BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASS
and Website

Los Angeles Regional Family History Center

Jon Schweitzer - Instructor
18 April 2007

This is a Website companion to the class.

Additional information, copy of this class handout and copies of all the transparencies used for this class may be found in my Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebook, "Genealogy - Starting". The Notebook is located next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in this center.

Obtain a complete list of my 75 Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebooks accross from the elevator or at http://www.larfhc.org/notebooks.htm  Most of the notebooks are located on the right side of the entrance to the Microfilm room in this Center and the titles are in alphabetical order.

The required Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebooks for some areas of research have been placed in parentheses below. Example: (Genealogy - Starting)

Unless stated otherwise, the books mentioned below are in this center. Their Call Numbers are in parentheses.

Requirements of a successful genealogist: patience, perseverance, thoroughness and organization. Additional requirements of a superior genealogist: analytical, skeptical, resourceful, requires and records on documentation sheets all excellent sources/ documentation evidence for all data for each person.

TOPICS • Fill out Pedigree Chart, Family Group Records and Documentation Sheets
• Search home for information
• Ask relatives for more information
• Develop given name and surname lists
• Ask for help and look for self help
• Look at databases for more information and other genealogists
• Attend other genealogy classes and use Red Notebooks
• Organize
• Develop questions and plans
• View or order records
• Ask for help
• Learn about your localities
• Research censuses
• Write to other places and visit area libraries
• Ask for help and look for other records

FILL OUT SHEETS
Start your work by filling out a Pedigree Chart, Family Group Record Sheets and Documentation/Notes Sheets. Leave room for the middle names. Record the dates like this: 14 May 1878. Record the place names like this: Mankato, Blue Earth, MN.

Obtain a few FREE Family Group Record Sheets in the Sales Area OR obtain a FREE package of 25 in the Sales Area.
Buy "A Guide to Research" in the Sales Area.
Pick up the free handout sheets at the Information Deck.

RECORD THE SOURCES FOR ALL INFORMATION.
Search for and find all siblings of the subject person. If you are unsuccessful in determining the birthplace and parents of the subject person, you will use the siblings as substitutes. (Genealogy - Starting) T=Transparency (overhead) T1-3, 3.5, 4

SEARCH HOME
Search your home for more information about the names of ancestors, dates and birthplaces to fill out the Pedigree Chart, Family Group Record Sheets and Documentation/Notes Sheets. Examples of sources of information might be: Death Records, Marriage Records, Birth Records, Obituaries, Letters, Family Bibles, Pedigree Charts, Family Group Records, Legal Papers, Personal Papers, Books, Badges, Insignias, Post cards and Newspaper Clippings. (Genealogy - Starting) T4.1, 4.2

ASK RELATIVES
Persuade all your relatives to search through the same items in their homes.

Try to visit the homes of your parents and grandparents to find and make copies of their genealogy records. Visit all other relatives to obtain copies of their genealogy records.

If you can't visit your relatives in person, you should write to each of them a very simple and concise letter asking only a few simple questions the first time. Ask them if they can tell you the names and addresses of other people who might have more information.
Ask for only a small amount of information each time. Don't mention your religion.
Write the most ill relative first, then the oldest and then all the others. Send a SASE.
Offer to pay for costs. Follow up if you don't receive an answer in a short time.
Recruit other relatives to assist you in securing answers from the unresponsive relatives. (Genealogy - Starting) (Genealogy Research by Mail) T5

DEVELOP GIVEN NAME AND SURNAME LISTS
Develop a list of all possible spelling, misspellings and nickname variations for each given name and surname you are researching. Use "Foreign Versions of English Names." (929.4 Un3f) and "Name Your Baby" (Ref 929.44 Asr).

Enter the surnames into the Ancestral File to find some of the variations.

Consult the book, "A Practical Guide to the MISTEAKS Made in Census Indexes", Richard H. Saldana, 1987, (973 X2pra – Census Index Area), pages 31 and 32 for other interpretations of each letter in a surname. Use this book to develop additional variations. T6-9

ASK FOR HELP AND LOOK FOR SELF HELP
Ask consultants in this center to offer suggestions that will help you. Look at and read and reread the "A Guide to Research" publication that you purchased in the Sales Area.

Ask questions and avoid telling stories.

Buy a beginning genealogy self help publication.
A good example would be "Getting a Quick Start Up Your Family Tree".
Don't buy commercial Family Name Lists or Family Coats of Arms. T10-11

LOOK AT DATABASES FOR MORE INFORMATION AND OTHER GENEALOGISTS
Try to find other persons who have been researching your research subjects.

In this center look at the Family Registry (microfiche 6,050,000), Ancestral File, and IGI databases. The annual book, "Genealogical Research Directory" (929.1025 G286grd) is a publication that has persons researching specific surnames. Write to the persons. If you are having problems contacting them by mail, consult the Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebook, "Finding that Living Person", next to the Classroom in this library. (Finding that Living Person and Finding Birthplaces and Parents) T12, 12.1-12.4, 13

ATTEND OTHER CLASSES AND USE RED NOTEBOOKS
Attend other classes that apply to your areas of research such as Genealogy Research by Mail, Newspaper Research, Finding Birthplaces and Parents and other Beginning Genealogy classes. If you cannot attend other classes, consult the Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebooks. Use all Red Notebooks that apply to your research. Obtain a Schedule of Classes at the Information Desk.

VIEW OR ORDER RECORDS
Consult the Family History Library Catalog to determine if the record has been microformed (microfilmed and microfiched). Print out holdings of Salt Lake and use as a worksheet. Check to see if it is currently in this center and if it is not, order the microform at the Sales Desk.

Order the necessary copy of the record if it has not been microformed.
Don't use the word "Certificate" when ordering vital records. Try asking for "uncertified" copy of only the original "record" from only the county. Send "not to exceed" check. Use "The Redbook" (Ref 973 D27rd) or "The Handybook for Genealogists" (Ref 973 D27e)for the addresses of the county offices. Ask for copies of all records that were made for the marriage or probate process. T14

ASK FOR HELP
Ask instructors for assistance before, during and after their classes. Have "consultants" look at your work.

LEARN LOCALITIES
Buy the required state Research Outlines in the sales area.

Check the card catalogue in this center for county and state genealogical resource books.

Use the large commercial atlas and gazetteers (place names) in the Map Area. Consult "Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses 1790-1920" (973 X2th) located next to the Census Index books. (Map Research)

Browse the shelves in this library for other titles of books that might assist you.

ORGANIZE
Carefully organize your papers using manila folders and store them in a secure area.

Start keeping a Correspondence Log.

Prepare a Research Log Sheet for each person. T15-16

DEVELOP QUESTIONS AND PLANS
Carefully analyze your problems. Obtain suggestions from others and then develop good questions to find answers using good plans. T17

RESEARCH CENSUSES
Search all appropriate federal and state censuses using all possible given name and surname variations. (Census research)

WRITE TO OTHER PLACES AND VISIT AREA LIBRARIES
Write the library in the research area and ask for names and addresses of persons who have inquired about your research persons. Use the American Library Directory (973 J54a) to obtain library addresses.
Contact all libraries in the area with genealogy collections.
(Genealogy Research by Mail)(Genealogical Libraries in U.S.)

ASK FOR HELP AND LOOK FOR OTHER RECORDS
Question genealogists who are experienced in your research area about your research.

Look for other records that will supply information. T18

RECORD THE SOURCES FOR ALL INFORMATION
Reread your beginning genealogy self help publication "A Guide to Research" and this handout several times in the future months.

Good general references: "The Source" (Ref 973 D27ts), "The Redbook" (Ref 973 D27rd) and "The Handybook for Genealogists" (Ref 973 D27e).

Please try your best to fill in the information and return to:

 

 

 

PARENTS OF:_____________________________Born_________

Birthplace Names; farm______________parish_______________

town_____________________________

township______________________county__________________

state_____________________country______________________

Married to;_____________________________on_____________

Died___________

FATHER'S FULL NAME AND BIRTHPLACE:

first name___________________________

middle name_________________________

last name____________________________

Birthplace Names; farm______________parish_______________

town_____________________________

township______________________county__________________

state_____________________country______________________

MOTHER'S FULL NAME AND BIRTHPLACE:

first name____________________________

middle name__________________________

last name_____________________________

Birthplace Names; farm______________parish_______________

town_____________________________

township______________________county__________________

state_____________________country______________________

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Documentation / Notes MRIN______

Father_______________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother_______________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #1_____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #2_____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #3_____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #4_____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Documentation / Notes MRIN______

Child #___ ____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #___ ____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #___ ____________________________________RIN_______

 

 

 

 

 

Child #___ ____________________________________RIN_______