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=== Step 3. Select a Record to Search === | === Step 3. Select a Record to Search === | ||
Effective researchers first find background informa-tion. Then they survey compiled sources and finally they search original records. "[[ | Effective researchers first find background informa-tion. Then they survey compiled sources and finally they search original records. "[[Jewish For Further Reading|For Further Reading]]" has a list of genealogy how-to books, both general and geographically specific, that give information about tracing Jewish ancestors. | ||
'''Background Information Sources.''' You must have some geographical and historical information. This will help you focus your research in the correct place and time period. | |||
'''''Find the place of residence.''''' Use maps, gazetteers, histories, and other place-finding aids to learn about each place where your ancestor lived. Identify governmental and ecclesiastical jurisdictions, local Jewish congregations, cities, counties, and other geographical features. | *'''''Find the place of residence.''''' Use maps, gazetteers, histories, and other place-finding aids to learn about each place where your ancestor lived. Identify governmental and ecclesiastical jurisdictions, local Jewish congregations, cities, counties, and other geographical features. | ||
*'''''Review local history.''''' Jewish history and the history of the area your ancestor lived in affected the records about the Jews. See "[[Jewish Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" and "[[Jewish History|Jewish History]]" for more information. If there is a set of Wiki pages for the country or state where your ancestor lived, see "Gazetteers" and "History" in that place's pages. | |||
*'''''Learn about the jurisdictions of the places where your ancestors lived.''''' You will need to know about civil and often church boundaries. See "[[Jewish Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" for more information. | |||
*'''''Use language helps'''''. Jewish records may be in Yiddish, Hebrew, or in the language of the country of residence. Some church records for Jews may be in Latin. See "[[Jewish Language and Languages|Language and Languages]]." | |||
'''Compiled Records.''' Surveying research already done by others can save time and reveal valuable information. Check compiled sources such as: | |||
*Private collections of family histories and genealogies deposited in historical and genealogical societies and other libraries | *Private collections of family histories and genealogies deposited in historical and genealogical societies and other libraries | ||
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*FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index (IGI) | *FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index (IGI) | ||
*FamilySearch™ Personal Ancestral File | *FamilySearch™ Personal Ancestral File | ||
*Vital Records Index British Isles and Vital Records Index North America. See "[[ | *Vital Records Index British Isles and Vital Records Index North America. See "[[Jewish Genealogy|Genealogy]]" for details about these sources. Similar indexes for other countries are in production. | ||
*Pedigree Resource File | *Pedigree Resource File | ||
These records are described in "[[ | These records are described in "[[Jewish Biography|Biography]]," "[[Jewish Genealogy|Genealogy]]," and "[[Jewish Societies|Societies]]." Remember, information in compiled records may have some inaccuracies, and the information in them should be verified. | ||
'''Original Records.''' After surveying previous research, you can begin searching original documents, which are often handwritten and copied on microfilm or microfiche. Original documents provide first-hand information recorded at or near the time of an event by a reliable witness. To do thorough research, you should search: | '''Original Records.''' After surveying previous research, you can begin searching original documents, which are often handwritten and copied on microfilm or microfiche. Original documents provide first-hand information recorded at or near the time of an event by a reliable witness. To do thorough research, you should search: | ||
*Jurisdictions that may have kept records about your ancestor. | *Jurisdictions that may have kept records about your ancestor. | ||
*Records of Jewish communities. | *Records of Jewish communities. | ||
Most researchers begin with civil registration, census records, church records, or probate records. | |||
=== Step 4. Use the Internet === | === Step 4. Use the Internet === | ||