documentation for family history
TRANSCRIPT
Cre ating aLe g acy
Looking for and Documenting Our FamilyInform ation
“Members should be diligent in assuring the accuracy of all names submitted to the church for ordinance work.” (Letter signed by The First Presidency dated 16 Jun 1995 for all Church members)
Is this request consistent with Is this request consistent with
D&C 128: 24 about a record being D&C 128: 24 about a record being “worthy of all acceptation”?“worthy of all acceptation”?
Family History Research is more Family History Research is more than genealogy data keepingthan genealogy data keeping. .
Trust no data without checking it out.
Challenges of Family History Challenges of Family History ResearchResearch
Collection, analysis, and interpretation with Collection, analysis, and interpretation with maximum objectivitymaximum objectivity Take care to not introduce bias or prejudice to researchTake care to not introduce bias or prejudice to research
Interested or skeptical investigator can repeat Interested or skeptical investigator can repeat research to confirm or invalidate reported resultsresearch to confirm or invalidate reported results
Conclusions follow request of First Presidency—Conclusions follow request of First Presidency—ACCURACY!!!ACCURACY!!!
Will stand the test of timeWill stand the test of time
Documentation Allows Four ThingsDocumentation Allows Four Things
Evaluation of reliability of Evaluation of reliability of informationinformation
ReplicationReplication TrackingTracking CitationCitation
What Misinformation CreatesWhat Misinformation Creates Hours of wasted searching in wrong placesHours of wasted searching in wrong places Locating correct information delayedLocating correct information delayed Family history becomes unsubstantiated Family history becomes unsubstantiated
family lorefamily lore Bad information disseminated to worldwide Bad information disseminated to worldwide
databasesdatabases Unable to validate work or find sourcesUnable to validate work or find sources ““Junk Genealogy”Junk Genealogy”
When is Documentation on an When is Documentation on an Individual Finished?Individual Finished?
It’s a judgment call.It’s a judgment call.Have I looked for an original record Have I looked for an original record
for the birth, marriage, and death of for the birth, marriage, and death of the individual?the individual?
Have I cited the places I have looked Have I cited the places I have looked and recorded what I have found?and recorded what I have found?
Our Objectives for Documentation Our Objectives for Documentation Find information about your ancestors in
your home or from other family members Understand the “Principles of
Documenting” and “Principles of Family History Research.”
Using computer software, completely enter all data for your two family’s group sheets (yours and your parent’s or another ancestor you are working on) including all documentation.
Attic Tre asure s
Certificates of birth, marriage, and deathCertificates of birth, marriage, and deathWills, land deeds, and property records, Wills, land deeds, and property records, or tribal registration papersor tribal registration papersMilitary service and pension documentsMilitary service and pension documentsPassportsPassportsNaturalization documentsNaturalization documentsMedical recordsMedical recordsLicenses (business, marriage, fishing, Licenses (business, marriage, fishing, driving) driving) School recordsSchool recordsInsurance policiesInsurance policies
Books and Album s
Book of Remembrance or written genealogies
Family Bibles Scrapbooks and albums Baby and wedding books Old photographs &
photograph albums
Pe rsonal Writings Pe rsonal Writings
Journals and diaries
Personal histories and biographies
Letters and Cards
Printe d Notice s andAnnounce m e nts
Obituaries & Newspaper clippingsObituaries & Newspaper clippingsAnnouncements of births, weddings, & anniversariesAnnouncements of births, weddings, & anniversariesPrograms (award ceremonies, funerals)Programs (award ceremonies, funerals)Family reunion notices and recordsFamily reunion notices and records
Military Me m orabilia
Military memorabilia may have been saved because of their unique or emotional value. Group pictures
Weapons and uniforms
Unit histories
Military discharge papers
School Re cords Examples
Report Cards
Registration papers naming parents
School yearbooks with pictures
Student essay written by a relative
Certificates of achievement
Diplomas
Summary
Difficult to pick up Difficult to pick up where you leave offwhere you leave off
Deprive others of Deprive others of opportunity to review opportunity to review sourcessources
Adds credibility and Adds credibility and traceabilitytraceability
Source Classifications
Two Basic ClassificationsTwo Basic Classifications
PrimaryPrimary
SecondarySecondary
Definitions/Examples
Two Basic Classifications of SourcesTwo Basic Classifications of Sources PrimaryPrimary
created shortly after an event by someone having personal knowledge of the event
preferred sources for establishing historical facts.Examples: birth certificates, death certificates,
marriage certificates
SecondarySecondary compiled from primary sources compiled from primary sources are written from memory long after the eventare written from memory long after the event validity could be questionable validity could be questionable
Source Inclusions
Birth certificates Marriage licenses Microfilmed records Books Diaries Letters Newspaper clippings Family knowledge Personal interview Family folklore
Parts of a Source: Two Types of Information
Source:
General description of record, document, or person who gave information.
Census: 1860 US Federal, Arizona
Citation Detail:
Information about where to find entry for individual in source.
Census: 1860 US Federal, Arizona, Roll # 36, Coconino, Flagstaff, page 365, family # 26
Where is the Document Housed?
Repository
Ohio Historical Library
Website: URLFamily Records of William Harold Acton in possession of William Harold Acton
Online Obituary: Arizona Daily Sun