Genealogy Workshop -Basic Tools & StrategiesBill Hall, Library Specialist Saddlebrook Branch Omaha Public Library

Genealogy Basics What is Genealogy? What are the Basic Tools? What are the Basic Strategies? How to Get Started Taking Oral Family History Recommended Books Genealogy Software Family Roots Good Genealogy Websites

What is Genealogy? A Collection; of the names, dates, places, and facts of your family A Treasure Hunt; where discovery of buried facts brings excitement A Jigsaw Puzzle; the compete picture is visible only when all the pieces fit A Trial; where rules of evidence and proving facts is necessary

Two Planes of Focus Vertical Your direct lines of descent Genealogy Forms: Pedigree or Ancestral Chart Horizontal Your Familys stories Family (Oral) History Forms: Family Group Sheet

Basic Tools forGenealogyOrganizers: 3-Ring Binders or File Folders 3-Hole Punched Lined Filler Paper (for notes) Standard Genealogy Forms Pens, Pencils & Highlighters

Optional Tools Plastic photo sheets (for preservation) Archival paper (doesnt deteriorate) Computer (laptop for portability) Internet access (genealogy websites) Genealogy software (keeps everything in one place) Digital recorder (for interviews)

Basic Strategies Progress From the Known to the Unknown From the current generation to the past Search Wide and Deep List everyone from current generation first Most important if you know little about your past Gather documents to verify all facts Names, places, dates, relationships List the source of the information Prove identity before assigning lineage Facts about the person before making connections to others

Getting Started List Spouses/partners and Children Collect names and birth information Include marriage information, if any Include divorce information, if any Include death information, if any a. Date, location, cemetery, cause6. Record in sequential order on a Family Group Sheet

Data Conventions Last names in CAPITALS Include full middle name HALL, William Robert or William Robert HALL Dates as dd/mm/yyyy 13 APR 2012 Places as city or twp., county, state, country Omaha, Douglas, NE, USA

NOTICE! Genealogy forms are built on the traditional 2 parent family model Forms assume marriage Only recently do some forms include divorce Treat Single partners as a marriage Multiple partners as multiple marriages Treat the child relationships carefully Ancestry.com has help with adoptive children

Family Group Sheet

Getting Started - 2 Next gather data for your Parents and Siblings Collect birth, death, marriage, divorce info Fill in a Family Group Sheet Third is Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts Fill in a Family Group Sheet Include as much information as you know Fill out an Ancestral Chart Start with yourself on the far left position

Ancestral Chart Grampa My Dad Gramma ME PapaMy Wife My Mom Nana

Research Forms

Family History Begin recalling and recording things about yourself Write an autobiography Interview your parents and older relatives Look at artifacts in photo albums and storage areas Organize data into genealogy charts and bloodlines, and group people in family units

Oral Histories Gather stories not just facts Use a digital recorder to gather interviews Get to the oldest living relative SOON! Pre-plan your questions Photos help subjects recall memories Allow your subject to digress

Oral History Books Brown, C. S. Like it was: a complete guide to writing oral history. 808.0669 B877. (1988) Fletcher, W. P. Recording your family history: a guide to preserving oral history . . . 929.1 Fletcher (1989) Green, B. To our childrens children: preserving family histories for generations to come. 920.002 (1993) Hart, C. Tell me your story: the oral history workshop. 907.2 Hart. (2009)

Oral History Websites How to Interview a Relative http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/ht/interview.htm Fifty questions for Family History Interviews http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm

Genealogy Software Family Tree Maker (Windows & Mac) Reunion (Mac) iFamily (Mac) Standard genealogy file format: gedcom .ged Online family tree site: MyHeritage.com

Genealogy Websites Ancestry.com (OPL) Heritage Quest (OPL) OPL genealogy study guide Greater Omaha Genealogy Society Douglas County Historical Society Rootsweb/GenWeb Cyndis List

Next Genealogy Class at SaddlebrookExploring Genealogy OnlineSaturday, June 16 @ Noon

Genealogy Basics - Review Genealogy vs. Family History Basic Genealogy Tools Basic Research Strategies How to fill out basic genealogy forms How to conduct an Oral History interview Some good genealogy websites

Happy Hunting!