This is a PPT that I used to teach a class at Erlanger.
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Online Genealogy for Beginners
We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors
dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling
chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.
-Shirley Abbott
Goals
It often helps to focus your research if you write down your
goals.
For example: I am researching my family because: 1.) I would
like to know from what countries my ancestors came to America and
2.) I would like to confirm suspected American Indian ancestry in
my family
Begin with yourself:
Collect meaningful items: birth certificate, photographs,
diplomas, yearbooks, etc.
Write down your memories: places you have visited or lived,
stories about grandparents, favorite places in the town where you
grew up
Look for that same information about your family members
IMPORTANT!
The Internet is not necessarily the best place to begin your
family research.
1.)Interview family members 1 st !
2.)Collect any documents, i.e., birth and death
certificates, bible records, pictures or any
other documents that your family may have
Remember: you will not be able to find everything online.
What the Web CAN offer:
Indexes and (some) vital statistics records
Classified directories and collections of Web genealogical
resources
Personal family history pages posted by other researchers
Genealogical discussion groups
City, county and state genealogical or historical society
pages
Individual library websites with information about locations,
schedules and holdings
What the Web CANNOT offer:
Information about every family or ancestorif no one has placed
it online, it wont be there
Accuracy or authenticity of the information found on any
sitealways look for documentation to support the information
Original documentsalthough some items, like census records, can
be viewed online and copied
Also important to remember:
Always read over search tips or explore advanced search
options
Perform the same search on a couple of different sites
These tips will save you time and the aggravation of chasing
wrong or incomplete information!
Something to keep in mind during your research:
Some family trees have beautiful leaves, and some have just a
bunch of nuts. Remember, it is the nuts that make the tree worth
shaking.
-Author Unknown
www.Ancestry.com
Free access inside all 3 KCPL branches.
Has alphabetical card catalog of all its databases
Can download and print family group and tree charts
Every U.S. Federal Census between 1870-1930 is now searchable
by every individual, not just by head of household!
Surname Distribution
Type in www.ancestry.com
Click on Learning Center at the top
You will see Family Facts at the topclick on the link under it
that says Learn Helpful Information
On the left hand side there is a box titled Facts . Click on
Name Distribution (US)
Heritage Quest
Available via the Librarys website
Unlike Ancestry, HQ may be accessed from home
Offers census records for searching, from 1790-1930 (NOTE: The
1930 census is not complete on HQ)
More than 25,000 searchable family and local history books
Features PERSI, the Periodical Source Index, which allows you
to search for articles about people and places. Includes a how-to
page
Also offers Revolutionary War and Freedmans Bank databases
www.familysearch.org
Access to records from around the world
Excellent for European research
A non-profit service sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
Free Registration is offered for this site; not required to
register to search the site
Allows you to add your family tree to the site
www.rootsweb.com
Oldest genealogy site on the web
User friendly
Offers SSDI, Kentucky vital records index and some Census
images
Search family trees and submit your own
Search message boards and sign up for genealogical mailing
lists
www.usgenweb.com
Volunteer-maintained, free site for genealogy
Site was based on a prototype for Kentucky, so lots of KY
information available
Offers valuable information that commercial sites like Ancestry
will not have, such as family photographs and headstone
transcriptions
Researchers page offers a wealth of helpful hints
www.castlegarden.org
New York Passenger Lists from 1820-1913
Free access to a database of information on 10 million
immigrants. Over 73 million Americans can trace their ancestors to
this early immigration period
www.ellisisland.org
Immigrant passenger lists from post-1892 to 1924
Excellent source for new immigrant research (Poles, Italians,
Eastern Europeans)
Website requires registration, but searching is free
Make sure to perform your searches on Castle Garden as well and
then compare the resultsthey could be different!
www.cyndislist.com
A card catalog to the genealogical resources on the
Internet
A pathfinder that will point you in the direction of sites for
topics that you need
Lots of information divided into smaller, more specific
categories for easier and more effective research
Genealogy Software
Family Tree Maker is one of the most popular genealogy software
programs
May be purchased via the website www.genealogy.com
There is a free web version of the software on this website,
but it is limited
www.genealogy.com will also allow you to post your trees
Some free resources on this site and some by subscription
Online and In Person
These last sites offer some of their resources online, while
others will require a trip to the facility or a request by
mail
www.kygs.org
www.history.ky.gov
www.archives.gov/genealogy/
www.vahistorical.org
Congratulations!
Youve completed
Online Genealogy for Beginners
Try out your new searching skills and dont hesitate to ask a
librarian if you need assistance