|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| ==== A CHECKLIST OF COMPILED SOURCES & WHERE TO FIND THEM© ====
| | '''A CHECKLIST OF COMPILED SOURCES & WHERE TO FIND THEM©''' <br>By<br>Phillip Dunn, A.G.® |
|
| |
|
| By
| | '''Introduction<br>'''Regardless of your experience as a family history researcher in using primary and original records, and no matter how many years of research experience in proving your family tree, this important checklist of Compiled Sources will help you more comprehensively search for already compiled data on your family lines. Family history seekers are guaranteed a pleasant surprise as they strike ‘gold’ by discovering already completed research on at least one or some in-common ancestral family lineages. This list helps you to more meticulously search in secondary or what genealogists call compiled sources. It’s to help you identify, then search as many of today’s offerings for completed family genealogical (research) work which in today’s world has become a quantumly more complex and unwieldy task than ever, from library and archival catalogs and published inventories of collections, to online databases, family websites and surname-specialty sources! So, how does one keep up on all the new websites, and places to find critical sources? |
|
| |
|
| Phillip Dunn, A.G.®
| | This ‘list’ of compiled sources is a good start. Collectively, it literally represents well over a billion ancestors with already compiled data about them! |
|
| |
|
| === Introduction ===
| | <u>First Step <br></u>In thoroughly scouring all home sources, in closets and attics—for family history papers, copies of records, pictures, old letters, journals/dairies and memorabilia, we cannot honestly say that our search in ‘compiled sources’ is completed. It is absolutely not completed until you initiate the next vital step, on to the next standard procedure—that next phase called the preliminary search—for and in compiled sources. To some, this is the ‘ugly duckling’ aspect of the research process but nevertheless, a vital phase of doing standard (proper) due diligence. Such compiled sources to search for includes published or deposited manuscript sources on families, pedigrees, biographies, autobiographies, town and local histories, and online family genealogies. |
|
| |
|
| No matter what family history research experience you have in using primary and original records, and regardless of how many years you've been researching your family tree, this important checklist of Compiled Sources will help you conduct more thorough and comprehensive searches for finding compiled, and/or secondary sources on family lines. In most cases, family history seekers are guaranteed a pleasant surprise and will strike ‘gold’ by occasionally discovering already completed research on in-common ancestral family lineages. And because so many of the 'repositories' to such holdings are dynamic in that they are continually adding to their collections, it worthy of our time to return regularly to learn what new additions might turn to 'gold'.
| | <u>Second Step</u> |
|
| |
|
| In today’s world, orderly approaches to tracking and searching in all available compiled source databases has become a complex and unwieldy task! After a thorough scouring of home sources in closets, basements and attics—for family history memorabilia, copies of records, pictures, etc., you are now ready to embark in the next phase of your preliminary searches—for compiled sources. Compiled sources include published or deposited manuscript sources on families, pedigrees, biographies/autobiographies and local histories.
| | Like a research scientist before seeking an academic degree or a government-sponsored grant to fund forensic or frontier research or discovery, standards in protocol requires diligent and honest broad-spectrumed searches for and in compiled sources to determine ‘what’s already researched and thus far discovered in the chosen area of scientific research. Every researcher—beginning and scientific--must do the same, diligently! If your preliminary searches were mere ‘closet or attic or basement search’, on shelves and in boxes for family and home sources, that is but a first-step. And that’s only if you’ve sought for and searched family Bibles, pictures, diaries, journals, copies of vital records and certificates and records, interviewed extended family and close relatives’, searching their home records as well (even old neighbors--if living--can prove very helpful!), a giant step by itself—in the right direction, but too narrow in scope for what should be a comprehensive and more thorough search for other compiled sources outside the home! To smugly fold the arms, cock the head back and think, ‘That’s all I need to know; now let’s start researching in original and primary record sources’—is naïve at least and, at worst, it short-circuits the comprehensive research process! Why would any true genealogist or passionate family history buff discard the standard of seeking and searching in compiled sources outside the home, by narrowly considering that no one is “qualified” to research worth a pan ‘o gold? For every thousand family history compilers who generate fuzzy genealogical ‘data’, I’ll show you fifty or more very competent researchers and writers who have credibly researched and written professional-level family history compilations. |
|
| |
|
| === 'Family' Sources ===
| | The ‘Second step’ researchers should employ in the research process—is also the most overlooked part of the research process and not always considered standard procedure. |
|
| |
|
| Compiled sources include the following two groups of preliminary sources to seek after, ''first'':
| | Here’s a list of resources for where to find published and manuscript (compiled) sources on family surnames and lineages:<br>1. Online family genealogy sites, pedigrees, history sites: |
|
| |
|
| ==== Home Sources ====
| | World catalog at http://worldcat.org/. In the '''Subject'' field enter the surname and “family” like this, ''Prescott Family''. This searches the catalogs and displays the results from thousands of especially U.S. libraries at once. <br> ''Periodical Source Index (PERSI)'' at [http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/persi/search/people ''People Search''] allows searches for a family name in over a million article titles in genealogical periodicals. If the Article “Results List” is too long, redo the search but in the ''Keyword'' field add the two-letter postal abbreviation for the state where they lived.<br> Google books at http://books.google.com<br> Internet Archive at http://www.internetarchives.org<br> Genforum www.genforum.com – has 170 million names; quarter of million a week<br> Ancestry com www.ancestry.com – has largest databases of compiled data on families<br> USGenweb.com – numerous aids & databases online by state & county<br> Genealogy.com (FamilyFinder) - has enormous database for families <br> Roots Surname Lists at http://rsl.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ <br> MyTrees at Kindredkonnections.com - a fabulous site for surnames<br> MyHeritage.com – has over 353 million names worldwide<br> GenesReunited.com - largest UK site with over 650 million UK names<br> Onegreatfamily.com - has over 130 million names worldwide<br> BYU’s Family History Archive at http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/index.php has scanned tens of thousands of free, published family histories all scanned, imaged and online<br> FamilySearch at www.familysearch.org (follow prompt to catalog; do a “Surname” search. This searches the world’s largest genealogical library for published works for any family surname as a main subject. <br> Family History Library “Favorites” links may be viewed at www.fhlfavorites.com – see “England”; “General”; “Book search” or “England”; “General” ;”Genealogy”<br> Guild of One Name Studies or www.one-name.org – with nearly 8,000 UK surnames registered<br> New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Soc http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ -.<br> Allen Co. Indiana Public Library at http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/eresources.html <br> Google on 1) family “surname”, 2) “family history” or “genealogy” and 3) “town” or “city” name<br> www.rootuk.org |
|
| |
|
| If you’ve just barely begun your quest to trace your family tree, the first step is to look in attic, basement, and closet shelves and boxes for family home sources that may include—family Bibles, pictures, diaries, journals, copies of vital records and certificates and records, old letters, even interviews with extended family and close relatives’, searching their home records as well (old neighbors--if living--as well may prove very helpful!).
| | 2. Repositories and libraries holding large collections with online catalogues especially of which hold published or manuscript family histories, genealogies, biographies and other compiled family and local histories (and many of which may have one and often more—internal alpha-arranged listing or index or related database[s]): |
|
| |
|
| ==== Compiled Sources ====
| | a. Aim25 at: www.aim25.ac.uk (100 archives within 25 miles of London)<br> b. Family History Library (FHL) – collections <br> c. National Archives of Canada – large collections of original record sources<br> d. New England Historical & Genealogical Society – magnificent collections <br> e. Dallas TX Public Library<br> f. Chicago’s Newberry Library - largest collection of published family histories<br> g. The National Archives (NARA) U.S. – enormous national records collections<br> h. The Genealogical Research Library, Toronto, Canada – significant Canadian <br> i. The National Archives - UK<br> j. Provincial archives (Canada)<br> k. A2A (Archives to Arch.) at The National Archives, UK<br> l. The British Library, London <br> m. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.<br> n. County records offices – have numerous family genealogies and pedigrees – Google for their websites and search online catalogs or inventories<br> o. Local Public Libraries—often have published and/or typescript family histories<br>3. Compiled manuscripts or typescripts on family histories, genealogies,<br>biographies, and pedigrees in any country around the world, which have been deposited, generally may be located at: <br> a. State, provincial, local & national archives, i.e. Library of Congress; Provincial archives, National Library, Ottawa<br> b. Research libraries, i.e. Genealogical Research Library, Toronto, Dallas Public Library or Allen County IN – have important genealogical collections <br> c. Society archives and libraries, i.e.www.newenglandancestors.org/ and the D.A.R. – have significant records including, biographies, family Bibles, and much more <br> d. University and college archives - i.e. University of York; BYU - have extensive collections<br> e. County and state historical societies<br> f. College of Arms (London), Lord Lyons (King of Arms in Scotland)<br> g. Large (and even very small) local public libraries have local genealogical holdings |
| | |
| The second group of compiled sources is also your second step for searching preliminary sources. Always seek to search those places, websites, repositories, libraries and societies holding published and/or manuscript copies of family information. Such compilations can and often do exist. The quality and/or professionalism in the already concluded research may vary from a scant skeletal view riddled with mistakes to a poorly researched and supposed historical treatise with enormous errors, false or incorrectly drawn research conclusions, to the opposite end of the spectrum--a comprehensive genealogical and historical view of a family surname--all immaculately completed, very thoroughly and scientifically (professionally) researched, with a well written, and polished publication to show for it. Such compiled sources may be as complete as it possibly could be, as if you had researched and produced it yourself! These compiled sources can provide family genealogies, pedigrees, individuals' biographies or autobiographies, or local and community histories.
| |
| | |
| Here’s a list of resources for where to find published and manuscript (compiled) sources on family surnames and lineages:
| |
| | |
| ===== 1. Online family genealogy sites, pedigrees, biographical, local history sites: =====
| |
| | |
| Google books at http://books.google.com
| |
| | |
| World catalog at http://worldcat.org/. In the Subject ''field enter the surname or “family” like this, "''Whitefield
| |
| | |
| family'''"'''. This searches the catalogs and displays the results from thousands of libraries at once.
| |
| | |
| ''Periodical Source Index (PERSI)'' at [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. Put the family name in the ''Surname'' field and click the ''Search'' button. If the Article Results List is too
| |
| | |
| long, redo the search but in the ''Keyword'' field add the two-letter postal abbreviation for the state where they lived.
| |
| | |
| Google books at [http://books.google.com http://books.google.com] <br> World catalog at [http://worldcat.org/ http://worldcat.org/] In the Subjectfield enter the surname and “family” like this, Whitefield
| |
| | |
| family. This searches the catalogs and displays the results from thousands of libraries at once. <br> Periodical Source Index (PERSI) at [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. Put the family name in the Surname field and click the Search button. If the Article Results List is too<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682229412_885" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682229412_150" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682229412_440" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682229412_596" />
| |
| | |
| long, redo the search but in the Keyword field add the two-letter postal abbreviation for the state where they lived.<br> Internet Archive at [http://www.internetarchives.org http://www.internetarchives.org] <br> Genforum at [http://www.genforum.com www.genforum.com] – has 170 million names; quarter of million a week<br> Ancestry.co.uk at [http://www.ancestry.com www.ancestry.com] – has significant databases of compiled data on families<br> [http://www.USGenweb.com www.USGenweb.com] – numerous aids & databases online by state & county<br> [http://www.Genealogy.com www.Genealogy.com] (FamilyFinder) - has enormous database for families <br> Roots Surname Lists at [http://rsl.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ http://rsl.rootsweb.ancestry.com/] <br> [http://www.MyTrees.com www.MyTrees.com] at Kindredkonnections.com - a useful site for surnames<br> [http://www.MyHeritage.com www.MyHeritage.com] – has over 353 million names worldwide<br> [http://www.GenesReunited.com www.GenesReunited.com] - largest UK site with over 650 million UK names<br> [http://www.Onegreatfamily.com www.Onegreatfamily.com] - has over 130 million names worldwide<br> [http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/index.php BYU’s Family History Archive ] has scanned tens of thousands of free, published family histories online<br> FamilySearch at [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] (follow prompt to catalog; do a “Surname” search. This searches the world’s
| |
| | |
| largest genealogical library for published works for any family surname as a main subject. <br> Family History Library “Favorites” links may be viewed at [http://www.fhlfavorites.com www.fhlfavorites.com] – see “England”; “General”; “Book<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682256490_441" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682256490_515" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682256506_583" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1249682256506_65" />
| |
| | |
| search” or “England”; “General” ;”Genealogy”<br> New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Soc [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ http://www.newenglandancestors.org/].<br> Allen Co. Indiana Public Library at [http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/eresources.html http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/eresources.html]
| |
| | |
| ===== 2. Repositories and libraries with online catalogues: =====
| |
| | |
| Online repository and library catalogues reveal their local and family histories collections and holdings so that you will know whether you can find and access completed (already compiled) data on a possible published family genealogy, biography and other compiled sources. Occasionally, holdings may include transcription, indexes and/or databases (with access to one and sometimes more in-house or even online databases). See below the list indicating the general types or kinds of institutions where compiled collections reside, worldwide and make it a habit to periodically check and re-check to determine new acquisitions of family surname compiled sources in their respective collections:
| |
| | |
| a. Aim25 at: [http://www.aim25.ac.uk www.aim25.ac.uk] (100 London archives)
| |
| | |
| b. Family History Library Catalog (FHLC)
| |
| | |
| c. National Archives of Canada
| |
| | |
| d. Dallas TX Public Library
| |
| | |
| e. Chicago’s Newberry Library - largest collection of published family histories | |
| | |
| f. The National Archives (NARA) U.S. | |
| | |
| g. The Genealogical Research Library, Toronto, Canada | |
| | |
| h. The National Archives - UK | |
| | |
| i. Provincial archives (Canada) | |
| | |
| j. A2A (Archives to Arch.) at The National Archives, UK | |
| | |
| k. The British Library, London | |
| | |
| l. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. | |
| | |
| m. County records offices – have numerous family genealogies and pedigrees – Google for their websites and search
| |
| | |
| online catalogs or inventories
| |
| | |
| n. Local Public Libraries—often have published and/or typescript family histories | |
| | |
| <br> | |
| | |
| ===== 3. Types of Institutions That Generally Provide "Compiled Sources" Worldwide: =====
| |
| | |
| Compiled manuscripts or typescripts, on family histories, genealogies, biographies, and pedigrees in any country around the world, generally have been deposited or may be located at: | |
| | |
| a. State, provincial, local & national archives, i.e. Library of Congress; Provincial archives, National Library, Ottawa
| |
| | |
| b. Research libraries, i.e. Genealogical Research Library, Toronto, Dallas Public Library or Allen County IN – possess
| |
| | |
| important genealogical collections
| |
| | |
| c. Society archives and libraries, i.e.www.newenglandancestors.org/ and the D.A.R. – have significant records including,
| |
| | |
| biographies, family Bibles, and much more
| |
| | |
| d. University and college archives - i.e. University of York; BYU - have extensive collections
| |
| | |
| e. County and state historical societies
| |
| | |
| f. College of Arms (London), Lord Lyons (King of Arms in Scotland)
| |
| | |
| g. Large (and even very small) local public libraries have local genealogical holdings
| |