Quite often our
students ask us what makes genealogy such a fascinating hobby.
We used to think the answer was simple–the pleasure of learning
about your past, who you are, and where you came from. Now,
after years of roaming the globe and countless hours of poring
over the dusty pages of books long out of print, we realize the
answer is even simpler than that. More than anything, genealogy
offers excitement.
There is an
indescribable rush, a thrill if you will, when you finally
locate that long-lost ancestor. This rush is the pay-off for
those long unrewarding hours of research. It soon makes those
anguishing hours nothing more than a distant memory.
For decades,
behavioral scientists have known that the most powerful reward
for shaping human behavior is one that is meaningful and
motivating yet irregular in its occurrence–similar to the
payoffs in genealogical research. On some days, there will be no
new information discovered, no reward. On other days, there is a
new discovery every hour. This is what makes genealogy so
stimulating and so rewarding.
As you know,
there are many possible ways to get these payoffs and we have
introduced you to several general possibilities in the earlier
articles. In Step 6 we will show you a specific way to discover
the joy of genealogy: how to use compiled secondary sources as
tools in your research.
By definition,
compiled secondary sources are written records of events created
long after the event occurred. Usually they are copies of the
original records or the compilation of information taken from a
variety of sources. Also, in this the age of the World Wide Web,
a great deal of compiled secondary information is appearing
online. Regardless of whether you use a compiled source in a
library or at your computer, it is important to understand two
fundamental rules of using compiled secondary sources:
1. Document your
sources. When you consult any source, be certain to write the
identifying information about that source on your research log.
This should be done even if you do not find any useful data.
2. Verify any
information you find in compiled secondary sources. Someone
working from an original prepared these sources and errors may
have been made while transferring information from one source to
another. Use the compiled source to lead you to the original
source, which establishes proof of the event.
With these simple
caveats in mind, we’ll take a closer look at some of the
compiled secondary sources you might encounter, and illustrate
how best to use these sources. You will remember from an earlier
article that we recommend beginners check published family
histories first, then turn to local histories–that is where we
will begin this discussion.
Published Family Histories
These compiled secondary sources often yield a complete history
for one line of your research. As with any book, they can take
several different formats. Your job is to determine two points
about any such book you discover. First, does it contain
information relevant to your project? Second, how is the book
structured and how do you interpret the information in the book?
To determine if
it contains relevant information, first check the index and see
if the name for which you are searching appears. There are times
when several possible entries are present. If you were looking
for a name such as Andrew Grant, for example, there might be as
many as a dozen entries. See if the index offers any additional
information for each primary entry such as a place name, event,
or essential date associated with that person. Remember that
some family histories have multiple indexes–a family name index,
an other name index, even a places index. If you are searching
for an individual with a common name, you might find it useful
to consult the other indexes for a cross-reference.
For example, if
Andrew Grant’s wife was Lucinda Ammon, you might find her listed
in the other names index, thus narrowing the number of possible
pages you need to consult. Likewise, if your couple resided in
Monongahela City, you might find it in the place name index,
again providing you with a cross-reference to narrow your search
of the book. Obviously, the ideal situation would be for you to
find all three–Andrew Grant, Lucinda Ammon, and Monongahela
City–appearing on the same page. When you are this fortunate,
you will usually discover the people you are seeking.
Unfortunately, in
some published family histories there is no index. While this is
not common, it does occur and you usually encounter such a book
when you are the most desperate for information–almost the
Murphy’s Law of genealogical research. Should this happen to
you, be patient. Review the contents of the book by skimming the
pages looking for clues associated with the name you are
researching. Patience and perseverance can yield results but
remember that a book without an index can be one of the most
frustrating situations you will encounter.
As for the second
point–understanding the structure of the text and how to best
interpret it–the following are tips that will help you
understand some of the more common elements of compiled
secondary sources you will encounter in your research.
Organization
When you encounter a family history, take the time to skim the
contents to determine how the work is organized. Who is the key
person? What format does the book use? When was it published?
Who is the author? Is there an index? These questions help in
entering the information into your research log. In no time at
all, books of this type will seem very familiar to you and you
will become comfortable using them.
Numbering Systems
Virtually all published genealogies use a numbering system to
identify the individuals in the book and to show how they fit
into the complete family history. You need to identify the key
person and you need to familiarize yourself with the numbering
system that extends from this key person. Most compiled family
histories employ a system that resembles an outline. The key
person is assigned the number 1 and each descendant is assigned
the next available number. If you are fortunate enough to locate
one of your ancestors, or even yourself, in a published family
history, using the book’s numbering system may lead you back in
time and provide several generations of data. Remember to verify
this information by checking the relevant primary record.
Superscripting
One of the most common features of a compiled history is
superscripting. As with any work involving research, footnotes
indicate where the information came from. In family histories,
footnotes may also contain useful information about an
individual that just did not fit into the text or was perhaps
added later. Be sure to read any footnotes that pertain to your
ancestor. Superscripting is also used to identify the generation
an individual fits into. When you see superscripts in this
context, it informs you of how many generations an individual is
removed from the key person. In some cases, an entire paternal
lineage is displayed in parentheses following the person’s name.
Abbreviations
When you first encounter a compiled family history, you will be
struck by the variety and number of abbreviations. Abbreviations
save space and avoid the tedium of writing the same information
over and over. Unfortunately, there is no true standard for what
they mean. As a result, you need to familiarize yourself with
what they mean in a particular work. Usually there is a guide to
these abbreviations (and other symbols used in the text) to
refer to when you encounter any new or questionable entries in
the text.
Town & County Histories
If any of your families were among the early settlers of the
United States, or if they were among the early settlers of a
particular community, town, county, or state, histories could be
invaluable compiled secondary sources. In virtually every
village, town, city, county, or state, someone has written and
published a history of that area.
These histories
serve two very important functions. First, they provide
historical context for your family even if they are not
mentioned by name in the book. A good local history can give you
insight into the day-to-day life of your ancestors and allow you
a glimpse of what the townspeople did for work, where they
shopped, how they farmed, even how much they paid for taxes.
Second, local histories often provide genealogies for many
families who lived in the community at a particular time. Some
extend the genealogies of certain families down two, three, and
even four generations from the settling couple. Other town
histories will provide chronological listings of births,
marriages, and/or deaths that may have occurred within that
area. Such a reference provides a direct link to the original
source.
The two libraries
with the best collections of local histories are the Family
History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C. Many local libraries have guides in
their reference sections that list the extensive holdings of
these libraries. Also, if travel and research are in your plans,
state libraries (usually located in the state’s capital city)
have excellent collections of local histories for their state
and usually those near them. It would be time well spent to plan
a research trip to any state library.
Genealogical Dictionaries
Another type of useful source, especially for early settlers to
a particular area, is the genealogical dictionary. In many
regions, multi-volume books have been published on the settlers
or important families of that region, which are presented in
dictionary form and arranged alphabetically by family name.
Like published
family histories, these dictionaries also utilize numerous
abbreviations. Consult the beginning of the book to understand
what these abbreviations mean.
One major
shortcoming of these works is the frequent omission of
information on female family members. While this is a hindrance,
the information gained on the male family members will lead you
to primary source material where you can find data on the women
in the family. Be sure to check the card or computer catalog at
the library for these general sources. It is also a good idea to
check with the genealogy reference librarian. Once you have been
pointed in the right direction, spend the time to thoroughly
investigate this potentially valuable source.
Assorted Compiled Sources
The primary emphasis of this article has been on those compiled
sources that can aid you the most in your quest for ancestors.
Hopefully, one or more of these will prove useful to you. Should
you not have any luck, however, there are additional compiled
sources that might help you locate valuable data. These were
discussed in Step 5 of this series, but let us list some of them
here as a reminder:
• Family
Association Newsletters
• Genealogical Society Newsletters
• Historical Society Publications
• Ethnic Society Publications
• Newspaper Obituaries
• Published Cemetery Inscriptions
• Biographies
• College Yearbooks
These auxiliary
sources come with some cautionary notes, however. First, they
can be difficult to use. In many respects they resemble any book
that either has a poor index or no index at all. Also, they
represent the type of research that requires many hours of work
with little or no payoff. We advise beginners to turn to these
sources only when all other sources have produced nothing. Use
these sources as a break from your other research. When you
accomplish one of your research objectives, turn to these other
sources and pursue one of your difficult lines. This gives you
some distance from the other types of material you are using and
often gives you a different perspective when you turn to your
next objective.
Doing
genealogical research can be very demanding. There will be times
when you will feel like the proverbial laboratory rat racing on
your treadmill or wandering aimlessly through the maze that is
the trail leading to our ancestors. But persevere! That elusive
ancestor could be just around the corner.
