Your Family Tree – Organize

 Genealogy News  No Responses »
Mar 062013
 

Genealogy research and building your family tree is very exciting as you find evidence of your great, great grandparents and more! But all those pieces of paper, all those stories and notes – how can you keep them organized so you can find them? Here is a simple tip for beginners to help keep from being overwhelmed with stacks of papers and various documents.

As you look at your pedigree chart – the bare-bones chart of your direct ancestors – you can see your four grandparents’ names and details. When you research for more information, all of these details will fit into one of these four lines of descent. You may eventually have over 8,000 individuals in your family tree, but all these ancestors come out of those four lines of your grandparents. Very handy for organization purposes.

Step 1:

Find yourself four 3-ring binders at your local stationery or office store, in 4 different colors. Use one color for each of your grandparents. If you are just beginning, a 2″ ring is a good size. While you are in the store, check out their supplies of dividers, acid-free paper, acid-free ink pens, and transparent full-size pockets. The pockets will hold your documents, notes, and other research items, including copies of photographs. You may wish to also have one or more high-quality photography albums for your “family tree photo album”, or for scrapbooking the story of your ancestors. The basics, however, are those 4 binders with lots of dividers and pockets, plus acid-free paper.

Step 2:

Label each binder clearly with the family surname of one of the 4 lines. For an example, my grandparents’ surnames are: Gillespie, Bunn, Terwilliger, Kuhn. On the inside cover of the binder, put your pedigree tree, highlighting that family. Or, use the pedigree tree starting at your grandparent, it is your choice. Or, use both: full pedigree from “you” as #1 person, with another pedigree chart starting from “father’s father” as the #1 person. What you are trying to do is to make it quick and easy to see which other families are in this particular family line. Some people buy binders with a clear full-size pocket on the front: slide your pedigree chart into that pocket.

Step 3:

Once you have each binder labelled and with pedigree chart inside, do a Family Group form as the next sheet you will see. On that form, you will have your grandparents, information, their parents’ names and details as well, and their children’s details. These siblings of your parents can be very important for further research as aunts/uncles and cousins may have information you do not have! You may wish to do a Family Group information form for each of the siblings as well. Number and name each sheet so you know how they all relate.

Step 4:

Pop in dividers for each one of the grandparent’s ancestor surnames. For example, my Terwilliger grandparent continues back through the following ancestors: Graves, Ormsbee, Buell, Reid, Bortle, Koen, Buck, Horton, etc. With your pedigree chart at the beginning of the binder, it is clear at a glance how these ancestor lines fit in. Add Family Group forms behind each of the surnames. By the way, as I have several ancestor lines researched back into the 1600s with too many documents for one binder, I separated out several of these lines into their own binders at my 5th-greatgrandparents, to continue the organization of my information on that line. Same color, but labeled as the original grandparent surname and “#2″: e.g., Terwilliger #2, Kuhn #2, etc.

Step 5:

Another divider or two should be put in the binder now for your Sources (copies or originals). You may wish to keep Primary Sources separate from secondary sources, that is entirely up to you. Primary sources are those documents which are filled out or generated at the time of the event: for example, birth certificates are a primary source for birthdate, birthplace, full name of child, names of parents, residence of parents at time of birth. Secondary sources, for example a birth date on a death registration, may not be considered correct since it depends on the knowledge of the person filling in the details. A Census is a very commonly found secondary source. Helpful, and it may support a piece of information allowing you to conclude the accuracy (or not) of that information. Sources are a separate and important subject of discussion which we will leave for another article.

Step 6:

Finally, you may wish to have your Research To Do list in the back of each binder. Others prefer to use a file folder for the Research lists for each family, or for each region of a country. To be most useful, you need a way to keep your future research very accessible, organized, and detailed. Decide on a system for now, and see how it is useful for you. You can always rearrange your Research items in the future.

One last tip:

Do you have too many little bits of notes and post-its around your computer or all over your desk? Organize them into family lines and staple all related ones to a piece of paper, e.g., 6-8 per page. File that paper either in the correct family binder or in your research folder. As you finally get around to checking the information or typing it into your tree, cross off the note with a bright red marker. Once all are crossed off, pull that sheet out and throw it away!

By organizing your information into your four lines of ancestors, you will be saved from those overwhelming stacks of bits and pieces of lost information on your desk, in open boxes, and on the floor! Enjoy your researches!

Your Family Tree

 Genealogy News  No Responses »
Jun 112012
 

When you are ready to add a name, date, place, residence, occupation, or other details to an individual in your family tree, always check first. Check twice, type once! Here are some ideas on where to search to confirm basic details of your ancestors, as well as how to add personal information about your ancestors’ lives.

The most satisfying family trees are accurate, include sources of information including original documents, and are personalized. How to find these details? Remember that the very best sources are ‘primary’ sources, that is, documents or records which were developed or filled out at the time of a specific event. For example, a birth registration record, a burial certificate, a ship passenger list: these are filled out at the time of the event and might be considered to be accurate. On each of these and other documents are other details which are wonderful clues for further searches. Those additional details could be very helpful if you are unable to find a quality source for some data.

You may look at a birth record for the correct birth date. But then, you are likely to find additional important clues and details such as mother’s maiden name, birth place or place of residence at birth, occupation of father, the grandparents names and occupation, and more.

Are you trying to confirm a birth date? Potentially, you may find a birth date and place on the following documents:

- marriage registration record

- naturalization paper

- passport application

- education records

- ship records, travel records

- specific censuses (certain years may require birth month and year)

- military service documents

- death registration

- burial documents, gravestones

- widow’s pension application

While these would be considered ‘secondary’ sources since they are filled out at a later time than the birth, if they all match, they certainly would help to confirm the birth date, wouldn’t they? If the dates are slightly different, think about why they might be different. Did a doctor fill out the death registration and get the birth date wrong because he did not have it correct in the first place? Was a military draft card filled out showing the man was old enough to enlist, when he was actually 2 years younger? Did the census record round up the ages? or smudge the birth year number so that a 3 looks like an 8? or perhaps one of the older children gave the information to the census taker because the parents were working on the farm, and the children were not certain of the correct details? Evaluate the sources you are have found, and try to think about the possible truth of the details. You may, of course, have the wrong ancestor! Same name, different birth year, same town… could be a first cousin!

Here is a very common problem in genealogy searches: no record of a woman’s maiden name. What can you do? You may find a maiden name on a marriage record, her death record, her naturalization record or passport application. You may find her living with an elderly mother or with a brother, particularly if your ancestor was widowed. Perhaps a nephew or niece is living with this family on a census – this might possibly be her relative; but this could also be her husband’s relative too, so check on both sides. Also check for family records of the siblings of your female ancestor. Their records may be available, and include the common maiden name! This is an excellent example of why it is very useful to have records and details not only of your direct ancestors but also of your cousin families (known as collateral lines).

How do you personalize your ancestors’ lives? If you are lucky enough to find old photographs in a cousin’s trunk of “old stuff” – great! Make copies, with details and/or stories, and add them to your tree. Or, there may be photographs of a house or farm where the family lived for a period of time.

Perhaps you can add an historical map of the area where the ancestor family lived for several generations. Also, look for a history of the village or town for any mention of your ancestors. Many of these items are online. Check to see what else was happening in the area at the time they lived there, and include those details as well.

If your ancestors immigrated to this country, find them listed on a ship passenger list, with ship name. Copy the list showing their names (usually, birth year, birth place, etc.), and include a photo of the ship if available. Check online for these items, as they are generally available for free.

Finally, historical newspaper articles and/or obituaries, diaries, journals or memoirs, letters, and more: all can help make your ancestors come alive to you and your family. Start talking with your relatives about these kinds of items, and you may be very excited about the wonderful finds that have been stored away, forgotten. Enjoy your searches.

Your Family Tree

 Genealogy News  No Responses »
Nov 202010
 

Genealogy research and building your family tree is very exciting as you find evidence of your great, great grandparents and more! But all those pieces of paper, all those stories and notes – how can you keep them organized so you can find them? Here is a simple tip for beginners to help keep from being overwhelmed with stacks of papers and various documents.

As you look at your pedigree chart – the bare-bones chart of your direct ancestors – you can see your four grandparents’ names and details. When you research for more information, all of these details will fit into one of these four lines of descent. You may eventually have over 8,000 individuals in your family tree, but all these ancestors come out of those four lines of your grandparents. Very handy for organization purposes.

Step 1:

Find yourself four 3-ring binders at your local stationery or office store, in 4 different colors. Use one color for each of your grandparents. If you are just beginning, a 2″ ring is a good size. While you are in the store, check out their supplies of dividers, acid-free paper, acid-free ink pens, and transparent full-size pockets. The pockets will hold your documents, notes, and other research items, including copies of photographs. You may wish to also have one or more high-quality photography albums for your “family tree photo album”, or for scrapbooking the story of your ancestors. The basics, however, are those 4 binders with lots of dividers and pockets, plus acid-free paper.

Step 2:

Label each binder clearly with the family surname of one of the 4 lines. For an example, my grandparents’ surnames are: Gillespie, Bunn, Terwilliger, Kuhn. On the inside cover of the binder, put your pedigree tree, highlighting that family. Or, use the pedigree tree starting at your grandparent, it is your choice. Or, use both: full pedigree from “you” as #1 person, with another pedigree chart starting from “father’s father” as the #1 person. What you are trying to do is to make it quick and easy to see which other families are in this particular family line. Some people buy binders with a clear full-size pocket on the front: slide your pedigree chart into that pocket.

Step 3:

Once you have each binder labelled and with pedigree chart inside, do a Family Group form as the next sheet you will see. On that form, you will have your grandparents, information, their parents’ names and details as well, and their children’s details. These siblings of your parents can be very important for further research as aunts/uncles and cousins may have information you do not have! You may wish to do a Family Group information form for each of the siblings as well. Number and name each sheet so you know how they all relate.

Step 4:

Pop in dividers for each one of the grandparent’s ancestor surnames. For example, my Terwilliger grandparent continues back through the following ancestors: Graves, Ormsbee, Buell, Reid, Bortle, Koen, Buck, Horton, etc. With your pedigree chart at the beginning of the binder, it is clear at a glance how these ancestor lines fit in. Add Family Group forms behind each of the surnames. By the way, as I have several ancestor lines researched back into the 1600s with too many documents for one binder, I separated out several of these lines into their own binders at my 5th-greatgrandparents, to continue the organization of my information on that line. Same color, but labeled as the original grandparent surname and “#2″: e.g., Terwilliger #2, Kuhn #2, etc.

Step 5:

Another divider or two should be put in the binder now for your Sources (copies or originals). You may wish to keep Primary Sources separate from secondary sources, that is entirely up to you. Primary sources are those documents which are filled out or generated at the time of the event: for example, birth certificates are a primary source for birthdate, birthplace, full name of child, names of parents, residence of parents at time of birth. Secondary sources, for example a birth date on a death registration, may not be considered correct since it depends on the knowledge of the person filling in the details. A Census is a very commonly found secondary source. Helpful, and it may support a piece of information allowing you to conclude the accuracy (or not) of that information. Sources are a separate and important subject of discussion which we will leave for another article.

Step 6:

Finally, you may wish to have your Research To Do list in the back of each binder. Others prefer to use a file folder for the Research lists for each family, or for each region of a country. To be most useful, you need a way to keep your future research very accessible, organized, and detailed. Decide on a system for now, and see how it is useful for you. You can always rearrange your Research items in the future.

One last tip:

Do you have too many little bits of notes and post-its around your computer or all over your desk? Organize them into family lines and staple all related ones to a piece of paper, e.g., 6-8 per page. File that paper either in the correct family binder or in your research folder. As you finally get around to checking the information or typing it into your tree, cross off the note with a bright red marker. Once all are crossed off, pull that sheet out and throw it away!

By organizing your information into your four lines of ancestors, you will be saved from those overwhelming stacks of bits and pieces of lost information on your desk, in open boxes, and on the floor! Enjoy your researches!