their life. But many of these records omitted certain details or details that were incorrect. It was not until I located more records that a more complete picture emerged and I was able to see which records contained details that were incorrect. One marriage record? One obituary? That makes it difficult to compare, contrast, and see what appears to be the most reasonable situation. The more records you get the easier it is to get a complete picture. Learn more about my how-to newsletter Casefile Clues or our webinar specials!
Legal documents frequently contain the abbreviation “ss” after the court location. There is a reason the abbreviation is used in that part of the document. The letters are said to be a contraction for scilicet which is frequently translated as “in particular” or “to wit” and is usually used to state the venue of the court. Get More Genealogy Tip of the Day today from us directly for only $30-save $5.50.
Hasty research increases the chance that incorrect conclusions are made and that we include records for our “person of interest” who is not really our person of interest. To reduce the chance mistakes are made, take the records that you “know” are for your person of interest and estimate whichever items you do not have specifically: For all of these approximations, include your reason why you think the time frames and locations are reasonable–you should have at least one source document. These reasons combined with the records are key. Then look at the “new” records you think are for your ancestor. How closely do they match your expectations? Is the difference reasonable? Is it possible your conjectures were wrong? It may also cause you to question whether the […]
Write down your own life story and ask those interview questions you have been putting off. The human mind is the most fragile repository we use. Don’t waste it and don’t miss an opportunity.
We’re offering a sale on my webinar on the full-text search functionality at FamilySearch Labs. The promotion says through 3 August, but sale prices will be honored through 4 August. Details on our announcement page.
Undated clippings often leave the genealogist wondering from whence they came. There may be clues as to the paper’s origins on the reverse side–are any popular events mentioned, street addresses, etc. that might help determine where the item was published? On the chance the newspaper has been digitized, consider searching for key terms from the clipping (and the reverse side—just not as a part of the same search) in an attempt to find its source. Learn more about Casefile Clues!
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