GENEALOGY RESEARCH BY MAIL
Class and Website
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FAMILY HISTORY CENTER
Jon Schweitzer - Instructor
17 February 2007
This is a Website companion to the class.
Consult the books "Handbook for Genealogical Correspondence" (973 D27hk) and "Source" (Ref 973 D27sl) in this center. Unless stated otherwise, the books mentioned below are in this center.
Copies of all the transparencies used for this class, this class handout and additional material may be found in my Red 3 Ring Self-Help Notebook "Genealogy Research by Mail". Other important Red 3 Ring Self-Help Notebooks are underlined at the beginning of each topic. The notebooks are located in this center next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in alphabetical order. Most of the blank forms discussed in this class are available on the wall in the Sales Area.
Obtain a complete list of my 75 Red 3 Ring Self-Help
Notebooks Across From The Elevator or at
http://www.larfhc.org/notebooks.htm
Topics covered in this class that will improve your armchair research:
· TYPES of MAIL
· GIVEN NAMES and SURNAMES
· LETTERS and ENVELOPESCorrespondence with:
· RELATIVES and other INDIVIDUALS
· DATABASES
· LIBRARIES
· PUBLIC ARCHIVES
· HISTORICAL SOCIETIES
· CHURCHES
· GOVERNMENT OFFICES
· NEWSPAPERS
· HEREDITARY and LINEAGE SOCIETIES
· GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
· OTHER PLACES
· CHAMBERS of COMMERCE
· PUBLICATIONS
· MUSEUMS
· CEMETERIES and FUNERAL DIRECTORS
· WASHINGTON, D.C.
· SCHOOLS
· 25,000 ADDRESSES
· GENERAL REFERENCESCorrespondence to:
· FOREIGN COUNTRIES
TYPES of MAIL
E-Mail - transmit computer "letter" via the telephone - see the Greg Ullman’s blue 3-ring notebook "Internet Resources" next to the Red 3 ring notebooks located next to the entrance to the
Microfilm Room for email addresses for surnames and many other resources.
Hard Fax and Fax Mail - requires a Fax machine or computer with modem to transmit image of paper through the telephone that prints out on Fax machine or is stored in a computer.
Tombstone Mail - a request placed on a tombstone for a relative to contact you.
Hard Mail - letter in an envelope
Given names and surnames - books - (929.4 Un3f and Ref 929.44 A5r)
(Transparency 1) = T1,
LETTERS and ENVELOPES
"Genealogy Research by Mail" - Notebook "Handbook for Genealogical Correspondence" (973 D27hk) - Book
Send a SASE except when it is an U.S. government location. Use a #10 envelope.
The seven C's from the handbook above are: clean, correct, clear, courteous, considerate, concise and complete. Offer to pay for all expenses.
Don't mention your religion or politics unless it is the same as the person or establishment
you are writing. Develop good questions. T1.1-T1.6
Correspondence with:
RELATIVES and other INDIVIDUALS
"Genealogy - Starting" - Notebook
"Finding that Living Person" - Notebook
Use a simple form to request information. T2
Use private investigator methods to locate living persons. T3
Use the annual Genealogical Research Directory books for the years 1990 to 2002 (929.1025 G286grd) to locate other genealogists researching your surnames. T4
DATABASES
"Computers - PAF- Utilities" 2 Vol. - Notebook
"Ancestral File Research" - Notebook
"IGI Research" - Notebook
"Family Registry Research" - Notebook
Family Registry (6050000) only on microfiche, IGI - use the Request for Photocopies form to obtain a copy of the Entry Form that have the patron's (submitter’s) name and address. Ancestral File
- from the computer in this center, obtain the source (submitter's name and address) using F9 on the keyboard. T5-T9
LIBRARIES
"Genealogical Libraries in U.S." - Notebook
Use the 2 volume black set of American Library Directory (973 J54a) or red set (Ref 973 J54a) of books for addresses.
Local County Public Libraries - County Histories, all name indexes, card files, folder files, criss-cross directories and newspaper indexes T10-T11
Ask for copies of newspaper notices and items from all county histories. Use A Bibliography of American County Histories (973 H23bi) T12-T13
Ask for names and addresses of County Historical Society, Genealogical Societies, DAR
Chapter, DAR Chapter member and local historian.
Family History Library - Research Inquiry and Photo Duplication of Books T14-T16
PUBLIC ARCHIVES
"Newspaper Research" - Notebook
"National Archives Research by Mail" - Notebook
State Historical Archives - Ask for copy of their inventory of newspapers on microfilm and missing issues for a specific city.
National Archives - WWI draft registration T17-T18 Order veteran records using NATF Form 85 for Pension and 86 for Service. T19-T19.1
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES
"Newspaper Research" - Notebook
County Historical Societies - City history, local papers, files and County history
State Historical Societies - Largest holders of newspapers on microforms, and Plat maps and Sanborn Insurance Maps T20-T22
CHURCHES in U.S.
"Church Records Research" - Notebook
Ask if the church records are on microfilm and if the microfilm can be rented.
Use A Survey of American Church Records (973 K2k) and Handbook of Denominations
(973 K2mf). T23-T25
Write to the specific church or to the national office for information about the location of a specific church's records and the name and address of the archivist.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
COUNTY
When ordering birth, marriage and death records, always ask for a copy of the ORIGINAL
RECORD and not a certificate.
Ask for all marriage records available including the marriage registration.
Try to order the copies of the records from the county and not the state. The county usually has the original and the state only a typed copy.
When ordering probate records, ask for all records made for the probate process.
Coroner Records - might be stated on the death record.
Inquest Records - might be stated on death record. Died under mysterious or unknown circumstances or not with a doctor in attendance or had not seen a doctor in years.
Ask for copies of city licenses for business, physician and pharmacist.
Ask for copies of county maps from the county engineer.
STATE
"Land Research" - Notebook
Use Ohio Lands (977.1 H2fe) book and Illinois land records microfiche set # 6,016,848 T26-T27
Use U.S. Military Records (973 M23nu) book for state locations
Land & Property Research (973 R27h) - Book
FEDERAL
"Land Research" - Notebook
"Bureau of Land Management Records" - Notebook
"Social Security Research" - Notebook
"Finding Birthplaces and Parents " - Notebook
"Military Research - U.S." - Notebook
Bureau of Land Management T28-T31
Social Security T32
Selective Service T33
Office of Personnel Management T34
Department of Army T35
Use U.S. Military Records (973 M23nu) book for state locations.
Military Records - After 1918 T35.1-T35.2
Military Records - Before 1918 T35.25-T35.26
Immigration and Naturalization Service T35.3
NEWSPAPERS
"Newspaper Research" - Notebook
Use the Gales Directory of Publications book here (940 E4ay) or at other libraries and write directly to the newspaper and ask for copies of birth, marriage and obituary notices.
Place an ad for persons to write to you about ancestors and/or to meet you on a street corner when you visit the town.
Ask the newspaper for copies of things from their morgue folder files.
Ask the newspaper what repositories have their newspapers on microforms.
Use American Newspapers (Ref 970 B33a) big dark red book for lists of newspapers.
HEREDITARY AND LINEAGE SOCIETIES
"DAR Research" - Notebook
The DAR has large holdings of printed sources. Use the three DAR blue catalogs (Ref 973 A3DA) to find surname books, genealogies and local histories. DAR Patriot Index – 3 volumes (Ref 973
C42da) T36-T39
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
The July - August issues of the Genealogical Helper (929.05 G286) magazines have many genealogical societies by area.
Obtain the name of the local societies from the area public library. T40-T41
OTHER PLACES
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
"Finding that Living Person" - Notebook
Ask them about their reverse or criss - cross directories, maps and the names and addresses of the local historian, genealogical society, funeral directors and cemeteries.PUBLICATIONS
"Family History Library Publications" - Notebook
Order LDS forms and publications from Salt Lake.
Place ads and inquiries in genealogical periodicals such as the Genealogical Helper
(929.05 G286) magazines. The annual March - June issue of Genealogical Helper has surname organizations that you can write. T42MUSEUMS
"Ship Research" - Notebook
Use the Official Museum Directory (069.025 A3am) book to find the museums.
Ask for details, drawings and photos of ships and their ship captains. T43-T46CEMETERIES and FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Obtain the death record and the name of the cemetery might be on it.
Look in the National Yellow Book of Funeral Directors (973 U24y) book for the name and address of a local funeral director. Write and ask them for the name and address of the person or sexton who holds the records for a specific cemetery.
Also see the U.S. Cemetery Address Book (Ref 973 V34K) - BookWASHINGTON, D.C.
Use Lest We Forget (975.3 D27b 1992) book for names and addresses for the Washington, D.C. repositories. T47-T51SCHOOLS
Ask school to check their yearbooks or records for the year of graduation and the name and
address of the chairperson for class reunions for that year. Write the chairperson for names and addresses.25,000 ADDRESSES
Use the book The Genealogist’s Address Book (Ref 973 D24ben 1998) - BookGENERAL REFERENCES
The Redbook (Ref 973 D27rb) - book has many addresses.
Directory of Family Associations (Ref 973 D24benb 1996) - Book
Address Book (Ref 973 C5sj)
Correspondence to:
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Use lists for country repositories. T52
When writing to individuals, send the currency of the country. The postage for them might be 3 times the cost of U.S. postage.
Obtain the foreign currency at an exchange business.
Try to use a form letter in the language of the country.
Use the Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets printed in the foreign language. Obtain them in the sales area. T53-T54
Order certificates from England. T55
Don't ask for too much the first time.
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