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=== Burned County Research Strategies === | === Burned County Research Strategies === | ||
*'''Verify Loss of Records:''' Every courthouse with record loss has a different story. Some lost all records, some lost | *'''Verify Loss of Records:''' Every courthouse with record loss has a different story. Some lost all records in the court house, some only lost some of the records. It's essential to determine exactly what records were lost and the year it happened. Contact the local county genealogical society, public library, and the courthouse to verify the years and type of records no longer available. | ||
*'''[[Research Logs|Research logs]]:''' As you research in the county, keep a research log or calendar listing all the resources searched. This includes websites, online databases, books, microfilm, and onsite records at a repository like an archive or courthouse. | *'''[[Research Logs|Research logs]]:''' As you research in the county, keep a research log or calendar listing all the resources searched. This includes websites, online databases, books, microfilm, and onsite records at a repository like an archive or courthouse. | ||
*'''Understand the Whole Family:''' Research all members of your ancestor's family including parents, siblings, in-laws, children and their spouses, etc. The more you find out about family members, the more clues to other records you will find. | *'''Understand the Whole Family:''' Research all members of your ancestor's family including parents, siblings, in-laws, children and their spouses, etc. The more you find out about family members, the more clues to other records you will find. | ||
*'''Friends and Associtates:''' Research the lives of all known associates including extended family | *'''Friends and Associtates:''' Research the lives of all known associates including extended family members, witnesses on documents, and neighbors. Search for them in all records available - see list below. | ||
*''Write a Plan<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology and Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref>:''' You should have a [[Decide What You Want to Learn|research goal]] formulated as it will help you determine what records to focus on and search for. | *''Write a Plan<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology and Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref>:''' You should have a [[Decide What You Want to Learn|research goal]] formulated as it will help you determine what records to focus on and search for. | ||
*'''Surrounding Counties:''' Search surrounding counties and those records for your ancestor and family members. You may find them listed in other records because of associating with others over the border of the county. Exhaust these records. | *'''Surrounding Counties:''' Search surrounding counties and those records for your ancestor and family members. You may find them listed in other records because of associating with others over the border of the county. Exhaust these records. | ||
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