An overview of the five essential groups of records to jumpstart your genealogy!
NOTE: Access to Ancestry is a requirement by the student to be able to complete this course.
The use of proper search techniques and Ancestry databases will assist you in obtaining your research goals. This course will introduce very important groups of records to the genealogist:
Census Records
Vital Records
Military Records
Newspaper & Publication Records
Immigration Records
Each module will provide a brief description of the record group, describing how to search for the record, what information is contained within the document, recording the information and its genealogical importance. The last module will consist of three case studies, with exercises following a family through the various record groups.
During your genealogical research project, no record group should stand alone! Although the modules can stand alone as learning tools, at the completion of this course, the researcher will be able to better understand how the various groups of records work together to provide the answers to your research quest. It is normal when researching that one record group leads you to another. The combination of the two record groups will then lead you to the third group of records, and so on. By reading the course materials, and completing the exercises and assignments, this course will teach you the importance of combining the vast amount of information available in various groups of records to develop a much more interesting family history.
Remember, this course is only an introduction to census, vital, military, newspaper and immigration records that are available on Ancestry. Additional courses are available for a more in-depth study of each of these record groups. Online virtual meetings are also provided, enabling you to ask questions of your instructor.
Ancestry has many tools that will assist the researcher in developing and recording their family history. You should have a good understanding of the tools prior to starting this course.
Course Content
Module 1
Census Records
Introduction
Census Schedules
• Federal Census
What to Expect...
Starting At The Beginning
Comparing and Analyzing Census Schedules
• Census Worksheet Method
• Another Possibility
• What To Look For?
Census Searching at Ancestry
• Getting to the United States Census Screen
Source Citation
Evaluating the Schedules
• Clues for Further Research
When The Search Becomes a Little More Difficult
• The Name
• Year of Birth
• Gender and Race
• Too Many Results
• Browse
Summary
Items to Remember and Review
Conclusion
• Other Census Subjects
Resources and References
Module 2
Vital Records
Introduction
Availability of Vital Records
Evaluating the Document
The Death Certificate
Marriage Records
Birth Records
• Delayed Birth Certificate
Using Indexes
Searching on Ancestry
• Ordering From the State of Oregon
• Ordering Through VitalChek
More Resources at Ancestry
• Social Security Death Index
• The Process
• United States Obituary Collection
• Cemetery Indexes
Conclusion
Resources and References
Module 3
Military Records
Introduction
Did They Serve?
• Working with Family Stories and Traditions
• Census Schedules
• Other Resources to Find Clues to Military Service
Using Military Records in Family History Research
• Pension and Bounty Land Application Files
• Searching for Pension Files at Ancestry
• Draft Registration
Adding to Family History Research
More and More Resources
• Military Family History Books, Stories, and Information
• Other Conflicts
References and Resources
Module 4
Newspapers
Introduction
Small Town Newspapers Verses Large City Newspapers
Adding to the Family History
Looking for an Obituary
Adding More To Family History Research...Working from the Newspapers
Searching the Newspaper Database at Ancestry
• The Search Results
• The Refined Search of the Oakland Tribune
• The Strategy
• What to Do With the Image
Other Publications
Conclusion
References and Resources
Module 5
Immigration & Emigration Records
Introduction
Ship Passenger Lists (Immigration Records)
Using Ancestry Helps
Before you begin...
Finding the Gollnick Immigration - Using Family Stories & Census Schedules
Finding Elizabeth Lee's Immigration Records
Before 1820...
Border Crossings
Mexican Border Crossings 1903-1957
Emigration Records
Naturalization Records
Finding the Records...
U.S. Passport Records
References and Resources
Module 6
The Ancestry Family of Websites
Introduction
Fold3
• Searching at Fold3.com
• Browse Records
Newspapers.com
Find A Grave
Ancestry
• AncestryDNA
• Corrections and Collaboration
• Research Helps and Hints
• Ancestry Academy
Conclusion
Glossary
Suggested Reading
Module 7
Researching Using Ancestry: Case Studies
How This Module Will Work...
Case Study #1
Case Study #2
Case Study #3
Final Comments
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