For
centuries, genealogy was an oral tradition among the peoples
of the world. In virtually every region, tribe, or clan, at
least one person had the responsibility of memorizing the
genealogy of the group, sharing it when necessary (at a
birth or marriage, for example), and passing the genealogy
on to the next generation. Quite often, the individual
entrusted with this duty was a highly respected member of
the community.
While this
tradition may not continue in much of the western world
today, we are fortunate that vestiges of this practice have
survived in most families regardless of their ethnic
heritage. Usually at least one person in every family
(referred to as a gatekeeper or flamekeeper) knows a
significant amount of that family's history. These people
are perhaps the best source of a family's genealogical
information.
In Step Three
we will suggest ways that the beginning genealogist can
utilize this outstanding source of information. We realize
that some families do not have a "flamekeeper" and we want
to share some tips on gathering information from other
family members even if they feel they know little about the
family's history. Also, we will suggest some methods of
gathering information from people who are not a direct part
of your family, yet who may prove valuable in providing
information for your research.
There are six
basic methods of collecting information from your family
members or others who may have information useful to your
project. Each of these will be examined in detail throughout
this article.
- Formal
personal interview
- Informal
personal interview
- Telephone
interview
- Letter
writing
- Querying
- Electronic
correspondence
Formal Personal Interview
While this title sounds somewhat stuffy, we are referring to
a process where your primary goal is meeting with a family
member to gather information. There are several books on the
market that cover this topic, including How To Tape
Instant Oral Biographies (New York: Guarionex Press,
1992) by Bill Zimmerman, but the basic rules are the same.
First, be certain to contact the person you wish to
interview well in advance. Explain the nature of your
project and the type of information you are seeking. This is
especially important if you will be interviewing someone
with whom you have had little or no contact in the past. The
person being interviewed must be comfortable with you and
the topic(s). In our own experience we had several
opportunities to interview my paternal grandmother, but she
was never comfortable discussing her family's past.
Unfortunately, she would not supply us with any information
on her father's family-the one we needed most at the time.
Second, take
the time to be well prepared before the actual interview.
Make certain you are clear in your own mind of the
information you hope to gather from the interview. Time
spent in preparation will pay off in the long run. It is a
good idea to write down the questions you plan on asking.
Third, make
the interview session as comfortable and relaxing as
possible. Do not jump right into the questions; take time to
talk. Show the person the equipment you might be using (such
as tape recorders, video cameras, etc.) and make sure they
are not intimidated by it.
Fourth, give
the person ample time to answer the question you have asked,
and do not interrupt if at all possible. Should they mention
something you had not thought of before, make note of it and
go back to it later. Also, have a time limit in mind and
adhere to that limit. Conversations such as this can be
tiring, especially for an older person. Try to schedule
another session rather than continue beyond a reasonable
point.
Remember that
people's memories are not infallible. Confirm the
information you gather in one of these interviews with vital
records whenever possible. Also, record the specifics of the
interview on your research log. The interview is a source of
information just like a book and should be noted
accordingly.
Informal Personal Interview
The informal interview is our favorite means of gathering
information from family members because the opportunity
presents itself so often. Every family gathering becomes a
potential source of information. After a while, family
members know of your interest in genealogy and will bring
new information with them to these gatherings. This has
worked well for us because we come from large families and
the informal interviews have allowed us to remain current
with births, marriages, and deaths of cousins and second
cousins, even those from different generations. We carry
copies of our family group sheets and ask an individual from
a particular family group to look over the sheet and provide
us with any updates.
Obviously,
family reunions are the best type of family gathering
because they present the opportunity to see family members
you may not have seen for some time. But weddings, holidays,
baptisms, and visits offer the same potential. As with any
information gathering session, the better prepared you are
the more success you will experience. Remember to record the
source in your research log.
Telephone Interview
Of course, it is not always possible to visit someone in
person for the purpose of gathering genealogical
information. Therefore, it is recommended that you use the
telephone as a means of conducting the interview. In this
case, it is extremely important that you be well prepared.
First and foremost, it is a good idea to introduce yourself
in advance to the person you will be interviewing and let
them know what you want to do. Advance work is vital. If the
person is the least bit uncomfortable, they may hang up on
you or decline an interview and a very good source of
information will be lost. In every other respect, the
telephone interview is identical to the personal interview.
Remember to record the telephone interview as the source of
information in your research log and to verify any
information you gather against corroborating evidence such
as vital records.
A beginning
genealogist sometimes overlooks another aspect of
telephoning. If the family name you are researching is
unique, it can prove beneficial to call people with the same
name listed in the phone book that live in the area you are
researching. On numerous occasions we have heard from
students who have had considerable luck doing this. While
there is the chance the person will tell you they are not
interested in getting involved, they may also know
information about the family you are researching, or may
know of someone in their family who is doing research and
provide you with contact information. An excellent source of
addresses and phone numbers of people who share the name you
are researching can be found on-line at Web sites such as
http://www.whowhere.com.
Letter Writing
For years, writing letters has been the main source for
genealogists trying to gather information, whether from
family members or a county courthouse. While people may not
write as many letters as they used to, letter writing is
still an integral part of the data gathering process. The
person receiving the request has time to consider your
questions and to respond. Of course, there is no guarantee
they will respond, but if you follow the guidelines listed
below you will increase the likelihood of getting a
response.
1. Above all,
be courteous. Any letter that could be considered curt,
rude, or demanding is certain to be thrown into the trash.
Also, if possible, type your letter. If you do write in pen,
print the letter. A hand-written request in pencil is
unlikely to be read.
2. Be
inclusive. Take the time to identify yourself and to explain
your project and the reasons for requesting information.
This will make the recipient feel connected to you and your
project.
3.Be
specific. Make your questions to the point and do not ask
for too much information at one time.
4. Be
thoughtful. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with
your request. This will increase the chance of getting a
response.
5. Be
thorough. Keep a letter-writing log in which you note the
recipient's name, the date the letter was sent, and the date
a response was received.
6. Be prompt.
When you receive a reply, answer immediately with a thank
you note or follow-up letter.
When writing
to a local, county (parish), state, or national office to
request some type of vital record (birth, marriage, divorce,
death, etc.), the following guidelines will make the task
easier and more productive:
1. Determine
the correct address of the office and department you wish to
contact. Numerous books available through your public
library will provide addresses for virtually every records
office in the United States and abroad. You can also go
on-line to locate information on addresses, costs, and even
the electronic availability of records for numerous
jurisdictions throughout the United States and the world.
Find the exact address before sending your request to avoid
having your letter buried in a dead letter file somewhere.
2. Determine
the correct fee the office charges for the service you are
requesting. The same sources used to provide the address
should provide the cost for various records. Always enclose
a check or money order for the exact amount; never send cash
with your request.
3. Finally,
provide specific information for each person you are seeking
records about. This information should include:
a. the
specific record you seek
b. full name of the person whose record is being requested
c. sex and race
d. parents' names in full with mother's maiden name
e. day, month, and year of known events in the person's life
f. full place name where known events occurred (town,
county, state)
g. reason you are requesting the record
h. your relationship to the person whose record is being
requested.
Letter
writing will always be an important aspect of gathering
genealogical information. Probably the best advice is to put
yourself in the position of the individual receiving the
request. What information would you need in a letter to
process a request?
Querying
Another traditional method of gathering genealogical
information is called querying. There are two possible
approaches to this method. First, write down what is known
about the individual and what you wish to learn. Be brief
and as specific as possible. Mail your request(s) to a
magazine or newspaper that publishes such queries. If you
wonder which publications include queries, ask for the
genealogy collection at your local library and browse
through some of the publications your library receives and
send your queries to one of them. In some cases, a person
who has information will contact you directly. In other
cases, the magazine or newspaper will publish responses in
future issues. Either way, a well-worded query can produce
exciting results and often put you in touch with someone who
is researching a similar line.
In this day
of high speed Internet connections and the explosion of
on-line information, posting a query on the Web has become a
leading method of locating specific information or leading
you to someone who might have useful information. This
method can take various forms but the two most useful are:
1. Posting
your query on a bulletin board. Several companies and
genealogical societies maintain bulletin boards for this
purpose. Visit the site periodically to see if there have
been any responses. The new FamilyHistory.com Web site is
specifically targeted for such queries in a message board
format. It is a free service dedicated to sharing family
history data.
2.
Maintaining your own Web site. Many people have constructed
their own family Web site where other family members or
visitors can leave information relevant to a research
project.
Electronic Correspondence
As discussed previously, the use of computers has greatly
aided the task of the family historian. It is safe to say
that the computer, with its organizing software, research
CD-ROMs, and ability to connect easily and quickly to the
World Wide Web has become the single best tool for today's
genealogist. But it is important to remember that the Web is
not a substitute for good solid research; it is simply an
aid. But if used properly, it can open the door to
unimagined information. All the admonitions listed for
previous means of gathering data apply.
The task of
gathering family information is not an easy one. But using
all the resources available greatly increases the chances of
building a solid genealogy.
