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Tracing Immigrants Search Strategies (view source)
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[ | :See also ''[https://www.familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/coming-to-america-finding-your-immigrant-ancestors/74 Coming to America: Finding Your Immigrant] Ancestors ''in the FamilySearch Learning Center. | ||
''[[Tracing Immigrant Origins|Tracing Immigrant Origins]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Tracing_Immigrants_Search_Strategies|Search Strategies]]'' | |||
Successful researchers follow a series of steps as they conduct research. This section describes the steps to take to find an immigrant's place of origin. | Successful researchers follow a series of steps as they conduct research. This section describes the steps to take to find an immigrant's place of origin. | ||
[[Image:Pedestal for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty.jpg|right|210px|Pedestal for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty.jpg]]__TOC__ | |||
= '''Step 1. Identify What You Know about the Immigrant''' = | = '''Step 1. Identify What You Know about the Immigrant''' = | ||
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'''''Compiled Records.''''' Someone else may have already researched the immigrant. This is especially true if the person immigrated before about 1800. Compiled records include— | '''''Compiled Records.''''' Someone else may have already researched the immigrant. This is especially true if the person immigrated before about 1800. Compiled records include— | ||
*<div>''Databases'' of family information described in [[Major Databases for Beginning United States Research|Major Databases for Beginning United States Research]].</div> | *<div>''Databases'' of family information described in [[Major Databases for Beginning United States Research|Major Databases for Beginning United States Research]].</div> | ||
*<div>''Printed family histories and genealogies''. To find these search:</div> | *<div>''Printed family histories and genealogies''. To find these search:</div> | ||
**'''''Family History Library Catalog [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Surname Search].''''' Search using just the family’s surname. This searches the world’s largest genealogical library for works with this family name as a main subject. | **'''''Family History Library Catalog [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Surname Search].''''' Search using just the family’s surname. This searches the world’s largest genealogical library for works with this family name as a main subject. | ||
**[http://worldcat.org/advancedsearch '''''WorldCatalog Advanced Search''''']. In the '''''Subject''''' field enter the surname and “family” like this, '''Greenwell family'''. This searches the catalogs and displays the results from thousands of North American libraries at once. | **[http://worldcat.org/advancedsearch '''''WorldCatalog Advanced Search''''']. In the '''''Subject''''' field enter the surname and “family” like this, '''Greenwell family'''. This searches the catalogs and displays the results from thousands of North American libraries at once. | ||
**'''''Periodical Source Index (PERSI)''''' [http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/persi/search/people '''''People Search'''''] for a family name in over a million article titles in genealogical periodicals. | **'''''Periodical Source Index (PERSI)''''' [http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/persi/search/people '''''People Search'''''] for a family name in over a million article titles in genealogical periodicals. | ||
*<div>''Local histories'' often include individual family histories. Find county or town histories in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under [STATE, COUNTY] — HISTORY, or [STATE, COUNTY, TOWN] — HISTORY.</div> | *<div>''Local histories'' often include individual family histories. Find county or town histories in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under [STATE, COUNTY] — HISTORY, or [STATE, COUNTY, TOWN] — HISTORY.</div> | ||
*<div>''Manuscript collections'' of family information.</div> | *<div>''Manuscript collections'' of family information.</div> | ||
*<div>Hereditary and lineage ''society records''.</div> | *<div>Hereditary and lineage ''society records''.</div> | ||
'''''Original Records.''''' After searching compiled records, search the existing records of— | '''''Original Records.''''' After searching compiled records, search the existing records of— | ||
*<div>Each place where the immigrant lived.</div> | *<div>Each place where the immigrant lived.</div> | ||
*<div>The complete time period when he or she lived there.</div> | *<div>The complete time period when he or she lived there.</div> | ||
*<div>All jurisdictions that may have kept records about him or her (town, church, county, state, and federal).</div> | *<div>All jurisdictions that may have kept records about him or her (town, church, county, state, and federal).</div> | ||
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'''''Background Information.''''' You may need some geographical, linguistic, historical, or cultural information. This information can save you time and effort by helping you focus your research in the correct place and time period. You may need to— | '''''Background Information.''''' You may need some geographical, linguistic, historical, or cultural information. This information can save you time and effort by helping you focus your research in the correct place and time period. You may need to— | ||
*<div>Locate towns or places.</div> | *<div>Locate towns or places.</div> | ||
*<div>Review local or ethnic histories.</div> | *<div>Review local or ethnic histories.</div> | ||
*<div>Learn about jurisdictions.</div> | *<div>Learn about jurisdictions.</div> | ||
*<div>Use language helps.</div> | *<div>Use language helps.</div> | ||
*<div>Understand native customs.</div> | *<div>Understand native customs.</div> | ||
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After you find information about an immigrant's place of origin, you must interpret your findings. You may want to ask an experienced researcher or native speaker to help you understand foreign terms. You should— | After you find information about an immigrant's place of origin, you must interpret your findings. You may want to ask an experienced researcher or native speaker to help you understand foreign terms. You should— | ||
*<div>Evaluate the place-name.</div> | *<div>Evaluate the place-name.</div> | ||
*<div>Understand foreign spellings.</div> | *<div>Understand foreign spellings.</div> | ||
*<div>Prove that the person you found is really the immigrant.</div> | *<div>Prove that the person you found is really the immigrant.</div> | ||
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If you cannot disprove the connection, it does not mean you have found the immigrant. Weigh the evidence of these three factors to decide if you found the right person and if you are ready to seek earlier generations. | If you cannot disprove the connection, it does not mean you have found the immigrant. Weigh the evidence of these three factors to decide if you found the right person and if you are ready to seek earlier generations. | ||
{{TIO}}<br> | {{TIO}}<br> | ||
[[Category:Tracing_Immigrant_Origins]] | [[Category:Tracing_Immigrant_Origins]] | ||