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Family History Class

Family History Class. Spokane 22 nd Ward Lesson 7 Reviewing Compiled Sources. Compiled Sources. They are an essential part of the early phase of gathering your family history They are secondary sources They are the least accurate of all sources They do provide existing research done

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Family History Class

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  1. Family History Class Spokane 22nd Ward Lesson 7 Reviewing Compiled Sources

  2. Compiled Sources • They are an essential part of the early phase of gathering your family history • They are secondary sources • They are the least accurate of all sources • They do provide existing research done • They do provide a framework upon which to add data collected from other sources

  3. Accuracy of Compiled Sources • Don’t assume that because someone else has done so much work in gathering a family history that the information in it is totally accurate and complete • Compiled sources are only as accurate as the abilities of the person compiling them and the sources from which they were gathered • Names, dates, places and relationships should be verified whenever possible by using primary sources or two independent sources

  4. Important Compiled Sources • County Histories • Family Histories, Genealogies or Biographies • Directories • Magazine and Newspaper Collections • Family Group Records Collections • The Internet

  5. County Histories • These books (published or unpublished) feature historical events and local genealogies of a specific area. Most were written around the turn of the century. People paid to have their biographies included in these county histories

  6. Family Histories • These books (published or unpublished) focus on a particular surname or time period and are usually compiled by an individual, family history association, or historical society

  7. Directories • Prior to the advent of the telephone book, many cities compiled a yearly directory. These are helpful because they identify all the residents living at each address. Some directories have a householders index. This reverse listing by street address can help you locate neighbors of your ancestors. Local libraries house the collections of directories, some printed as early as 1800

  8. Magazines/Newspaper • These collections contain a great deal of useful historical and genealogical information, particularly for a specific area. Many local libraries have small collections of newspapers and historical society periodicals

  9. Family Group Records • These collections of family group records are usually housed in the library of a historical so • ciety or a family history association • One of the largest is on the 4th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) • These 8,000,000 family group records were submitted by church members during two time periods: • Archive Section (pink tags) submitted between 1940-1971 • Patrons Section (yellow tags) submitted 1971-1984 • Ancestral File is an electronic collection of family group records

  10. The Internet • This powerful technology is the fastest growing source of compiled family history • It is the most accessible source • Nearly 90% of the family history information on the internet has been compiled from a variety of sources • As a result, these genealogies are of varying quality • Nevertheless, the internet provides a wealth of information as well as the names of others who are working on the same lines as you

  11. Avoiding Duplication • Once you decide which surname you want to research, you should do a survey of existing family histories to see what may have already been compiled on your line • This prevents duplication of work • Asking relatives and gathering compiled sources are the two best ways to avoid duplication of time, energy and money

  12. Surveying Compiled Sources • Remember, survey only one surname line at a time. Start with: • Pedigree chart • Family Group Records • Check with family members • Check Ancestral File • Check the International Genealogical Index • Check the surname listing in the Family History Library Catalog. • Check the locality listing in the FHLC

  13. Surveying Compiled Sources (continued) • Check the internet for compiled sources • Photocopy maps for the states, counties and townships of the different areas where your ancestors lived • Compile a simple chronology chart showing where the generations of your family lived between 1790 and 1920 • When necessary, expand the chart to cover more time • This will allow you to track the movement of your direct ancestor over time

  14. Contacting Historical Societies • Most states and counties have historical societies • These societies are interested in gathering and preserving local history and genealogies • They are wonderful repositories of complied sources

  15. Three National Societies Daughters of the American Revolution 1776 “D” Street NW Washington, D.C. 20006-5392 The National Genealogical Society 4527 17th Street, North Arlington, VA 22207-2399 New England Historical Genealogical Society 101 Newberry Street Boston, MA 02116

  16. Assignments • Check with the internet for compiled sources on one of your ancestral surnames • Check with family members for unpublished family histories or genealogy • Contact your local library to help you locate a copy of the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) • Check PERSI for periodical collections dealing with your family surnames or ancestral hometowns

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