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Burned Counties Research: Difference between revisions
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<br> | ''Purpose:'' This page lists strategies for making research progress on families who lived in a place where most of the records are lost. <br><br>[[Image:800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg|right|200px|800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg]] | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.tngenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Tennessee]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.tngenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Tennessee]<br> | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.azgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.azgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Arizona] | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ilgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Illinois] | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ilgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Illinois] | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mngenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Minnesota] | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mngenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Minnesota] | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ingenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Indiana]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ingenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Indiana]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.msgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Mississippi]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.msgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Mississippi]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ndgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ndgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse North Dakota]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.utgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Utah]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.utgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Utah]<br> | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ksgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Kansas]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ksgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Kansas]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mtgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Montana]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mtgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Montana]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.okgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.okgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Oklahoma]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.vagenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Virginia]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.vagenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Virginia]<br> | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ctgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Connecticut]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.ctgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Connecticut]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.kygenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.kygenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Kentucky]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.negenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Nebraska]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.negenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Nebraska]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.orgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Oregon]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.orgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Oregon]<br> | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/westvirginia.html#courthouse West Virginia]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/westvirginia.html#courthouse West Virginia]<br> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/florida.html#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/florida.html#courthouse Florida]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.megenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Maine]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.megenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Maine]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.nhgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.nhgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse New Hampshire]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.rigenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Rhode Island]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.rigenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Rhode Island]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/wisconsin.html#courthouse Wisconsin]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.familyhistory101.com/wisconsin.html#courthouse Wisconsin]<br> | ||
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| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mdgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Maryland]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.mdgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Maryland]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.njgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse New Jersey]<br> | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.njgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse New Jersey]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.scgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.scgenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse South Carolina]<br> | ||
| align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.wygenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Wyoming] | | align="left" valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffccff" | [http://www.wygenealogy101.com/county-records/#courthouse Wyoming] | ||
|} | |} | ||
= Mental Preparation and Tools Needed for Success = | === Mental Preparation and Tools Needed for Success === | ||
Before starting on burned county research, be sure you have these five tools ready and working for you. | Before starting on burned county research, be sure you have these five tools ready and working for you. | ||
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*Find ways to '''''collaborate''''' with other genealogists, archivists, and librarians on solving the problem. Get help where ever you can.<br><!--{12072793477230} --> | *Find ways to '''''collaborate''''' with other genealogists, archivists, and librarians on solving the problem. Get help where ever you can.<br><!--{12072793477230} --> | ||
= Find Alternatives = | === Find Alternatives === | ||
When a record goes missing, there may be some other records available with the same information. | When a record goes missing, there may be some other records available with the same information. | ||
=== Record Type Alternatives === | ==== Record Type Alternatives ==== | ||
Stay focused on one person and event in that person's life, but change the record type you search to find the event. Here are some ideas to help you find good substitutes for missing burned county records. | Stay focused on one person and event in that person's life, but change the record type you search to find the event. Here are some ideas to help you find good substitutes for missing burned county records. | ||
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'''''Record Selection Tables.''''' Use the [[United States Record Selection Table]] on the Wiki to identify alternative record types you could use to find documentation for various events. <br>'''''Death records.''''' More records result from death than any other event. Perhaps the event you want to document will be mentioned in a record created at the time of death.<br>'''''Land records.''''' These records are so important they are usually the first to be re-recorded after a disaster. Local title companies, the state, and feds may have land records too.<br>'''''Local histories and biographies''''' may be based on sources that were not destroyed in the disaster.<br>'''''Censuses''''' (federal and state) were rarely stored at the burned courthouse. They show family changes over time.<br>'''''Tax records''''' show residence and neighbors. If they were not stored at the burned courthouse they may be a source of information about your family.<br>'''''Newspapers''''' mention our ancestors, and a copy somewhere usually survives a disaster. First see if nearby newspapers have been digitized and are available on the Internet. If not, you can get a microfilm copy of almost any newspaper through inter-library loan at college or public libraries. Use the [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html ''U.S. Newspapers Program''] (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html) will help you find newspapers and obtain newspaper microfilms.<br>'''''Legislative petitions''''' were sent to the state capitol and show residence and neighbors.<br>'''''Collections.''''' Search this Wiki for the ''Genealogy'' article of a state to identify important collections in that state to research for your ancestors. | '''''Record Selection Tables.''''' Use the [[United States Record Selection Table]] on the Wiki to identify alternative record types you could use to find documentation for various events. <br>'''''Death records.''''' More records result from death than any other event. Perhaps the event you want to document will be mentioned in a record created at the time of death.<br>'''''Land records.''''' These records are so important they are usually the first to be re-recorded after a disaster. Local title companies, the state, and feds may have land records too.<br>'''''Local histories and biographies''''' may be based on sources that were not destroyed in the disaster.<br>'''''Censuses''''' (federal and state) were rarely stored at the burned courthouse. They show family changes over time.<br>'''''Tax records''''' show residence and neighbors. If they were not stored at the burned courthouse they may be a source of information about your family.<br>'''''Newspapers''''' mention our ancestors, and a copy somewhere usually survives a disaster. First see if nearby newspapers have been digitized and are available on the Internet. If not, you can get a microfilm copy of almost any newspaper through inter-library loan at college or public libraries. Use the [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html ''U.S. Newspapers Program''] (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html) will help you find newspapers and obtain newspaper microfilms.<br>'''''Legislative petitions''''' were sent to the state capitol and show residence and neighbors.<br>'''''Collections.''''' Search this Wiki for the ''Genealogy'' article of a state to identify important collections in that state to research for your ancestors. | ||
=== Jurisdiction Alternatives === | ==== Jurisdiction Alternatives ==== | ||
The county records may have burned, but the town, state, or federal governments may have similar records. Do not forget to check in neighboring towns and counties too. Try an area search. Draw a circle around the home of your family and search all the jurisdictions with the circle. Slowly expand the circle searching the area farther and farther from home. | The county records may have burned, but the town, state, or federal governments may have similar records. Do not forget to check in neighboring towns and counties too. Try an area search. Draw a circle around the home of your family and search all the jurisdictions with the circle. Slowly expand the circle searching the area farther and farther from home. | ||
=== Repository Alternatives === | ==== Repository Alternatives ==== | ||
Make friends with librarians and archivists at local repositories and ask where various kinds of records ended up. When hunting down documentation for an event look for it in each of these kinds of repositories; | Make friends with librarians and archivists at local repositories and ask where various kinds of records ended up. When hunting down documentation for an event look for it in each of these kinds of repositories; | ||
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*National Archives branches | *National Archives branches | ||
=== Kin or Associate Alternatives === | ==== Kin or Associate Alternatives ==== | ||
If research on the main family members fails to produce results, try studying relatives and associates. Make a list of people who show up in records of the family and study how closely and frequently they were in contact with the family.<ref>Ibid.</ref> If necessary, track down the kin and associates to learn more about your family. | If research on the main family members fails to produce results, try studying relatives and associates. Make a list of people who show up in records of the family and study how closely and frequently they were in contact with the family.<ref>Ibid.</ref> If necessary, track down the kin and associates to learn more about your family. | ||
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*comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patters, origins, or occupations | *comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patters, origins, or occupations | ||
= Think About Your Burned County Research in New Ways = | === Think About Your Burned County Research in New Ways === | ||
Be innovative. Break out of the box. Force your brain to break old connections and make new ones. | Be innovative. Break out of the box. Force your brain to break old connections and make new ones. | ||
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'''''Use logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration.'''''<br>1. Correlate records of neighbors to infer relationships.<br>2. Study migration patterns to infer where the family’s place of origin.<br>3. Try to disprove uncertain connections. | '''''Use logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration.'''''<br>1. Correlate records of neighbors to infer relationships.<br>2. Study migration patterns to infer where the family’s place of origin.<br>3. Try to disprove uncertain connections. | ||
= Continue Your Education and Follow-Up = | === Continue Your Education and Follow-Up === | ||
'''Get an education.''' | '''Get an education.''' | ||
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Burned counties do not have to be end of the line research situations if you prepare well, look for alternatives, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, kin, and associates, approach such research problems in innovative ways, and follow-up well. | Burned counties do not have to be end of the line research situations if you prepare well, look for alternatives, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, kin, and associates, approach such research problems in innovative ways, and follow-up well. | ||
= | === Related Content === | ||
*[[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls]] | |||
*[[United States, How to Find Genealogy Records]]<br> | |||
<br> | |||
= | === Sources === | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{featured article}} | {{featured article}} | ||
[[Category:United_States]] [[Category:Canada]] | [[Category:United_States]] [[Category:Canada]] | ||