Genealogical Research Methods (Spring 2007)
@ Academy of Lifelong Learning
University of Delaware
Syllabus: Spring07 Class/Lab

Reader Logo Class Slides Class#,Date,Topic
1. Feb 7, 2007
Where do I start?
Interview family,
Record-keeping: Forms:
ancestry.com, Misbach
CD/flash drive for saving data/reports
Tour class web site
Types of Records
Rules of Evidence
What can you believe?
Top Web Resources
Lab Database Access
Feb 14: No Class - Winter Storm

2. Feb 21 Censuses:
U.S./Canada/UK (subs)
Very large pdf files >1Mg:
Searching techniques ancestry.com/ProQuest
sm b/w pdf: U.S. Census
Lab: Census: Blank Census Forms

3. Feb 28
Census (cont):
Lab: Census:
HeritageQ
PERSI: journal articles,
20,000 books,
RevWar pension
passenger lists

Mar 7: No Class - 2nd Winter Storm

4. Mar 14
Local Resources
vitals (church, cemetery, newspapers, bibles, "mug books")
Local Gov. Records:
deeds, court (probate, orphans, chancery, common pleas, superior)
Lab: Finding Places
US/World GenWeb
Cyndi's List
LDS Library Catalog

5. Mar 21 Local Gov. Records (cont.):
Delaware Timeline
Surname Searching
(see center section)
Social Security Death
Your genealogy done?
LDS Family Search
GenCircles, G oo gl e
Rootsweb: Newsgroups
Search genealogies, histories: Surnames in Potpourri ---->>
Calendars:
Medical: diseases
Misc: abbreviations, occupations
Family Naming Patterns
Lab:
Find People: See Surname in center frame

Mar 28: No Class - Spring Break

6. Apr 4
Where Do I Put It So I Can Find It Again?
Organizing your stuff,
TD Surnames, Sources
..recording sources:
....short form
..what about images?
Genealogy.com:
Paper Piles:
Immigration and Naturalization :
Foreign town of origin:
..Foreign Records?
..U.S. Sources best
Software Review:
PAF free,
FTM $30 top selling,
TMG $59 top rated, Mac: Reunion, MacFamilyTree
Lab: Demonstration of Genealogical Software

8. Apr 11
Immigration (cont.): More Ways to Find Foreign Town of Origin
Lab: Genealogical Software: PAF/FTM/TMG
Personal Ancestry File
Computer Workshop:
sample.ged (as zip)
Come with info on a few people (parent, child, step-parent) in a family group, a few events (census, land, death) and a few sources for those events

9. Apr 18 PAF demo;
Foreign Town/Origin Example: Leopold Jacobs and Theresia Melchior
Lab: Genealogical Software (cont.)

9. Apr 25
Migration Within U.S.
New England Doc: NH,
ME,MA,TX,MO,IL,SD
Military records:
service, pension,
bounty lands
Tracking Ancestors: census, vitals, city directory, tax;
following neighbors
Reading Old Handwriting:
class transcribing
Lab: Lessons on the Web: See Transcribing in center frame

11. May 2
Historical Newspapers
Black and White,
but Colorful
Stories from the Newspapers:
A Man Called Joe
When did he die?
Lab:
Historical Newspapers: Accessible Archives;
Historical Timelines:
also see Cyndi's List

12. May 9:
Future of the Past:
DNA Studies.
Review
Where to Look for:
Other Genealogies
Vitals (b,m,d,burial),
Basics:Who,When,Where
Which is the original?
Where they lived,
Foreign Town of Origin
Military, Prosperity
Community, History
The Person's Character
Solving Brickwalls:
of Classmates
Preservation of books, documents and photos
Lab: Genetic Genealogy: Trace your DNA
Lab: Building Your Own Web Site

Left frame updated:
June 9, 2007
f5, s6, f6
TD Surnames, Sources
Top Resources:
Cyndi's List, WorldGenWeb
US GenWeb: Search US
LDS: Library Catalog
.... Family Search
LDS Images (in Beta Test):
Projects: Now, Future, Done
Volunteer Indexing
Eastman Letter Review
Other Useful Links:
Univ. of Delaware Library:
Special Collections
Subjects: Genealogy
Databases from Arsht
Databases from home*
[AncestryLib,AccesArchv+]
1. click on Blue Hen above
2. enter UDelNetID# &
..password; click "Enter"
3. click "Databases" at top
Also see: UDFind It, change username/password, no FTP
SSH (Using), wireless access, Your Web Site, Web Mail;
Mozilla: set homepage, HQ
Free Antivirus:McAfee
Other Free Downloads:
pdf995 software no ads:$9.95,
HTML edit:NoteTabLight5.5
Gadwin PrintScreen Utility:scroll down; Word2000html add-on
Other UD Databases::
DE Newspaper Project:
.. Extant issues locally
.. Old Newspapers at UD
.. Orphans 1790-1830,
.. Tax1798/CityDirectories
Other Databases::
DE Libraries (free):
[HeritageQuestAccess-Norton]
[census, PERSI, RevWar
20K fam/loc hist books
Accessable Archives
Godfrey Library ($35)
Historical Newspapers:
Brooklyn (1841-1902)
Early American, EBSCO
PA Gazette(1728-1800)
G oo gl e; MapQuest, earth.google, Wikipedia Dictionary/Thesaurus switchboard.com peoplefinder.com
Delaware Resources:: [DGS LOGO]
delgensoc.org: DGS(click logo) Research Guide
Web Links
Search DGS Queries
Delaware Surnames
Delaware Timeline
Delaware 1775 Map
Delaware Hundreds
Delaware Towns Publications
Delaware Families
.. (1787-1800)
Transcriptions/Abstract
.... Taxes 1787-1800
.... Orphans' Court
.... Newspapers
Delaware GenWeb:
... New Castle
... Kent, Sussex
Other Repositories
Nearby State/Co Links
Other DE Databases:: Historical Society:
.. Genealogies
State Archives
.. Collections
.. Probates to 1925
.. Schedule of Events Delaware Library Catalog
In Green Bar, click:
1. Digital Collections
2. Hyperion Hierarchy
3. Delaware Public Archives
4. Digital Delawareana
...for following databases:
....(use Internet Explorer)
....(allow pop-up windows)
Dutch/Swedes 1609-64
Swedes on the Delaware
Delaware Place Names
Delaware Role WWII
Washington 1777 Army
Hist of DE 1609-1888
Professional Research:
.. BCG: Certification
.. APG; DGS
* OR install "Proxify" button:
may be easier when timed out
1. click here, then click
2. browser "Proxify" button
3. enter UDelNetID & pass-
. word; click "Submit Query"
to install "Proxify" button
[1st adjust for XP, javascript]
other proxify info
or Mozilla w/proxify button
Other Newspapers:
By state; Indexes;
Library of Congress:free
ProQuest Archiver:
Historical Newspapers:
Link from newspaper site:
AtlanCons(1868-1929)
BostonGlo(1872-1923)
ChicTrib (1849-1985)
...1870-77 @ footnote.com
ChrSciMon(1908-93) free
HartCour (1764-1984)
LA Times(1881-1985)
NY Times(1851-2003):UD
DC:Post(1877-1990):Harvard
WallStJ(1889-1989):UD
choose Advanced Search; most $3.95/pdf with volume discounts (see links above)
may get free access from a university or public library
others available: search!
Guardian (1821-2003)6/08
Observer (1791-2003)6/08
Civil War (1840-65)
Right frame updated:
May 19, 2008

Instructor: Tom Doherty Wed 2-3:15p Room 117
followed by Genealogy Computer Workshop (like Fall 06 but no lecture)
Instructors: Tom Doherty/Tom Keane W 3:20-4:20p Rms 202,214
This web page is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution or finer.
<<< For copies of class slides, click on link in date at left
How to Start: 1.Talk to Relatives; 2.Census Images
2a. Find every available census image using this process: Search
Ancestry Library Edition [free:UDelNetID/password(see right)] :
..US 1790-1930 census (every-name index)
....States NY 1892,1905; WI 1895,1905
..Canada NB, NS, ON, QB 1851 [1871:index only (no images)],
...... 1881 [index], 1911
..UK (except Ireland) with every-name index 1841-1901
.... Scotland only 1841, 1851,1861 so far
..Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1867
..Chicago voter registration 1888, 1890, 1892
2b.For highest quality US census copy, print to pdf (pdf995):
keep ancestry image on screen, open 2nd browser window:
go to Delaware Public Library, then click on either
New Castle Co, then "HeritageQuest", enter borrower ID#/pin# (free to DE residents or check your own public library) or
Wilmington, then RESEARCH DATABASES, choose branch, enter borrower ID#, then "HeritageQuest, "then "Census".
Then search/browse for same census image as in ancestry, download pdf to PC or Mac and print pdf by selecting entire image (or any part thereof) using camera icon to draw a rectangle around choice.
Also try Chester Co PA Libraries, then enter card#
Other Original Images at HeritageQuest
Revolutionary War Pension Files
Friedmans Bank - many newly freed slaves named (1865-74)
25,000 genealogy/history books; PERSI (1.6M articles)
Other Original Images at Ancestry (catalog)
WW I draft registration (males born 1872-1900),
Passenger Lists - many linked to ship images:
- Baltimore (1820-1948), Boston (1820-1943),
- New York (1850-91,1935-8), Philadelphia (1800-1945)
City Directories (ME,MA,CT) (mainly 1900-50)
High School yearbooks (selected 1860s-1960)
Original Images (Pay Sites)
Footnote U.S. National Archives Records [5 yr contract]
"Pennsylvania Archives 1625–1880" [free]
GenBank (Save $40) [partial image free]:
over 11,700 Historical Books 1801-1900
over 114,000 Historical Government Documents 1789-1980,
over 1300 Historical Newspapers 1690-1977 (500,000 issues)
Baltimore Sun: 6/11/1850-7/24/1900
Delaware Gazette: 4/19/1814-2/22/1820
including Philadelphia Inquirer: 11/07/1860-12/31/1922
Other General Searches
Cyndi's List- Exceptional! over 260,000 links in 180+ categories to all that's genealogical and historical
USGenWeb: State Links, Search Archives
-- a direct route to almost every U.S. county,
WorldGenWeb (Regional Links), Country Links
-- a direct route to almost every country and jurisdictions
Latter-day Saints church: Ancestor Search (includes IGI), Library Catalog and other resources
Some Library and Other Databases
Godfrey Library (free to $35) many + historical newspapers
New England [for members: NEHGR 1849-1994]; Canada
Allen Co (IN) Public Library 2nd to LDS (PERSI origin)
U.S. National Archives: Microfilms, holdings, hours

RootsWeb, NewsGroups,
G oo gl e It!: Books (choose "Full view"), Images, Earth Maps

Alphabetical Potpourri of Searches

Archives: Manuscripts: free at least until 5-31-06: ArchiveGrid

Archives: State Images/Databases: Delaware, Illinois
UD Databases: National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections
ArchivesUSA index of ca 5600 repositories 160K collections of primary sources; Early American Imprints 1639-1800
New Hampshire State Papers: 40 vol. probate to 1800, military, land grants, etc.

Calendars: 10,000 Years: Weekday, Convert Age to Birth Date, Old vs New Style

Census: U.S. Clues: 1790-1840, 1850-1930, 1890 Fate
.. Canada Census Images: 1851(NB,NS,ON,QB - no index);
...1901(all); 1906 (only AB,MB,SK); 1911 (also ancestry.com)
.. Canada Census Indeces: 1871(ON); 1881(all)
Records On-line
...Ireland: before 1901 destroyed; Griffiths 1848-1864
.. Scotland Census 1841-1901 & Vital Records Images (pay site)

Court Records: SalemCoMA 1636-1686,YorkCoME 1686-1760
Probate : Delaware 1600s-1900s, ChesterCoPA 1821-1942

Foreign Records (also Census, Immigration, Military, Naming):
...WorldGenWeb (Regional Links), Country Links
...Canada; UK/Ireland: ScotlandsPeople (pay:vitals/wills), originsnetwork.com(free 7/06)

Genetics/DNA: Genographics Project, FamilyTreeDNA

Handwriting: see Transcribing

Immigration: General, Immigrant Origins, Naturalization
British Emigrants 1890-1960; to Canada 1865-1935
Searching Passenger Lists in One Step,
New York City: Castle Garden 1830-1913,
Ellis Island 1892-1924;

Indexes for On-line searches: stevemorse.org,

Land: Images: Deeds: Salem MA
Patents/Grants: US Bureau of Land Management; Virginia

Maps: Library of Congress - digitized old maps;
County: Northeast, Southeast, County Formation 1643+
Sanborn(1867-1970): Delaware:UD Database(pdf), New England
Old New England, MapQuest, Google Earth: satellite view

Medical: Archaic Terms: Diseases: #2, #3

Military: Revolutionary War: Cornell Making of America
American Loyalists
Civil War: LSU: battles, soldiers, maps, diaries,
General: Illinois: Civil War Muster
Canada: RevWar soldier/widow Pension Images (New Brunswick)

Miscellaneous: Encyclopedia of Genealogy - Wikipedia-like
Reports, e.g. enter "history town (or company name)"
books.google
Abbrev, #2; Occupations: #2, #4; Face Recognition

Naming Patterns in Families: General, Colonial America,
English, Scot, Irish, Welsh, German, Italian, Colonial,
English/Welsh 1700-1870, Scot 1700s, Irish 1800s, Old German,
English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Indian, African,
Nicknames:#1, #2

Newspapers: Available by state; Newspapers/Indexes on Web;
... also search ancestry.com [UD] and Godfrey Library,
UD Newspaper Database Images:
Accessible Archives 1700s-1800s, African American 1800s,
America's Historical Newspapers 1690-1876,
Brooklyn Eagle 1841-1902, Cecil Whig 1870-74,
London Gazette 1752–1979, London Times 1785-1985,
Missouri (Historic) Newspapers 1859+,
NY Times 1851-2003 (ProQuest),
Wall St. Journal 1889-1989 (ProQuest)
Library of Congress
Pay: NewspaperArchive.com, GenealogyBank (Save $40)

Photos/Images: DeadFred;
Google Images: try Advanced Image Search;

Surnames: Searching: Social Security Death Index (SSDI);
LDS: Library Catalog, International Genealogical Index (igi); GenCircles, Cyndi's List: G oo gl e: also images
Brigham Young: 5000 searchable books
ancestry.com(UofD): see right frame below Blue Hen
PERSI/books (HeritageQuest): Delaware Public Libraries
MyHeritage: searches >400 web databases
Rootsweb: Homepage, Newsgroups: Surnames
Census Name Distribution: 1850,80; 1920, 1990; 1990(phone)

Society Sites: Delaware, Virginia Eastern Shore
New England: Register 1847-1994, Sanborn maps

Tax: Virginia 1790,1800,

Transcribing: Alphabet; Diary: practice transcribing; Reading Old Handwriting; Old English Handwriting; German Script

Vital Records: Obtaining by State: By State: WilmingtonDE Catholic, Illinois BMD, Kentucky MD(1911-86),
U.S. Census Mortality Schedules Maine Marriages 1892+, New Jersey Marriages 1848-67
New England: MA vitals (1841-1910)
Social Security Death Index or SSDI - updated monthly;


center frameJuly 21, 2007
comments to Tom Doherty: click on letter -->[mail it]