Ancestry.com www.ancestry.com

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Ancestry.comwww.ancestry.com

• What there is on the site
• What is pay to view
• What is free

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What do you have to pay for?

• If you come to the library it is all FREE!
• At home most of it you will have to pay for.

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Free Sites (samples of some)Remember
Everything is free at the library!

• American Biographical Library
• 1880 United States Federal Census
• Ancestry World Tree
• Ancestry.com Message Boards
• Ancestry.com Research Registry
• Biographical Directory of the American Congress

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View Census See the actual census
Cookie crumbs You can back track each step
Save for future reference
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Getting Started Treasures in the
Attichttp//ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/2082
.asp Step 1 2

• Fewer hobbies anywhere offer the reward of
  genealogy.
• This hobby can and will take you on a journey of
  discovery of your ancestors and their lives.
• This journey can
• Take you to places you have never been
• Learn who you ancestors really were and their
  personalities
• Every journey begins with a single step. This
  first step is you!
• We will discuss some of the areas that you can
  collect and things you can do to start on this
  journey.

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Living Sourceswww.ancestry.com/library/view/ancma
g/2082.asp step 3
For Centuries, genealogy was an oral tradition.
There was a least one person who had the
responsibility to memorize the genealogy. Today
in some cultures they may still memorize.
However, it seems as though one person in a
family is the gatekeeper or flame keeper. This
person is perhaps the best one to contact in
gaining information.
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Library Research At the Librarywww.ancestry.co
m/library/view/ancmag/2082.asp Steps 4 5

• What preparations should you make before leaving
  your home, and what should you look for once you
  arrive at the library.
• You could make a list of all research centers and
  libraries near you
• Public libraries
• Family history library
• Local historical societies
• Genealogical societies
• College libraries

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Primary Secondary Sourceswww.ancestry.com/libra
ry/view/ancmag/2082.asp Steps 6 7

• Primary Sources (Original) is a record of an
  event written, spoken or photographed by an
  eyewitness or that event at or near the time of
  the event. Recorded by someone with firsthand
  knowledge of the facts.
• Secondary source (copied) is written record of
  the event that was created long after the event
  occurred. Usually by someone not directly
  associated with the event.

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Census Recordswww.ancestry.com/library/view/ancma
g/2082.asp Step 8

• Websters dictionary states that a
• census is a periodic governmental
• enumeration of a population.

• First census was taken 1790 then every 10 years
  since.

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Immigration RecordsGive me your
tired!www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/2082.
asp Step 9

• Nearly every American can trace their ancestors
  to a foreign land
• Between 1607 to the present 35 to 50 million have
  entered the this country
• Most entered through the US ports
  Baltimore,Boston, New Orleans, New York City,
  Philadelphia, Minor ports, If they entered
  legally there should be a paper trail

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Naturalization Records www.ancestry.com/library/v
iew/ancmag/2082.asp Step 10

• The Federal Government has a form for
  everything. While these forms contain a lot of
  different information, there is a lot of
  information that is very valuable to the
  genealogist.
• These records were not intended for genealogy
  purposes, but what a great benefit they are.

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Military Records www.ancestry.com/library/view/anc
mag/2082.asp Step 11

• Identify the individual
• Branch of military they were in
• Determine which war they were in
• Watch for other items in the photos such as
  uniform, clothing style, others in photo or
  objects to identify the time period
• Look for patches, medals which could represent
  the rank of the individual
• Any clues could be helpful in finding the
  military records of your ancestors

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Land Records www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag
/2082.asp

• They can be plentiful, accessible, easy to use,
  informative and interesting.
• There are 5 steps
• Identify the individual
• Determine if they owned land and where
• What types of records exist
• Use the records and crank the machines
• Evaluate the data

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Wills Probates www.ancestry.com/library/view/an
cmag/2082.asp Step 13

• Probate records are useful in your search for
  ancestors
• 1st they relate information already gathered
• They are legal documents and are reliable
  information as long as you interpret it correctly
• Wills are the most common form of records
• They furnish you with relationships
• They give you glimpses into the persons life,
  family secrets, household items, and feelings
  about family members

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Court Records www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancma
g/2082.asp Step 14

• Naturalization Probate
• Adoption
• Bankruptcy
• Civil proceedings
• Criminal proceedings
• Divorce
• Guardianships
• Mortgage
• Property disputes

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Unusual Record Sources www.ancestry.com/library/v
iew/ancmag/2082.asp Step 15

• Need to fully examine the ancestral paper trail
• Tracking down any information that could solve
  the dead ends
• Help build a thorough life history

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Online Research www.ancestry.com/library/view/anc
mag/2082.asp Step 17

• Nothing has revolutionized genealogy like the
  internet. It has its pitfalls.
• Often lacks the proof needed to make sound
  conclusions.
• Internet is not a shortcut for sound research.
• Use the same guidelines that apply to paper and
  pencil research when using the internet.
• 6 steps to online research.

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Adding life to Family HistoryThere are many ways
to share www.ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/208
2.asp Step 18

• Family quilts
• Family Photos and Art
• Family Area
• Family Cookbooks
• Family Traditions
• Cemeteries
• Interviews
• Family Trips
• Family Reunions
• Family Associations
• Family Web Sites
• Family History Books

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The End

• For questions or help call
• Cathie Owens
• 942-5910 or 856-7332