California Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

From FamilySearch Wiki
No edit summary
No edit summary
(37 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{CA-sidebar}}
=== California Research Strategies ===
{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[California, United States Genealogy|California]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[California Research Tips and Strategies|Research Tips and Strategies]]
}}
{| style="float:right; margin-right:030px; background-color:#acd9f9" width="25%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="1" "
|
<center><font size="4"><br>'''Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page'''</font></center><br>
<center>''The California Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for California. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.''</center><br>
|}
 
==California Research Strategies==


Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:<br>  
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:<br>  
<br>
===Finding California Birth, Marriage or Death Records===
*[[GuidedResearch:California|Finding California Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research]]
===Finding California Records===
*[[California Record Finder]]
===California Statewide Databases===
*[[California Online Genealogy Records|California Online Genealogy Records]]
===California Research Process===
*[[Step-by-Step California Research, 1905-Present|Step-by-Step California Research, 1905-Present]]
*[[Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905|Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905]]
*[[California Descendancy Research]]
*[[How to Find California Birth Records|How to find California Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find California Marriage Records|How to find California Marriage Records]]
*[[How to Find California Death Records|How to find California Death Records]]
==California Research Tips==


These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in California:<br>
:[[California Online Genealogy Records|California Online Genealogy Records]]
<br>
:[[How to Find California Birth Records|How to find California Birth Records]]
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
:[[How to Find California Marriage Records|How to find California Marriage Records]]
----
:[[How to Find California Death Records|How to find California Death Records]]
*'''''Statewide registration:''''' The state began registering births in July 1905 and deaths in 1900 and was generally complied with by 1920.
*'''''County regististration:''''' Some county recorders kept vital statistics before 1905. Monterey County, for example, recorded a few births as early as 1824. Most clerks kept better records in the decades following the Gold Rush.


*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[California Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in California.
=== California Research Tips ===
<br>
'''Substitute Records:'''
----
*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help varify information.
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[California Substitute Records|California Substitute Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Finding Parents:'''  
----
*'''''Death records:''''' Death records created by the state starting in July 1905 may contain parents of the deceased. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[California Newspapers]] and [[California Obituaries]] for more information.
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denominiation of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[California Church Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Census Records:'''
----
*'''''Check all census years:''''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See [[California Census|California Census Records]] for more information.
*'''''Clues to other records:''''' There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
*'''''Finding families:''''' Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.


==Further California Research==
These tips will help you as your research your ancestors in California.  
*[http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/California.pdf California Research Outline] – California Family History Library Research Outline
*[https://cagenweb.org CAGenWeb] - California GenWeb Project
*[http://genealogytrails.com/cal/ California Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of California
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ca/ Cyndi's List] - California genealogy websites
*[http://www.raogk.org/california-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of California Records Guide


*'''Birth information:''' Birth records in California start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is [[How to Find United States Death Records|death records]]&nbsp;(the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]].
*'''Finding Parents:''' The State of California began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search California death records]]
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]].


[[Category:California, United States]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]

Revision as of 09:42, 20 December 2014

California Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:

California Online Genealogy Records
How to find California Birth Records
How to find California Marriage Records
How to find California Death Records

California Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as your research your ancestors in California.

  • Birth information: Birth records in California start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
  • Finding Parents: The State of California began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search California death records
  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.