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Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc.
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E-mail: choctawnationit@sbcglobal.net
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Beginning
Genealogist Start here
by Robert O. Pulse
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First:
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Determine
What you know - start with yourself, your parents and children
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Organize it on a
pedigree Chart
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My favorites
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Second:
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Establish a reference numbering system for individuals
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Why
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Every family I have worked on to date tend to reuse names from generation
to generation, In my case I have 35 George Pulse's in my tree currently.
The simplest way to distinguish them is by reference number.
In addition the number provides a storage location for information for
individuals that have not been identified by name yet. The classic example
is "Grandma" did such and such, but no one knows what Grandma's
maiden name is and in many cases her given name. I t took my wife 10 years
to determine the given and maiden name of her great grand mother. In the
mean time we collected a good deal of data concerning her, and filed it.
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Number form
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My first inclination was to use a key date such as birth, but this information
is seldom available when you first identify information related to an
individual, so that will not work.
My second trial was was to use a maximum number too small. I thought
it would be a very long time before I consumed 10,000 individuals, that
turned out to be in error. In ten years of research I had over 20,000
individuals identified. I am now busy converting all my records to 100,000
maximum.
If at any time you plan to use a computer system to track your data
it is a good deal easier to always zero fill the front of the number e.g..,
The number 1 is written 000001
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Numbering System
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I choose a very simple system: I started by numbering myself #1 and
added 1 for each subsequent individual added. I use Family Tree Maker
software and version 16 supports the system.
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Now that you have a numbering system you can identify an individual
whether you have their name birth, just their relationship. Put the numbers
on your pedigree chart as an index. You are ready to start a filing system.
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Third:
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Filing system
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Form
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It does not matter whether you use filing cabinets, notebooks or computer
files, you now have a number to label on the tabs and folders for a filing
system. The form I use is computer files. I scan everything and place
them on Data DVD's for back-up.
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Key
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I have found that if a document contains references to a number of individuals
to make a copy and place a copy in each individuals file.
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Originals
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Originals are too valuable to put at risk of being lost or damaged in
research, so plan a filing system for originals (almost always a fire
proof filing cabinet) and a duplicate system for carrying to a library
for research e.g., notebooks/Data DVD
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Key
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Always plan to take a complete set of records to a research library.
One never knows what will be found in a repository. In fact on almost
every occurrence, I have found data on a family line I was not planning
to research that day in a vertical file or on a shelf.
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Forth:
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Collect family records
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Forms
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Papers, documents, photographs, back of photographs, newspaper articles,
family heirlooms, bible, letters and postcards.
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Process
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Copy and file as necessary.
This is the time to start an unknown file. Use this file for names that
come up in the research, which you have not identified on the family tree
at this time. Collect the data for future use.
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Fifth:
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Interview Family members to collect data
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Process
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Sixth:
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Identify
what you don't know
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Develop a time line
for each individual of interest on the above pedigree chart
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Time line elements:
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Date,
Age of the individual,
Description of the
event (birth, death, marriage, births of child migration),
location of event
(City/Township/County/State/Country)
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If I have the birth date, I populate every census date from the birth
date forward and fill in the estimated age. I have found this very valuable
in researching individuals.
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Family group sheet
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As an alternative to the Time Line, most genealogist use the family
group sheet.
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Make a list of information
that you are missing on your pedigree charts, Time lines or family group
sheets.
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Prioritize
the Data holes.
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Seventh:
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Develop
a genealogical research plan for the 5 top information holes in you data
How to:
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Find records that
will give that information. A few suggestions:
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Family Histories
-Has anyone already written about your family?
Check
PERSI, in Ancestry and Heritage Quest both are available at the McAlester
and Eufaula public libraries. (barcode is your library card number)
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Vital Records
Find vital records (birth, marriage, death) for each member of the family.
These will provide names of parents, dates of events, siblings, etc.
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City Directories
and Telephone Books
List addresses, family
members and occupations for a specific date.
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Census
Do a full census check on your family. This source can give you an abundance
of information by itself. The United States took a census every 10 years
and the census records currently available to the public are those taken
from 1790 to 1930. Several states did census in-between federal years.
Indians did their own census and census like surveys i.e.., Dawes, Miller
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Eight:
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Additional Resources
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The society exist on the dues of its members, sales of its publications,
and donations.
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Last Update:
December 31, 2011 5:27 PM
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Copyright© 1998 by Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical
Society, Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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113 East Carl Albert Parkway; McAlester,
Oklahoma 74501-5039; Phone: 918-426-0388
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