St. Charles City-County Library District
PAGE LAST UPDATED:... 02/01/2007 - MPFsR
HINTS for RESEARCHING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
WELCOME to the HOMEPAGE of the BIZELLI-FLEMING LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Getting Started
Beginning Your Research
Research SCCCLD GENEALOGY PAGE


Getting Started

Read How-To Books
Narrow Search to a Specific Branch of the Family
Conduct a Home Survey
Family Group Sheets and Ancestral Charts
Interview Family Members
Organize Data


Read "How-To" Books

Those beginning to research their family genealogy for the first time will find it extremely useful to consult books on how to research family history. This will help familiarize you with the research process, with the basic sources of genealogical information, and with various record keeping methods.



Narrow Search

The next step is to narrow your search to a specific branch of the family. This is important in order to keep your project manageable and to be able to organize the information you find.

Begin with yourself and work back through time. If you ignore this rule you will have great difficulty connecting possible ancestors to yourself. There are several reasons for this:
  1. By the time you are several generations back, your family including cousins, uncles etc. may be quite large. Working from yourself backward will ensure that you are working on your direct line.

  2. Many families have the same name, but are not related. Some names were derived from occupations, Smith or Carpenter; from physical characteristics, for example Little, and from geographic locations. People bearing these names will not necessarily have a common ancestor.

  3. Immigrants to America often anglicized their names or shortened them. The spelling of your name may have changed several times during your family's history in America. Working from yourself back will help you to trace these changes.


Conduct a Home Survey

A surprising amount of genealogical information can often be found at home. Some of the sources include family bibles, captions on photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, diaries, funeral prayer cards, official documents and even samplers and engraved wedding bands.

A surprising amount of genealogical information can often be found at home. Some of the sources include family bibles, captions on photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, diaries, funeral prayer cards, official documents and even samplers and engraved wedding bands.
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Family Group Sheets and Ancestral Charts

  1. Using a Family Group Sheet form is a useful way of recording information about the family unit, husband, wife and children. Begin by filling out a Family Group Sheet for yourself. Then make sheets for your parents, grandparents, and so forth, as far back as you know information. You will eventually want to have a Family Group Sheet for each of your direct ancestors.

  2. Next, fill in an Ancestral Chart. An ancestral chart records information about the ancestors from whom you directly descend. It summarizes information on the Family Group Sheet and will help you keep track of names and relationships.


Interview Family Members

One of the best sources of information about ancestors is a relative, Talk with older family members and if you can visit them do so. If possible, use a tape recorder, if not take notes. Go armed with Family Group Sheets and Pedigree Charts and try to fill in as much information as possible. Also, just let your relatives reminisce. Take down names, family stories, physical descriptions etc., and sort and organize the information later.

If you cannot visit, write a letter (keep copies of all correspondence.) Ask for specific information. You might arrange questions on several sheets of paper leaving space for answers. Always include a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Ask your relatives if they have family Bibles, letters, photos or memorabilia that might supply information or clues.

REMEMBER: Information from relatives may or may not be accurate. Use it as a guide for further research. Always verify this information with primary source records if possible.


Organize Data

Begin to organize the data you are collecting. Keep a file for each Head of Household for whom you are searching. The Head of Household is usually, but not always, the male for each preceding generation. Into the file will also go any information obtained on his or her spouse and children. You will want to use a numbering system to keep your generations in the correct order. Several systems are described in the book, Managing a Genealogical Project by William Dollarhide.

Now that you know what information you have you will have a better idea of what information you need. Keep in mind that the greater the separation in time and place between you and your ancestor, the more important it is to verify personal testimony with information from other sources. Use as many sources as possible to document findings. When there is a discrepancy between two sources, use the one closest to the time of the actual event.
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Beginning Your Research

The following information pertains to researching ancestors of European origin. Those searching for Native Americans or Black Americans will find that some of the same sources will be useful, however, the records and techniques will differ greatly. Some useful books on researching these groups are included in the list of Genealogy Book Resources.

Census Records - Federal
Vital Records
Church Records
Military Records
Local Sources
Genealogies

Census Records - Federal

Federal census records can be used to pinpoint the locations of family members within a state or county and to obtain information about other family members. From 1790 to 1840, the only information given on the censuses is the name of the head of the household and the number of family members between certain ages.

Beginning with the 1850 census, however, the other family members are listed by name and age and occupations are given. Some censuses list where the individual was born, where his parents were born, the number of years of education and even whether the individual owned or rented property.


Vital Records

Vital records include Birth, Marriage and Death records and are an important source of trustworthy genealogical information.

Vital records may be found in a variety of repositories. Prior to the 20th century records may not be easily located. Each state began requiring statewide recording of vital statistics in different years. In Missouri, for example, the beginning date is 1910. Prior to this date these records may be located at the county level by contacting the County Clerks office. Addresses for county offices are available in the County Courthouse Book, The Handy Book for Genealogists, and Ancestry's Red Book. On the Internet addresses are available in the county sections of USGenWeb.org. If you are able to research in the county where your ancestors lived check the library or archives for indexes to, or published lists of, early vital records.

For vital records from the 20th century, the publication Where to Write for Vital Records gives the address, cost and ordering information for each state's Bureau of Vital Statistics and indicates the years for which the records are available. The Internet site vitalrec.com will also have this information.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS USUALLY FOUND ON VITAL RECORDS:


BIRTH CERTIFICATE
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
DEATH CERTIFICATE

REMEMBER:
  1. Vital records may not be available before the 20th century. Check at the County and then the state level.
  2. Start vital record examination with yourself and work backward through each generation.
  3. Common names may present a problem in obtaining vital records so when requesting copies of vital records, be as specific as possible and include names, dates, locations etc.
  4. The person completing the record may have given inaccurate information either deliberately or accidentally.
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Church Records

For many areas or time periods church records are one of the best sources for genealogical information. Church records are generally accurate because the recording priest or minister was usually present at the time of the event and for many areas they are the only available substitute for official records.

Several types of church records are valuable to genealogists. The most fundamental are Baptismal, Marriage and Burial records.

Determine religious affiliation

In order to use church data you must know each ancestor's religion. Clues can come from current affiliation, cemetery locations, wedding or funeral notices or from wills. If church affiliation is not known it may also be possible to make and educated guess by studying the history of the area in which your ancestors lived and their ethnic background.

Locate church

The next step is to discover the actual church or parish your ancestor attended. Check in the community in which they lived. Contact the library, historical society or genealogical society for the address of the oldest church of the suspected denomination.

Several directories are available which list libraries, historical and genealogical societies geographically. The American Library Directory has addresses for libraries throughout the United States, and the directory published by the American Association of State and Local History lists historical societies by state and city. The National Directory of Churches, Synagogues, and Other Houses of Worship lists churches geographically and by denomination. Addresses may also be found on the Internet by using electronic yellow pages and USGenWeb.org.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints records
One of the largest collections of genealogical records in the world is available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Often referred to as the LDS (Latter Day Saints) this church collects and maintains genealogical records as a part of their religion. Records are maintained for their members and their member's ancestors. In addition, they have made it their mission to microfilm and index primary and secondary sources from all over the United States and the world. Consequently, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has the best collection of genealogical materials in the world.

Through the Family History Centers or branch libraries, which are scattered throughout the United States, much of the material available in the Salt Lake City library can be ordered on microfilm. The Kathryn Linnemann Branch Library has been designated as an authorized facility to borrow microfilm from Salt Lake City. There is a $3.25 charge for requesting microfilm, but the records are available to both members and non-members.

The LDS also produces the International Genealogical Index or the IGI. Volunteers transcribe vital records obtained from all over the world and these are computerized and made available on the Internet at Familysearch.com. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when using the IGI:
  1. Mistakes occur, use it as an aid to finding sources, but always check the original source yourself.
  2. 2. Your ancestor may not be in the IGI. This index only includes information placed there by church members about their families or information from records microfilmed by the LDS. Not all county records are included nor are such things as cemetery records.


Military Records

Military service records are another invaluable source of information about ancestors. They are generally found at two levels of authority, state and national. Military service records will be on deposit at either the State Archives or the National Archives.

For veterans of earlier wars, it may be well to start at a state level. This is also true for Confederate records for the Civil War. In addition, many states have published indexes or lists of veterans. Check any available indexes for the localities in which you are searching.

For addresses for State Archives check the AASLH Directory of Historical Societies.
The book, Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives will introduce you to Military Records and their indexes at the national level. The National Archives will search the register of enlistments or the compiled military service records for an individual soldier if you submit a request on a SF180 form. Indexes to some Civil War records are available on microfilm.
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Local Sources

Newspapers

Local newspapers can be used for copies of birth and marriage announcements and for obituaries. Microfilmed copies of local newspapers can often be found at the county library or archives, or they may be available on interlibrary loan from the state historical society. Several books can help you locate newspapers for specific locations and dates. These include:
City Directories

Beginning in the middle 19th century, city directories were published for many locations. City Directories are listings if individuals and or businesses located in a city. They are often arranged by Street and surname or by business name. They were usually published annually and are useful for locating individuals in the years between federal censuses.

City Directories are often found at a local level. Some larger cities are now available on microfilm. For example, in addition to St. Charles the Bizelli-Flemming Local History Collection includes St. Louis and Kansas City from the 1860's through 1935 on microfilm.

Cemetery Records

There are several types of cemeteries; church, public, family, state and national. Determine where your ancestors are buried from a death certificate, obituary, local index or family story. Some gravestones have been lost due to neglect or relocation, however, if you are able to locate a gravestone make a permanent record of it by taking a photograph.

Some public, state, and national cemeteries will have lists of burials. Also check the local cemetery office for information. Information from cemeteries can help with birth dates and often with information on other family members buried in the family plot.

Probate Records

Because they often list many family members, probate records including wills, inventories and letters of administration are useful. These records are available at the county level at the Courthouse usually in the county of the deceased's residence. In some cases county records have been microfilmed and are available at the state archives or through the LDS library.

The Bizelli-Flemming Local History collection includes some microfilmed county records for St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Montgomery, Franklin and St. Louis County.


Genealogies

The ideal for many researchers would be to walk into a library or archives and find a genealogy for their family name already compiled. If you are able to conduct your research in the area where your family lived, check local collections for family genealogies.

If you find that all or part of your family has been traced already, be glad, but also be careful. You can trust the work reasonably well if a professional genealogist did it. Most often, though, some member of that family compiled the information, and you have no way of knowing whether he or she was thorough and careful. If you have such a family prepared work, use it as a starting place, but check at each point to be sure the record is accurate and that references are given to the sources of the information.

In addition to what you may find at your local library or archives there are books that list published genealogies by surname. Two of these are:
These bibliographies will indicate if a genealogy has been published for your surname and placed in the Library of Congress or in another large genealogical library. Photocopies of some of the genealogies in the Library of Congress can be purchased from the Library of Congress.

Online library catalogs including the Library of Congresses' catalog can also be used to search for published genealogies. Chances are, however, that a genealogy has not been compiled for your family, so now the work begins.


REMEMBER: General principals of genealogical research;
  1. Begin with yourself and work back through time.
  2. Keep records, always note the source of the information and organize your data.
  3. Trust only the original records themselves and what they can teach you.
  4. Know your history, it will help you determine immigration patterns.
  5. Much of your research will be done by correspondence. Learn to be specific in your requests.

10/02

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E-Mail: mroper@stchlibrary.org
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