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Edited information under places, to be more correct.
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(Edited information under places, to be more correct.) |
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You should also record other personal and family history information such as residences, occupations, schools attended, military service, property owned, and immigration or naturalization. At times such biographical information is essential to help prove relationships. You may use a computer program like Personal Ancestral File (see [[Adding a Custom Event to a PAF Family Group Record|Adding a Custom Event to a PAF Family Group Record]]), a word processor, regular paper, or create your own form to keep your notes organized. | You should also record other personal and family history information such as residences, occupations, schools attended, military service, property owned, and immigration or naturalization. At times such biographical information is essential to help prove relationships. You may use a computer program like Personal Ancestral File (see [[Adding a Custom Event to a PAF Family Group Record|Adding a Custom Event to a PAF Family Group Record]]), a word processor, regular paper, or create your own form to keep your notes organized. | ||
== Suggestions for Recording Information == | == Suggestions for Recording Information == | ||
As you record information, be consistent in the way you write it. Someday other researchers may use your information or notes as they continue research on your family. The following suggestions are practiced by most genealogists, and are easily understood by all researchers. | As you record information, be consistent in the way you write it. Someday, other researchers may use your information or notes as they continue research on your family. The following suggestions are practiced by most genealogists, and are easily understood by all researchers. | ||
*'''''Names'''''. Write names in the order they are spoken (first names, then middle name(s), then last name or surname.) You may want to capitalize the surname to identify it. Use maiden names for women. | *'''''Names'''''. Write names in the order they are spoken (first names, then middle name(s), then last name or surname.) You may want to capitalize the surname to identify it. Use maiden names for women. | ||
*'''''Dates'''''. Write the day, then the month, then the complete year (23 May 1891). Always write the month, or use an abbreviation. Never use numbers for months. Other researchers may not know if 6-8-50 means 6 August or 8 June, or 1750 or 1850. | *'''''Dates'''''. Write the day, then the month, then the complete year (23 May 1891). Always write the month, or use an abbreviation. Never use numbers for months. Other researchers may not know if 6-8-50 means 6 August or 8 June, or 1750 or 1850. | ||
*'''''Places'''''. Give the town (or parish or township); the | *'''''Places'''''. List all jurisdictions, in order from smallest to largest. Give the town (or parish or township); the county, province or district; then the state; and the nation last. For example: | ||
Stephenstown, Renesselaer, | Stephenstown, Renesselaer, New York, USA<br> Ansbach, Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany | ||
Commonly, researchers use native spellings for all places or levels (jurisdictions) except for the nation. For example, the native name of ''Bayern'' is used instead of ''Bavaria''. Always indicate the name of the country | Do not use abbreviations, except for USA. They can be confusing. Take, for example, the abbreviation ''WA''. To some, it means the state of Washington. To others, it means Western Australia. | ||
Commonly, researchers use native spellings for all places or levels (jurisdictions) except for the nation. For example, the native name of ''Bayern'' is used instead of ''Bavaria''. Always indicate the name of the country. | |||
*'''''Sources'''''. Be sure to fully identify the source of your information. If a person, give their full name. For a book or other document give the complete title and other information. For suggestions see [[Use the Information#Cite Your Sources|Cite Your Sources]]. | *'''''Sources'''''. Be sure to fully identify the source of your information. If a person, give their full name. For a book or other document give the complete title and other information. For suggestions see [[Use the Information#Cite Your Sources|Cite Your Sources]]. | ||