Basic Genealogy
Third Edition
by
Kathy Kirkpatrick
Copyright 1998 by Kathy Kirkpatrick
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface 3
Section One - Organization
Chapter I - Organization
Pedigree Charts 7
Descendant Chart 10
Family Group Sheets 11
Individual Sheets 12
Sample Questions 13
General Standards 13
Files 14
Geographic 14
Individual 15
Chapter 2 - Gathering Information
Relatives 17
Details 18
Correspondence Log 18
Interviews 19
Photographs 21
Research Logs 21
Costs of Research 21
Computers 22
Professional Researchers 23
Chapter 3 - Where and When
Timelines 25
Maps 25
Calendars 26
Chapter 4 - Let's Begin
Spelling Variations 29
Handwriting 29
Local Sources 30
Periodicals 30
Web Pages 30
Section 2 - Basic Genealogical Sources
Chapter 5 - Census Records
The Value of Census Records 33
Federal Census Schedule Data 34
1850-1870 34
1880-1920 35
1890 and 1930 Census Schedules 35
Indexes 36
Soundex/Miracode 36
Benefits and Problems 37
Soundex Coding Chart (Fig. 15) 38
Where to Find a Census Schedule 39
Determining Film Numbers 39
Ordering A Census Film 39
Conducting a Census Search 40
County-Name Search 40
Recording Census Data 41
Evaluating What You Find 42
Citing Sources 42
Using What You Find 42
Other Census Schedules 43
Maps 44
Published Schedules 45
Using Pre-1850 Censuses 45
Beware of Assuming 45
Chapter 6 - Vital Records
Civil Records 47
Who's in Charge 47
Microfilmed Records 48
Obtaining Records Through Correspondence 48
Recording the Facts 49
Evaluating What You Find 50
Death Records 51
Age Approximation Chart (Fig. 22) 51
Marriage Records 52
Types of Marriage Documents (Fig. 23) 53
Birth Records 54
Citing Your Sources 54
Beware of Assuming 55
Chapter 7 - Libraries
Types of Libraries 57
Local Public Libraries 57
University Libraries 58
State Archives 58
The Library of Congress 59
The National Archives 59
Special Interest Libraries 59
Interlibrary Loan 60
Finding What's Been Published 61
Visiting the Library 61
Buying Books 62
Section 3 - Genealogical Records at the Federal Level
Chapter 8 - Migration 67
Early Settlement (16th Century) 68
Colonial Movements (17th Century) 68
The Dutch 69
The Swedes 69
The English 69
Other Arrivals 70
Growth (18th Century) 70
Early Nineteenth Century Expansion (1800-1850) 72
Waves of Immigrants 72
Movement into the Far West after 1850 72
More Migration Waves 73
Twentieth Century 73
Chapter 9 - Immigration
Early Records 75
The Immigrants 75
Ethnic Groups 77
Federal Arrival Records 77
Passenger Lists 78
Canadian Border Entries 78
Mexican Border Entries 79
Emigration 79
Chapter 10 - Naturalization
Legislative Records 81
The Naturalization Process 81
Courts 82
Location of Records 82
Land Acquisitions 83
Military and Government Service 83
Chapter 11 - Military Records 85
Colonial Records (1675-1763) 86
Revolutionary War Records (1774-1811) 86
Compiled Military Service Records - Revolutionary War 86
Pension Records - Revolutionary War 88
Bounty Land Warrants - Revolutionary War 89
Other War-Related Records 90
Foreign Service Records 91
Post-Revolutionary Records (1784-1861) 91
Compiled Military Service Records (1784-1861) 91
Pension Records (1784-1861) 92
Bounty Land Warrants (1784-1861) 92
Civil War Records (1861-1865) 93
Compiled Military Service Records (Union) 93
Confederate Service 94
"Galvanized Yankees" 95
Prisoner of War Records 95
Union Pension Records 95
Confederate Pension Records 95
Census Records 95
Official Records 96
Business Records 96
Societies and Organizations 96
Spanish American War (1898-1899) 96
Philippine Insurrection 97
Twentieth Century Military Records 97
Draft Records 97
Other Military-Related Records 98
Veterans Administration Records 98
Burial Records 99
Civilian Employees 99
Military Hints 100
APPENDICES
A Genealogical Abbreviations 101
B North American Abbreviations 102
C International Abbreviations 103
D Professional Researchers 104
E Census Information 105
F State Vital Records Offices 106
G Dewey Decimal System 109
H State Archives and Libraries 110
I National Addresses and Phone Numbers 113
J Major Genealogical Collections 114
Alphabetical Index of Bibliographic Titles 115
Bibliography 119
