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 Lees 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
Viewing Images
Find a Grave
Ancestry
AncestryDNA
Corrections and Collaboration
Research Helps and Hints
Ancestry Academy
Conclusion
Glossary
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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