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''Purpose:'' This page lists strategies for making research progress on families who lived in a place where most of the records are lost. <br>  
Below are lists strategies for making research progress on families who lived in a place where most of the records are lost. <br>  


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The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.<ref>An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966) ({{FHL|41739|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v. 4}}) ([http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61483708 WorldCat entry]).</ref> The strategies for researching places where a local courthouse or repository was wiped out by fire, tornado, war, flood, hurricane, earthquake, insects, rodents, mold, neglect, foxing, theft, tsunami, or cleaning-streak clerks are useful in similar situations all around the United States, Canada, and throughout the world.<br> <br>
The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.<ref>An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966) ({{FHL|41739|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v. 4}}) ([http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61483708 WorldCat entry]).</ref> The strategies for researching places where a local courthouse or repository was wiped out by fire, tornado, war, flood, hurricane, earthquake, insects, rodents, mold, neglect, foxing, theft, tsunami, or cleaning-streak clerks are useful in similar situations all around the United States, Canada, and throughout the world.<br> <br>
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 you can find information on your ancestors.<br><br>


*[https://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/record_coverage/US_County_Records_Loss.html ''List of all counties in the United States with record loss'']
*[https://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/record_coverage/US_County_Records_Loss.html ''List of all counties in the United States with record loss'']
<br><br>''' [[Image:800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg|right|210px|800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg]] __TOC__  
<br><br>''' [[Image:800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg|right|210px|800px-FirePhotography edit1.jpg]] __TOC__  


=== Tactics of Success ===
=== Burned County Research Strategies ===


*'''Verify Loss of Records:''' Every courthouse with record loss has a different story. Some lost all records, some lost only some. It's essential to determine exactly what was lost and the year those records were lost. Contact the local county genealogical society, public library, and the courthouse to verify the information no longer available.
*'''Verify Loss of Records:''' Every courthouse with record loss has a different story. Some lost all records, some lost only some. It's essential to determine exactly what was lost and the year those records were lost. Contact the local county genealogical society, public library, and the courthouse to verify the information no longer available.
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*'''State Repositories:'''  State archives and libraries can have records that the county may have sent copies of the records of the county with record loss. Search all the record types listed below at these repositories.
*'''State Repositories:'''  State archives and libraries can have records that the county may have sent copies of the records of the county with record loss. Search all the record types listed below at these repositories.
*'''Federal Repositories:''' Some record types were copied and sent to the Federal Government and are now housed at the National Archives. Records include, military, land, immigration, naturalization, and other government programs. Search the National Archives finding aids and catalog for possible records to search.
*'''Federal Repositories:''' Some record types were copied and sent to the Federal Government and are now housed at the National Archives. Records include, military, land, immigration, naturalization, and other government programs. Search the National Archives finding aids and catalog for possible records to search.
*'''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.
*'''Search Online Trees:''' You can sometimes find clues to other researchers' work found on differnet online trees. Always look for supporting documents for claims of vital events and information.  
*'''Search Online Trees:''' You can sometimes find clues to other researchers' work found on differnet online trees. Always look for supporting documents for claims of vital events and information.  


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=== Other Options for Researching ===
==== Repository Alternatives  ====
These options may be available in your county for further searching of records:
 
*Neighboring county 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;
 
*neighboring county repositories  
*2nd courthouses (or other repository) in the same county  
*2nd courthouses (or other repository) in the same county  
*county clerk's office  
*County clerk's office  
*county historical library  
*County historical library  
*county genealogical society  
*County genealogical society  
*state genealogical society  
*State genealogical society  
*state library and archives  
*State library and archives  
*law libraries  
*Law libraries  
*government documents library (usually at a prominent university in the state)  
*Government documents library (usually at a prominent university in the state)  
*land offices  
*Land offices  
*National Archives branches
*National Archives branches


==== Kin or Associate Alternatives  ====
=== [[Research a Family in Community Context|Study the family in community context]]<ref>Mills, “Genealogical Mindset and Principles of Scholarship.”</ref>===
 
Research the lives of neighbors and relatives. Use the census and land records to:  
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.
*Extract full information on people in the area with the same surname  
 
*Extract full information on people by another surname living in same household  
'''''[[Research a Family in Community Context|Study the family in community context]].'''''<ref>Mills, “Genealogical Mindset and Principles of Scholarship.”</ref> Get to know the neighbors and relatives. This means you use the census and land records to:  
*Identify census neighbors, at least 12 before/after—note who owned land  
 
*If near a state or county line, study people with the same surname in nearby areas  
*extract full information on people in the area with the same surname  
*Comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patterns, origins, or occupations
*extract full information on people by another surname living in same household  
*identify census neighbors, at least 12 before/after—note who owned land  
*if near a state or county line, study people with the same surname in nearby areas  
*comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patterns, origins, or occupations
 
=== Think About Burned County Research in New Ways  ===
 
Be innovative. Break out of the box. Force your brain to break old connections and make new ones.
 
'''''Create a time line and/or map.'''''This helps clarify thinking, identify gaps, and raises questions that may help resolve the problem.
 
'''''Organize, review, and re-evaluate the evidence.''''' Summarize the problem. Rearrange relevant documents in a different logical order. Review old sources for overlooked clues. Separate what you assume from what you know. Sort and weigh the evidence. Analyze information for relevance, directness of the evidence, and consistency with other facts.
 
'''''Write a formal research report''''' (as if you were hired as a professional genealogist) to clarify your thinking. For this formal report:<br>1. Create a well-documented family group record.<br>2. Write a narrative report explaining:<br>    a. Why did you search where you did?<br>    b. What did you find or not find?<br>    c. What do your findings, or lack of findings mean?<br>    d. What sources should be searched next?<br>    e. How long will it take to search those sources?<br>    f. What is the likelihood those sources will work?
 
'''''Create and fill-in new forms''''' to make new brain connections and raise questions:<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref><br>1. Follow the family in ALL census years<br>2. In-Out list to help track each piece of land<br>3. Holes to fill in an ancestor’s life<br>4. Source citations that need completing<br>5. Facts that need better evidence<br>6. Ancestral associates and their roles
 
'''''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  ===
 
'''Get an education.'''


*'''Read''' about the area your ancestors settled. Study its history and local genealogical periodicals.  
===Other Tactics===
*Take '''classes''', conferences, and institutes.  
*'''Create a time line and/or map:'''This helps clarify thinking, identify gaps, and raises questions that may help resolve the problem.  
*Go on a '''research trip''' to visit their communities to learn about the local way of life and repositories<span id="1198977441098E"> </span>.
*'''Organize, review, and re-evaluate the evidence:''' Summarize the problem. Rearrange relevant documents in a different logical order. Review old sources for overlooked clues. Separate what you assume from what you know. Sort and weigh the evidence. Analyze information for relevance, directness of the evidence, and consistency with other facts.  
*'''Write a formal research report:''' Writing a genealogical research report helps to clarify your thinking. For this formal report:<br>
:1. Create a well-documented family group record.<br>
:2. Write a narrative report explaining:<br>   
::a. Why did you search where you did?<br>   
::b. What did you find or not find?<br>   
::c. What do your findings, or lack of findings mean?<br>   
::d. What sources should be searched next?<br>   
::e. How long will it take to search those sources?<br>   
::f. What is the likelihood those sources will work?
*'''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.  


'''Get help.''' Reach out to others and '''collaborate''' to get help and learn more. Place queries. [[Hiring a Professional Researcher|Hire a professional]]. Pray for help.
=== Further Suggestions and Articles===
 
For further suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:<br>
'''''[[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|Share]] and collaborate.'''''  Give in order to receive. Share your genealogy and pedigree with one or more sites such as FamilySearch [https://familysearch.org/tree Family Tree], FamilySearch [https://familysearch.org/tree Pedigree Resource File], Ancestry.com [http://trees.ancestry.com/ Family Trees], RootsWeb [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ WorldConnect], or [https://www.onegreatfamily.com/home/sp OneGreatFamily.com]. Share your genealogy on social media like '''''Facebook'''''. [[Hiring a DNA Testing Company|Test your DNA]], and share the results with public DNA databases. Leave some family history, or a query, on an Internet genealogy [[Message Boards|message board]]—and repeat for several months. Contribute to the [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Help:Wiki_University_How_to_Contribute Family History Research Wiki]. Send a copy of your ancestor John Doe’s family history (include your address) to each county library and to each state and county genealogical society where John Doe lived. Publish an article on the family in their local genealogical periodical. Register your address in directories of members of genealogical Internet web sites and submit your genealogy to their libraries. [[Create a genealogy web page|Put your genealogy on a web page]] and register your site with major search engines and lists ([http://www.cyndislist.com/submit/ Cyndi's List]). Other researchers will start to contact you and share added details.
*[http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2424 ''Burned Counties.''] By Michael John Neill at [https://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/ 24-7 Family History Circle].
 
*[http://tnblog.arleneeakle.com/2009/04/13/when-the-records-are-gone/ ''When the Records are Gone.''] By Arlene Eakle at [http://tnblog.arleneeakle.com/ Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog].  
'''Summary. ''' 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.
*[https://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/record_coverage/US_County_Records_Loss.html List of counties in the United States with Record Loss]<noinclude>[[Category:Places with Historic Record Loss]]</noinclude>


=== Related Content  ===
=== Related Content  ===
*[[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls]]  
*[[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls]]  
*[[United States, How to Find Genealogy Records]]<br>
*[[United States, How to Find Genealogy Records]]<br>


For further suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
:*Arlene Eakle, [http://tnblog.arleneeakle.com/2009/04/13/when-the-records-are-gone/ When the Records are Gone] in the ''Tennessee Genealogy Blog''.
:*Michael John Neill, [http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2424 Burned Counties] in ''Family History Circle''.


=== Sources  ===
=== Sources  ===
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