Burned Counties Research: Difference between revisions

'''[[Research Logs|Research logs]] are a must.''' Burned county research is not easy. The more difficult or complex a research problem becomes, the more valuable good research logs are. They are a cornerstone to good research and filing systems. Research logs show what has, and (just as importantly) has not worked. Also, use logs to explain in written comments your thinking about search strategies and what you are trying to accomplish—why you turned to that set of records.³

'''A commitment to [[Document AS YOU GO!|document AS YOU GO]]<nowiki>!</nowiki>'''⁴  This means keeping your research logs and family group record up-to-date. Fill out the purpose (person and event you want) for each search, and the source data on the research log BEFORE you look at the source. Complete the research log by filling in the results and (if you find something) file number of the photocopy. Documenting AS YOU GO means if you find a new source you do these things before you lay your head on the pillow:<br />    a. [[Copying Sources|Photocopy the new source document]].<br />    b. Identify the source (footnote information) on the front of the photocopy.<br />    c. Write your own document filing number on the back of each photocopy.<br />    d. Log the document number, and summarize events-people you found on all appropriate logs.<br />    e. Transfer new family data from the source to appropriate family group records.<br />    f. Enter new source footnotes for '''''every''''' piece of data on a source, even if that event already has a footnote.<br />    g. Add a preliminary assessment of the data and its reliability to each source footnote.<br />    h. Print the updated family group record.<br />    j. File the new family group and photocopy.

* Find ways to '''''collaborate''''' with other genealogists, archivists, and librarians on solving the problem. Get help where ever you can.<br />

'''''Record Selection Tables.''''' Use the “[[United States Record Selection Table|Record Selection Table]]” on the Wiki (or just before the "Map of the United States" in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/Guide/Usout.asp#map_of_the_united_states ''United States Research Outline'']) to identify alternative record types you could use to find documentation for various events. <br />'''''Death records.''''' More records result from death than any other event. Perhaps the event you want to document will be mentioned in a record created at the time of death.<br />'''''Land records.''''' These records are so important they are usually the first to be re-recorded after a disaster. Local title companies, the state, and feds may have land records too.<br />'''''Local histories and biographies''''' may be based on sources that were not destroyed in the disaster.<br />'''''Censuses''''' (federal and state) were rarely stored at the burned courthouse. They show family changes over time.<br />'''''Tax records''''' show residence and neighbors. If they were not stored at the burned courthouse they may be a source of information about your family.<br />'''''Newspapers''''' mention our ancestors, and a copy somewhere usually survives a disaster. First see if nearby newspapers have been digitized and are available on the Internet. If not, you can get a microfilm copy of almost any newspaper through inter-library loan at college or public libraries. Use the [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html ''U.S. Newspapers Program''] (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html) will help you find newspapers and obtain newspaper microfilms.<br />'''''Legislative petitions''''' were sent to the state capitol and show residence and neighbors.<br />'''''Collections.''''' Use the ''Genealogy'' section of each [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp?Page=./research/type/Research_Outline.asp&ActiveTab=Type state research outline] to identify important collections in that state to research for your ancestors.

* National Archives branches<br />

'''''Create a time line and/or map. '''''This helps clarify thinking, identify gaps, and raises questions that may help resolve the problem.

'''''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:⁸<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.

* Take''' classes''', conferences, and institutes.

 

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