England Compiled Sources: Difference between revisions

== England Compiled Sources<br> ==

Guide<br>Introduction<br>When you begin family history research for one of your ancestors, you should always begin by<br>looking for compiled research. Compiled research sources contain millions of names of<br>individuals for whom data has been transcribed, indexed, or collected. These sources were<br>created by individuals, groups, societies, universities, archives, and commercial corporations.<br>Determining what research has already been done by others, including your own family<br>members, can:<br>• Save you valuable research time.<br>• Help you find information in original records more quickly.<br>• Help you avoid unnecessary duplication of work.<br>• Provide clues for further research.<br>What You Are Looking For<br>You are looking for compiled sources which may give information on your ancestors. The<br>information you find varies from record to record. These records may include:<br>• Names of children, spouse, parents, siblings, and other family members.<br>• Birth or baptism, marriage, and death or burial information.<br>• Dates of other important events such as immigration or land purchases.<br>• Age at the time of dated events.<br>• Place or street of residence.<br>• Occupations.<br>• Schools attended.<br>• Military service.<br>• Religious affiliations.<br>• Countries, counties, or places of origin.<br>• Other biographical data.<br>Steps<br>These 8 steps will help you find and use compiled sources.<br>England, How to Find Compiled Sources<br>Research Guidance<br>Version of Data: 08/10/01<br>2<br>Step 1. Find home sources first.<br>Check for information with family members first. Some sources to look for in your home and in the<br>homes of extended family members may include:<br>• Old letters.<br>• Journals.<br>• Certificates.<br>• Diaries.<br>• Pictures.<br>• Copies of records, such as baptism, birth, and marriage.<br>• Military papers.<br>• Notes from interviews with family members and relatives.<br>• News items and articles.<br>Step 2. Identify compiled sources.<br>Identify as many compiled sources as possible. They can include:<br>• Published family histories.<br>• Unpublished manuscript histories.<br>• Local histories.<br>• Computer databases and surname listings.<br>• Compiled pedigrees.<br>• Biographies.<br>• Indexes to original records (such as censuses, marriages, and monumental inscriptions).<br>• Registries for research exchange.<br>• Surname or one-name lists.<br>To find examples of compiled sources, see the publications listed in Where To Find It.<br>Step 3. Decide which compiled sources to search.<br>Search for compiled sources that:<br>• Deal with your specific family name.<br>• Cover your specific place of interest.<br>• Cover a range of years during your ancestor's lifetime.<br>Step 4. Locate compiled sources.<br>You can find compiled sources through:<br>• Internet Sources.<br>• Family History Centers.<br>• Family History Library.<br>• Archives and Libraries.<br>• Societies (family history, county, regional, and national).<br>England, How to Find Compiled Sources<br>Research Guidance<br>Version of Data: 08/10/01<br>3<br>Step 5. Search compiled sources.<br>In addition to the name of your ancestor, search for the names of each family member, relative, or<br>in-law of your ancestor.<br>Step 6. Copy and document the information in your research<br>notes.<br>Copy the information from the record exactly as it was given onto the family group sheets and<br>pedigree chart for your ancestor. Be sure to record the source of the information onto a research<br>log. You may want to make a photocopy of the record for future use. To learn how to keep good<br>notes, see Note taking &amp; keeping for genealogists.<br>Step 7. Analyze and use the information found in compiled<br>sources.<br>Compare any information you found in compiled sources with knowledge you already have about<br>your ancestor. Does it:<br>• Conflict with what you know? If the information conflicts, use other sources to verify it.<br>• Support what you know?<br>• Add to what you know?<br>Then ask yourself:<br>• Did the source have the information I wanted?<br>• Is this information accurate?<br>• Does this information suggest other sources to search?<br>Step 8. Verify information from compiled sources with other<br>records.<br>When you obtain information from compiled sources, you must verify the information by searching<br>original records.<br>Where to Find It<br>Internet Sources<br>FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service<br>Many compiled sources are available on the Internet.You can search for compiled sources<br>through FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. FamilySearch Internet can search online<br>records and other web sites to see if they contain the information you want. To look for compiled<br>sources through FamilySearch Internet, go to Search for Ancestors and use either the All<br>Resources or Web Sites search options.<br>England, How to Find Compiled Sources<br>Research Guidance<br>Version of Data: 08/10/01<br>4<br>Websites<br>The following are examples of websites that provide compiled sources that are searchable by<br>surname:<br>• Internet FamilyFinder<br>• Ancestry.com (Fee required)<br>• GenSeeker<br>Links to Websites<br>Many websites do not provide names and dates but link to sites that do. Examples of these are:<br>• CyndisList.<br>• GENUKI (Genealogy in the United Kingdom and Ireland).<br>• GenDex.<br>• British Isles GenWeb.<br>• Genealogy SiteFinder.<br>Family History Centers<br>A Family History Center may have some compiled sources for local families. Family History<br>Centers can also borrow microfilms and microfiche of compiled sources from the Family History<br>Library. The Library charges a small fee to loan microfilm or microfiche to a Family History<br>Center.<br>If a compiled source is not available on microfilm, you may request a photocopy from the Family<br>History Library for a small fee. You will need to fill out a Request for Photocopies form, which is<br>available at Family History Centers. Complete the form with the library call number for the source.<br>Send the form and the fee to the Family History Library. Note that many published sources are<br>copyrighted and cannot be photocopied in their entirety.<br>Family History Centers are located throughout the United States and other areas of the world. For<br>the address of the Family History Center nearest you, see Family History Centers.<br>Family History Library<br>The Family History Library has one of the largest collections of compiled research sources in the<br>world. There is no fee for using the library's collection in person.<br>Sources for Previous Research in the British Isles lists and discusses major compiled sources<br>available in the Family History Library. Some of these sources are available in other archives and<br>libraries.<br>See Family History Library Services and Resources for information about contacting or visiting<br>the library.<br>Archives and Libraries<br>Most compiled sources are available in archives and libraries throughout the world. Some major<br>archives and libraries are:<br>England<br>• The British Library, London.<br>• The Family Records Centre, London.<br>• County record offices.<br>• Public Record Office, Kew, Surrey.<br>England, How to Find Compiled Sources<br>Research Guidance<br>Version of Data: 08/10/01<br>5<br>Australia and New Zealand<br>• National Archives of Australia.<br>• National Archives of New Zealand.<br>• National Library of New Zealand (Alexander Turnbull).<br>United States and Canada<br>• The Newberry Library, Chicago.<br>• The Library of Congress, Washington D.C.<br>• The New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library, Boston.<br>• The National Archives of Canada, Ottawa.<br>• The National Archives, regional branches throughout the U.S.<br>Addresses for archives and libraries can be found at Ready, 'Net, Go then select Master List of<br>Archives.<br>Try to find out what compiled sources are available at archives and libraries before you visit. See<br>individual library catalogs for information about their holdings. Examples of sources that list the<br>holdings of some archives and libraries are:<br>• National Register of Archives.<br>• National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).<br>Societies<br>Family history and genealogical societies extract and index many records and have collections of<br>research done by their members and others. Family history societies are in each county in<br>England. Many provide marriage indexes and publish journals and periodicals that include<br>compiled research that can help you find your ancestor.<br>The Federation of Family History Societies provides coordination between these county societies<br>and lists addresses for each. The Federation also provides publications concerning research and<br>records that are available for purchase and may be found in some libraries. Examples of these<br>are:<br>• Specialist Indexes for Family Historians.<br>• [County:] A Genealogical Bibliography.<br>• Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians.<br>Other societies you may wish to contact are:<br>• One-name societies.<br>• Record societies.<br>• Society of Genealogists.<br>For more information on searching compiled sources, see Has It Been Done Before?