>From [email protected] Sun Sep 6 09:05:20 1998 >Received: (from [email protected]) > by fp-1.rootsweb.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) id JAA03008; > Sun, 6 Sep 1998 09:03:57 -0700 (PDT) >Resent-Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 09:03:57 -0700 (PDT) >Message-ID: <[email protected]> >Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 11:51:18 -0400 >From: Margaret Scheffler <[email protected]> >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.06 [en] (Win98; I) >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Old-To: SURNAME-QUERY-L <[email protected]> >Subject: Research Strategy >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Dear Margaret, Many thanks for so good advice. I'm still kind of new on tracing my family tree and your advice was very helpful. thanks again. liz >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Resent-Message-ID: <"_tEFl.A.sj.zIr81"@fp-1.rootsweb.com> >To: [email protected] >Resent-From: [email protected] >Reply-To: [email protected] >X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/10916 >X-Loop: [email protected] >Precedence: list >Resent-Sender: [email protected] > >Several people recently posting to the list indicate their primary >way of researching is to type names into this or other lists. Once in >a while, one may be lucky, but often it leads to frustration. I offer >a few simple suggestions. Obviously, many more could be given. > >1. Start from what you know and move back one generation at a time. >Interview older family and friends and tape or write down everything >they say. Mistakes can be corrected, but at least you may have some >names and locations to start from. No fact is too small to note down >--address on a letter, signature on an old card, place of employment, >country of origin, etc. > >2. Contact a local county or municipal office in the area where your >ancestor lived. Often they can give you the name of a local >historian, historical society, etc. that might have local history >material. Get those names and addresses and contact the people. >Frequently a phone call followed by a letter works best as some of >their volunteers receive many requests. Search the materials yourself >if at all possible. Check out land records and wills in the >geographical area if possible. Sometimes these historical societies >sell histories of some of the small towns which might include your >ancestors. > >3. Local historical societies often have lists of people buried in >small area cemeteries. DAR chapters often cataloged small cemeteries >around 1930 for genealogical purposes. If you find your family name, >then you might want to see the tombstone itself for further detail >since often the total inscriptions may not have been copied and the >placement of the tombstones may give clues as well. > >4. A large public library with a local history section can be your >best ally. The amount of information can be unbelievable -- city >directories, census microfilms, early town vital records, family >genealogies, various collections of family pedigrees from certain time >periods or geographical areas. Check out a "how to" book on genealogy >which will give you lots of ideas. A local LDS center can also offer >pedigree charts, census films and a variety of other materials >depending on its size. You don't have to be of their faith. > >5. When you do access this list give in your message the geographical >area along where your ancestor lived, if known. Include approximate >dates even if you have no exact dates. I find common surnames at >times, but if no dates, places, etc. are included, it is hard to >provide any help. > >6. Don't forget to thank the people who provide information and help >others who ask you for information. Keep careful track of your >sources as often you need to go back and consult the same source for >more information. Verify everything you get from someone else's >family tree. We all make mistakes no matter how careful we try to be. > > Hope this helps. This is a wonderful hobby, made better when we all >share. > >Sincerely, >Margaret Scheffler > > >==== SURNAME-QUERY Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from SURNAME-QUERY, send an e-mail message to: > [email protected] (for individual messages) > [email protected] (for Digest mode) >Subject: unsubscribe >In the body include only one word: unsubscribe >(Turn OFF your signature file when sending this command) > > > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com