While having memberships to certain sites can be a plus in your search, it is not always necessary. There are plenty of ways to do searches on genealogy with out having a membership to a site. Here are some tips to help you on your journey to the past.
Library
For local and state searches, you can find a lot of information at your local library in the Genealogy dept. You can also go to your State Library or Genealogy Library and locate a lot of information for FREE.
Every county has a public library where you can access information of that county. County Obituaries will be located with in that county library. So if you are looking for someone locally, make a pit stop at your local library and copy information.
- When searching at any library or location. I always recommend having a note pad, pen or technical device. I usually take my phone since it has a note pad and camera on it, my tablet device because it also had a note pad and camera. Plus both devices have access to the internet and my sites I usually visit. If you do not want to borrow a book because there is not a whole lot of information in it or because you simply have a ton of books your looking at sifting through, this would be a good idea to use your camera to resource the information.
- name of the book or location of the resource you are pulling information from.
- page number of that resource if any
- if you are documenting by picture then you will want to note each picture you take, so name them or number them by each picture you snap so you know where it is from, who it is for and resource to credit.
I ALWAYS note the resource location in any of my searches. I am on ancestry, so anytime I list a note or upload an image of a resource or tip on an individual. I always note the resource so others can locate it or see that I have verified a location. If there is a link, I will always note that link in my resource findings. Not only is it a good idea to include the location of that resource or website you are remarking on, so others can locate it. It is also helpful for you when you need to go back and recheck or verify something should you have questions about it later on. Believe me, you will almost always come back to most of your resources to either double check, re-verify, change or update.
State Historical Society
For a small fee you can visit your state Historical Society and discover loads of information. Most Historical Societies will have a seperate library inside as well where you can locate more information. I have learned that you will learn more about an indivdual or surname but learning about the town, county or state the individual resides in and how it was built up.
Local Stores are resourceful
Some people do not realize this but many resources are located within some of your local stores. Goodwills, Half Price Book Stores, Antiques Malls and even Historical Buildings or Historical Restaraunts. Places like these are full of information like: Pictures, News clippings and articles, Genealogy books, Photo albums and more. Some places will show pieces of history on their walls some place.
Other Buildings to check: County or State Government Buildings that will hold many resourceful documents or books. Some will charge a small fee and others will not. Something to keep in mind, most people don't know this, but a lot of counties and states are now merging a lot of their historical documents and information on to the internet in digital archives. Most counties and states will offer FREE information on specific or tabbed documents and other categories they may request a small fee to view.This is also the same for Libraries.
Google or Other Internet Searches
Why pay for memberships to sites when there are plenty of ways to start your search for FREE. Use the memberships as a last resort. Some ancestrial sites like Ancestry will offer part of their site for FREE. That is always great for the start of your tree and mild search. Some sites like Ancestry also offer a FREE TREE upload to store your information. If you use these sites and their trees, be sure you always back up your tree to either your computer or some other safe device or location like a disc. You always want a back up some place because there is no gurantee your information is safe.
Where to begin your search on the internet. Always keep in mind that the research you find on the internet is just that, research. Chances are not everything you find on your quest has been verified or confirmed as legit records. DO NOT take anything off the internet as factual information until you have verified and confirmed it. Some researchers unknowingly save information thinking it is true when it is only a resource that was noted not confirmed to be true. Verify them before you claim them as a part of your connections. If you do note them as a resource only, make sure you mark it as an unconfirmed or unverified resource and note the location where you found it so you or others can go back to that resource and work on it.
Locations on the Internet to look for FREE:
Free Historical Newspaper Searches
Where to begin your search on the internet. Always keep in mind that the research you find on the internet is just that, research. Chances are not everything you find on your quest has been verified or confirmed as legit records. DO NOT take anything off the internet as factual information until you have verified and confirmed it. Some researchers unknowingly save information thinking it is true when it is only a resource that was noted not confirmed to be true. Verify them before you claim them as a part of your connections. If you do note them as a resource only, make sure you mark it as an unconfirmed or unverified resource and note the location where you found it so you or others can go back to that resource and work on it.
Locations on the Internet to look for FREE:
- Search the History of the State where your family originally came from.
- Search the County of the State where your family originally came from.
- Look online for County/State digital archives. (Most are beginning to merge files online.)
- Search the Surname for a specific State/County
- Search a Specific First/Last Name with a date(s) of event. For instance if you know the name First/Last, and the DOB/DOD or both. Include them in your search. You will be surprised what comes up.
- Local Newspapers sometimes are willing to help you locate information. Sometimes they may ask you to pay a small fee. Most times they will send you the digital copy and offer you the original copy for a fee. I generally take the digital copy as it is faster and free.
- Visit local cemeteries sites where known descendants rest. One of the greatest journeys with ancestry is paying your respects to decendants. My children enjoy hunting with me. When we go to the cemetery it is not just an other hunt. It is a time to pay respects, learn some history and admire these great individauls of our past.Their final respecting place often speaks about these individuals and their life. Some headstones are creative and full of information. Some are in mausoleums and others have a small monument. None the less each one has a piece from that individuals life included on the stone. (When visiting cemeteries, you will want to have a pad of paper or ancestry search papers and a camera. Take pictures of headstones to document within your tree.) Headstones in most cases are more accurate then most records when it comes to dates. However, keep in mind there will be some that send you on a mystical journey with much confusion. I have definitely seen my share of mysteries.
Some sites that will offer FREE resources: (Again keep in mind these are resources that may or may not be verified. It is your job to confirm which they will be.)
- Find A Grave (I have also attached a search box here at this blog)
- Rootsweb (Again verify your results before confirming a resource hit)
- Ancestry (Part of this site is offered FREE as well as a FREE Tree to start on.)
- Family Search
County or State Digital Records
I am sure there are loads of other free sites out there that I have not listed. This atleast will give you the idea. If you have a good site you think we should add, please let us know and we will upload it to our list.
Use the FREE resources first to get your search started that away the costly memberships are used as a last resort.
Happy Hunting!
No comments:
Post a Comment