grow your family tree

DEBRA A. HOFFMAN4 October 2014

Grow Your Family Tree

Overview

Basic Steps

Maryland State Archives

Start at the Beginning

5 Basic Steps

1 – Start with what you know.

2 – Identify a research objective.

3 – Develop a research plan.

4 – Execute the plan.

5 – Analyze, evaluate and correlate the

information.

Start with You!

Write down what you know about:

Yourself

Siblings

Parents

Grandparents

Gather the following information:

Full Name

Birth Date and Place

Marriage Date and Place

Death Date and Place

Military Service

Religious Affiliation

Etc.

Interview Family Members

Do they have:

Bibles

Diaries and Journals

Letters

Memorial Cards and

Funeral Programs

Birth, Marriage, or

Death Certificates

Baptism Certificates

Citizenship Papers

Fraternal Records

Legal Papers

Military Records

Newspaper Clippings

Occupational Records

School Records

Photo Albums

Pedigree Chart

Family Group Sheet

Research Objectives

Identify a Research Objective

Choose an ancestor.Identify specific research objectives.Select one to begin.

Usually you start with what you know and then work backward.

Include name, time period, location and what information you hope to find.

Example

Who was the father of William H. Weaver who was born 14 October 1827 in Germany?

Locality Search

Learn about the locality.

Identify available resources.

Literature Search

Determine what research, if any, exists: Printed family histories and genealogies

Family information published in periodicals

Biographies

Local histories

Manuscript collections of family information

Computer databases of family information

Online family trees

Etc.

Saves time and can provide clues

Develop a Research Plan

Research Plan

What sources will provide direct or indirect evidence?

Where are those sources located?

Search broad time periods.

Check for collateral relatives and variant

spellings.

Background Information

Identify your objectiveIdentify the name, date, place and any other

identifying characteristics Surname variations Identify starting information

Identify limitations Time

Analysis of what is known Identify gaps in information Highlight clues

Identify Repositories

Public Libraries

Library of Congress

DAR Library

Family History Library

Maryland Historical Society

Enoch Pratt Free Library

George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University

County Public Libraries

Identify Repositories

Courthouses

Family History Centers

State and Federal Archives

Maryland State Archives, Annapolis

State Libraries

Maryland State Law Library, Annapolis

Identify Records

Census Federal and State

Vital Records Birth, Marriage and Death

Land Records Federal and Local

Church RecordsCourt Records

ProbateEtc.

Execute the Plan

Death Records on MDVitalRec.net

Marriage Records

Deed Index on MDLandRec.net

Wills and Probate Records

Findings

List the repositories you visited.

List the resources you used.

Cite your sources!

List negative findings.

Discuss any problems encountered.

Take full research notes.

Separate comments from the record.

Research Log

Prevent brickwalls. Use one of these to prevent duplication of work. Foster accuracy by tracking what you have searched and the results.

Analyze, Evaluate & Correlate

Next Steps?

What clues did you find?

What other sources should you research?

Evidence Analysis

Ask Questions:

Does it correlate with what you already know?

Did you find what you were looking for?

Is the information complete?

Does it conflict with other information?

Evidence Analysis

Organize it in a systematic way

Timelines

Charts

Software

Cautions!

Just because it is published in a book or on the Internet does not mean it is true!

Don’t incorporate information into your family tree until you verify it.

Use original records, if possible.

Be Skeptical!

Fannie Langdon’s Obituary

Who Was the Informant?

Provided an Erroneous Age—was actually 60

Death Certificate

Maryland State Archives

Public Records from 1634-1789

Original state and county records

Microfilm of original records

Federal censuses

Church records

Land records

Maps & Atlases

Vital records

About the Archives

Getting Started at the Archives

Hours of Operation

Beginner’s Guide

Repository for all permanent records Municipal county, and State government

Special Collections Church records Newspapers Maps Manuscripts Photographs

General Public Tab

Family Historians Tab

Online Resources

Reference & Research Research at the Archives How to Find Specific Records Indices Found at MSA

Guide to Government Records Introduction to Guide to Government Records Understanding Maryland Records

Need Help?

MSA Help Deskmsa.helpdesk@maryland.go

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QUESTIONS?

Thank You!