Lyceum Course- Internet Genealogy

Lyceum Course - Internet Genealogy - General Methodology

A General Internet Methodology for Expanding Knowledge
- After Locating Someone
  - In time and place (state, county, year) - usually via the census
  - And preferably in relationship to someone you're researching
  - Use sites where other researchers post -
    - WorldConnect
    - RootsWeb/Ancestry Message Boards
    - GenForum
    - And similar sites
      - To find if other researches have this person in their database
      - They are potential sources for further information.
      - Warning - in keeping with Tip of the Day - treat everyone's research as possibly containing errors.
  - Go to the particular state and county at USGenWeb site to see what other sources might be available, and if anyone is researching the same surname
  - Use FindAGrave site search capability to see if cemetery marker has been photographed and added to their database
  - Use Hathi Trust site or Google Advance Search and similar sites to find if County Histories and other books might be on-line and search-able.
- Then With More Data, Possibly Repeat Process for Another Person
Research Tips for the Day
- What we learned from "Dennis" search -
  - "Be Willing to Accept Possibility Assumptions Are Not Totally Correct" IE. Information (facts) from multiple sources may not precisely agree.
  - Said Another Way - "A Source/Statement can Not Be Guaranteed to Be Error Free"
- Remember Earlier Tip - "Always Start from Yourself and What You Know"
  - Searching for Ancestors - Always Work Backwards in Time
  - Conversely - Don't Try Connecting Someone to Yourself, Connect Yourself to Whomever"
- However, for Census Searches, move only one census back or forward
  - More likely to find person in somewhat the same circumstances

Lyceum Course - Internet Genealogy - General Methodology

© Prepared by Jay January 31, 2012