Late one evening many years ago, my mother and I were sitting at the kitchen table talking about “the old people.”  In particular, her grandparents.

“Mom, tell me about Grandpa Smith.” 

“What about him?”

“I don’t know.  What was he like?”

“He was as sweet as he could be to us kids.  He would always buy fruit for us.  And he always read The Pittsburgh Courier.   After he finished reading it, he would always say, ‘Nobody passed that I knew.’  We always wondered if maybe he came from Pittsburgh because he always read that paper.”

Washington T. Smith, or Grandpa Smith as he was called, was a man of mystery.  No one knew where he came from or who his parents were.  No one even knew what the “T” stood for.  I asked my mother if she knew.  She said she thought he said he had been named for presidents.  I finally found it on his WWI and WWII draft registration cards—“Taylor.”

Gramma Maggie always called him “Mr. Washington.”  She used to tell my mother the story of how they first met.  He was a transient working on the railroad which went through her mining town in Virginia.  She gave him a drink of water.  She thought he was a "fine figure of a man!"  She was 14 when she married him, by her calculations, 15 when my grandfather, Arthur McKinley Smith was born in Botetourt County.

How much truth there is to all that is debatable, after all using her recollections to figure her approximate birth year made it look like Gramma Maggie was 191 when she died!  Furthermore, the 1910 U.S. Federal Census tells a different story regarding the ages. 

Gramma & Grandpa were enumerated in the Iron Mound Precinct of Botetourt County, Virginia in 1910.  According to information gleaned from the census record, there was no street address, just “Lignite Roads.”  At that point, Maggie was 25 years old and had been married for five years; that would make her 20, not 14 when she married “Mr. Washington.”  My grandfather, Arthur was six in 1910; therefore he was born after their marriage, not before. 

And so, I began to mull and ponder.  Was Grandpa Smith a romantically handsome drifter from Pennsylvania?  After a bit of mullin’ and ponderin’, I think not.  I mean, he may have been handsome.  Romantic, doubtful.  From Pennsylvania, no way. 

I arrive at this deduction not because I have been able to find him living elsewhere in records, but because it just doesn’t make sense—why in the world would a black man from Pennsylvania leave railroad and mining work in the north to come south for the same work at the turn of the century?  That and because his place of birth is listed as “Abell, Virginia” on his WWII draft registration card. 

I have looked high and low for Abell, Virginia and the only Abell-like place I can find in Virginia is Abel Reservoir near Fredericksburg, Virginia.    Perhaps Abell was a small, now-defunct mining camp; like Lignite. Perhaps that is why I cannot locate it.  And yes, I looked for Abell, Pennsylvania also.  No luck.

So, we have an apparently self-educated black man in the 1930’s with a penchant for reading a newspaper which was published 250 miles away in another state.  Why was he so diligent about reading that Pittsburgh Courier?

Not because he was from Pittsburgh, I’d wager—if I were a wagering woman.  I believe he read the Courier for the same basic reasons many of 199,999 other people read it:

First of all, because he could. 

Secondly, because The Pittsburgh Courier was the most widely circulated black newspaper in the United States during the first half of the 20th century.  As the first black newspaper to publish both local and national editions, you could be sure you’d know what was going on in the black community, near or far, if you read The Courier.  It was very much an economic and political empowerment instrument.  Many articles and columns sought to educate blacks about finances and history and to encourage blacks to become politically aware and active. i 

Thirdly, and most importantly, I believe he read the Courier because it instilled and preserved in him knowledge that there was more to be done than 300 days-a-year of back-breaking work in the mines and more to be had than a fist full of worthless scrip and a tar-paper shack you would never own.

That, I believe, was the significance of the Pittsburgh Courier to my Grandpa Smith.

_______________________________________

i http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/courier.html : accessed 27 July 2014.

Well, by now you have chosen an organization and storage system, which you may or may not wind up changing, and you should have a "List ‘O Blanks" to begin researching.

But what should you look for first?  And where should you look?

Slow down there, pop tart!  First, you need a research plan.

“Arrrgh, that’s stupid.  I just want to find the information, Cynthia!”

Yeah, I know.  But there is a method to this madness, and those who thumb their noses at the proper process are essentially throwing efficiency and accuracy to the wind.  I should know because I used to be one of the thumbers.

Taking Boston University’s online courses, Genealogical Essentials and Genealogical Research, really made me realize how little I knew about proper research technique and how much time and effort I had wasted over the years.  I also came to realize how false presumptions can send research down the wrong path. In the first module about the foundations of genealogical research, the research process was thoroughly explained.  This is what I learned:

    1.  Carefully examine the information you have.
    2.  Decide what question you are trying to answer.
    3.  Determine what sources will have the information you seek.
    4.  Develop a strategy for gathering and reviewing the information.
    5.  Search for and gather the information.
    6.  Examine and assess the information.
    7.  State your conclusion.

Click here for a research planning form, it will help greatly:   You enter your "List ‘O Blanks" in the first column on the form and in the second column decide what kind of records will have the information you need.  For instance, if you are seeking a birth date, you can combine census records with military records and marriage records to make a pretty close determination.  Once you know the records you want to look at, you have to figure out where those records reside. 

For example, if you know great-great grandpa was born here in Kentucky, but you don’t know his birth date, you’d want to try to find a birth certificate for him, right?  Well, except for the fact that the keeping of civil vital records requirements vary by state.  Here in Kentucky, the state wasn’t required to begin keeping the records until 1911.  Since great-great grandpa was born before 1900, no birth record, right?  Maybe, maybe not.  Some counties were keeping birth registers as early as 1850.  You just might luck up on great-great grandpa’s birth date.  So look for his birth record at the county courthouse where he was born.

I know it seems like a lot and that it seems to be awfully confusing, but just un-torque yourself for a minute and try comparing the research planning form to a shopping list.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I try to shop only once per week.  Some weeks I’m lucky and I only need regular groceries.  A quick run to Aldi and I’m done! 

Some weeks, not so much.  Some weeks, I may need special or occasionally purchased items.  Local honey—goin’ to Whole Foods; windshield wiper blades—Auto Zone (‘Cause they put them on for you.  It’s not that I can’t, I just don’t want to!); organic butter made from the milk of grass fed cows—Trader Joe’s (best price); cat litter and cat fud—the Walmarts (allof’em); organic cold pressed coconut oil—Vitamin Shoppe.

Much like knowing where the special or occasionally purchased items can be found so that I can shop in an efficient manner, you need to know where you can find genealogical records that may contain the information you seek so that you can work efficiently.    So fill it out that research planning form because it helps!

The internet is teeming with message boards and free and for-a-fee sites with tons of information.  While many records are available online, there are literally millions that are not. 

Once you have exhausted the internet with your research plan, it will be time to head to the repositories, keeping in mind that there are issues of records availability due to loss or damage or simply because “they weren’t keepin’ ‘em yet.”  Click here for a good article regarding civil vital records requirement dates by state. Educate yourself about a repository and its holdings before you show up. Most have websites so you can know before you go:

    ♦  Where is it located? 
    ♦  Where is the parking?  Is it free?
    ♦  What are the hours?
    ♦  What materials are held at the repository?
    ♦  What are you allowed to bring into the repository?
    ♦  Are scanners and/or cameras allowed? 
    ♦  Can copies be made?  How much do copies cost?
    ♦  Do you need to call ahead so that the material you wish to peruse can be “brought up?”

ALWAYS be kind and courteous to repository staff. They can be lifesavers when you hit a snag, or they can remember how you stomped in eleven years ago believing you were the center of the universe.  If they have been especially helpful, give them a gift card at Christmas.   

Libraries, archives, genealogical societies, state historical societies, county courthouses, cemeteries and Family Search Centers are repositories with extensive holdings.  Click here for a printable guide to some of the information available at each.  Use it to fill out the third column of your research planning form. 

Now, grab that research planning form, head out to that repository and have some fun!

Well, did you get started on your personal family research quest last week, filling out pedigree charts and family group sheets?

For all you “Yes” people, way to go! 

For all you “No” people, don’t lose heart!

Why not?

• Should you lose heart because you only know a few things? 
• Should you lose heart because the 27th Annual Family Reunion hasn’t taken place yet?
• Should you lose heart because you aren’t sure where to find information?

No, no and no!  Don’t give up yet. 

O.K. “Yes” people, I’m going to help the “No” people out for a minute and then we’ll ALL reconvene in a couple paragraphs.

Listen, “No” people, I am a firm believer that genealogical research begins at home.  So, take a look at family records you have on hand or to which you have access:  bibles, baby books, baptismal certificates, diaries, funeral programs, letters, newspaper clippings, obituary notices, photographs, scrapbooks, etc.  Remember, if it has a name, a place and a date, it can be useful for genealogical research. 

You can also call or email relatives and ask them for information.  If you choose to go that route, be sure you have a detailed list of questions.  A quick “I’d appreciate all you can tell me about the family,” may result in a big-pile-of-nothing-you-can-use.  Be fearless in your pursuit of family information!

Welcome back, “Yes” people!  Now that we are all together again, let us move forward! 

Now, you have your pedigree chart filled out to the best of your ability and from it, you have been able to begin to fill out several family group sheets.  If you have everything you can glean at this point, then it is time to go back into the sheets and make a list of what you had to leave blank.  This “List ‘O Blanks” is what you begin to search for in other places.  More on that next week, which might be even MORE fun!

Now is a good time to think about the organization and storage of all the information you are collecting/have collected.  There are many ways to organize your genealogical material.  I currently use three of the four organization methods below:

• Binders
• Hanging Files
• Electronic Media
• Genealogy Software Programs

When establishing full names and dates of birth for my grand uncles and grand aunts, I used my Great Gramma Lyddie’s bible.   It is a HUGE old bible with MUCH use and age on it.  Inside, there is a “Births” page which was filled out.  Now, I couldn’t carry that bible around—it was practically falling apart AND it’s so big, it wouldn’t even fit in the filing cabinet!  So, I carefully took pictures of the pages with the information that I needed, and in the notes I made about the bible, I included the location and the date I photographed it.  Back in the day, I printed all those pictures and placed them with the notes in a hanging file labeled “Dunsmore.” 

Due the sheer amount of information I am collecting, I have since scanned those pictures into my laptop and put my notes into a Word document.  All is saved in a file labeled, you guessed it, “Gramma Lyddie’s Bible.”  Backing up my files on cd’s goes without saying. 

I still have some hard copies of documents pertaining to the Dunsmore family in that old hanging file, but if I can scan it or get a good picture of it to upload to my lap top, there is a digital record of it. 

A few years ago I purchased the Family Tree Maker software and I have been a subscriber to Ancestry.com. for several years.  Both keep information very organized and they “talk” to each other.

Choose and develop an organization and storage system that works for you right out of the gate.  Alphabetical organization by surname is always a good way to start.  You can also organize by family groups.  Your method will likely evolve over time, but the most important thing is to establish your method in the beginning, NOT after you have half a dozen bankers’ boxes of information sitting around your desk! 

Next week, in the third and final part of this series, I’ll show you how and where to look to find the information you have on your List ‘O Blanks.  Until then, Happy Organizing and Choosing a Storage Method!

Welcome back!  I hope you had a genealogically enriched weekend.  Even if you didn’t, no worries!  This week is all about getting started, but, before we start, allow me to give you a few definitions of genealogy:

        ·         “That branch of history which involves the determination of family relationships.  This is not done by                     copying but rather by research.”[i]

        ·         “A research field concerned primarily with accurately reconstructing forgotten or unknown identities                     and familial relationships in the past and present, typically covering more than one generation and                     including adoptive, biological, extramarital, marital, and other kinds of familial relationships…”[ii]

        ·         “Genealogy is the study of families in genetic and historical context. Within that framework, it is the                         study of the people who compose a family and the relationships among them. At the individual                             level, it is biography, because we must reconstruct each individual life in order to separate each                             person’s identity from that of others bearing the same name. Beyond this, many researchers also                         find that genealogy is a study of communities because kinship networks have long been the threads                     that create the fabric of each community’s social life, politics, and economy.”[iii]

I included the definitions of genealogy in an effort to reinforce the point that you need to conduct your own research, not copy someone else’s branches of “your” family tree off Ancestry.com. 

Here are a few things you should know about how and where to record the information you have gathered/are gathering.

1.  How to record information:

    ·         Record the full name.
    ·         Use [?] for unknown surnames
    ·         Surnames, or last names, should be in ALL CAPITAL letters:  MAHARREY
    ·         Ladies’ maiden names should be in ALL CAPITAL letters within parenthesis:  (SADDLER)
    ·         Nicknames or aliases should be within quotation marks:  “Cindy”
    ·         My name on a genealogical research document, such as a pedigree chart should be:
                                                    Cynthia “Cindy” Lynn (SADDLER)
    ·         Include the county in place names:  Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
    ·         Dates must be a two-digit day, completely spelled month, and four-digit year:  03 July 2014
    ·         Your comments or explanations should be enclosed in square brackets:  [1 rod = 5.0292 meters]

2.  Where to record information:

    ·         Pedigree charts or ancestral charts help you see your direct line of ancestors.  They are probably the                   most familiar documents.  Most pedigree charts contain four generations on a single sheet.  Charts                       containing more than four generations are typically considered “ancestral.”  Each person on the sheet                   has a number.  The first person, number 1, would be you.  Your paternal line extends along the top                       while your maternal line extends along the bottom.  Males are even numbers while females are odd                       numbers (unless, like me, they are the first person).  Record all information as directed above.  If you                   don’t know an answer, leave it blank. 

    ·         A family group sheet or family group record is a form that shows an entire family unit at a glance:  a                   father, a mother and their children.  Details shared with the ancestral chart include vital information                   such as birth marriage and death locations and dates.  However, additional family group sheet facts                       include christening dates and places and the birth dates and locations of children which can show                       migration patterns.  Often, while searching for a particular ancestor you encounter a brick wall.  Just as               often, having the name of a sibling and searching for that sibling can help you find the information you               sought for the initial person.  Thus, the family group sheet’s collateral relative information can be very               valuable when a trail runs cold.

Which should you use first?  I recommend first filling out a pedigree chart.  Start with you and when you’ve filled in all you know, use it to begin working on your family group sheets.  A four generation pedigree chart—completely filled out—will provide the start for eight different family group sheets. 

Now that you know how to use the sheets, it is time to fill them up with the information YOU know, and the information you gathered over the past week.

What are you waiting for—get started!  Links to my blank pedigree chart and family group sheet are above in the document explanations above, just click and they will open in a separate window.  It is best to print them out and write on them.  Blue ink provides a GOOD contrast.  Other free charts abound on the internet and Google can help you find them.

See you next week.

P.S.  Please feel free to email me any questions you may have.  Use the contact link under “more…”.


[i] Val D. Greenwood, The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy 3rd Edition (Baltimore, Maryland:  Genealogical Publishing Company, 2000), 3.

[ii] Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Virginia:  National Genealogical Society, 2013), 135.

[iii] Board for Certification of Genealogists, “Definition of Genealogy,” (http://www.bcgcertification.org/certification/faq.html#5 :  accessed 3 July 2014).

The very prospect of beginning one’s family history research can be absolutely daunting. 

For good reason; if you fail to begin in the correct fashion, your will either continue in poor form resulting in a poor product for your work or you will give up all together after a few days.

“Who’s going to help me?” “What do I do with all these charts and forms?”  “Where do I start?” “When do I go to the courthouse?”   “Why is this so harrrrd?!”  “How do you do this?”

Fair questions, however, with a bit of reflection, planning, and education, one can have the answers before you begin.

The result should be progress in a fairly smooth manner to a fine finished product. 

As if family history research can ever be truly “finished.”

The first thing you need to decide before you begin your research is the answer to the following question:  “Why am I going to attempt to research my family history?”  In other words, “What is the goal of my research?”

Most people who set out on a journey begin with a destination in mind.  That destination may change.  Or the person may reach the destination and then decide to journey farther or in a different direction.   

So, keep in mind that family history research is a journey.  It is most certainly NOT a quick trip to the grocery for milk and toilet paper.  

Now then, go decide your “Why?”

Below are a few of the more common reasons—use one of them or figure out your own goal. 

·         to learn where your people came from and why they left

·         to preserve family traditions and discover their origins

·         so that your children will know who their people were

·         to put together a book of your family’s history

·         to establish lineage in order to qualify for membership in a lineage or other society

·         to discover the medical history of your ancestors

See you next week with your “Why?”!  Feel free to share them in the comment section below—perhaps your “Why?” can help someone else figure out their “Why?”

Next week will begin a three (or possibly more!) part series on first steps in genealogical research.

Keep in mind that this weekend could yield a treasure trove of information about your family—it’s Fourth of July weekend!  LOTS of reunions and get-togethers will happen.  It could be a great opportunity to ask several different relatives questions about the family. 

Not sure what to ask?  Kimberly Powell has a marvelous list of family history interview questions at About.com Genealogy.  Add to or take away from the list to suit the occasion, the relatives you are interviewing, and the amount of time you have to spend with each relative. 

Lastly, but most importantly, write down or record the questions and answers making sure you document the date, time, location and the full name of the person giving the answers.  You’ll need that information later as you build your family history. 

And, HAVE FUN!