Alan E. Mann, A.G.

alan@alanmann.com Accredited Genealogist

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy January 2003

Greater Research Success Using Technology Sources

Select Records to Search

Once you’ve decided what you want to know, the next step in the research process is to select a record to search. The Internet helps with this process by giving charts to select a record, giving access to lessons and articles on how to find and use records, connecting you to sites that help you find where records are available, and getting access by having others look them up for you.

Charts to select a record

The Family History Library has created tables to help you select which records will contain the information you desire. These tables are called Record Selection Tables. A sample is shown on the next page.

This was completed for each state of the United States, each province of Canada, and many countries of Europe, the British Isles, and other areas. They are all available online at www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp. They are part of the Research Outlines, intermingled with other research helps sorted by place. Pick the place, find the research outline, and scroll down to the record selection table.

A better alternative (but not available for all countries) is called Research Guidance. The key to using Research Guidance is to have a goal in mind before going to www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp. Once there, select the place you’re ancestor lived in and the event you are trying to find for him or her. You will be guided to select a time period for that place, and then told which records will help you meet that goal. The records will be listed in prioritized order, according to their likelihood of meeting your research goal. There will also be links to each type of those records held in the Family History Library.

Research Guidance is worth the time to learn how to use. Get a goal in mind and try it out.

Lessons and articles on how to find and use records

There are thousands of articles to help you learn about records, where they are located, and how to use them. Many such sources are listed here, along with resources for finding thousands more.

Family History Radio – www.familyhistoryradio.com

About Genealogy - http://genealogy.about.com/index.htm?terms=genealogy

FHL Research Guidance and Research Helps www.familysearch.org

Genealogy.com University - www.genealogy.com/genealogy/university.html

Ancestors and Ancestors II TV - www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/

International Internet Genealogy Society - www.iigs.org/university/catalog/catalog.htm.en

BYU tutorials - http://ce.byu.edu/is/famhist/secure/start.htm

RootsWeb Lessons - http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/#GENERAL

Repeat Performance (conference tapes) www.repeatperformance.com/index_conf.asp?topic=1

Cyndi’s List - www.CyndisList.com/educate.htm

English Genealogy Research (Alan Mann/BYU class) - www.alanmann.com/class/

Use Online University (www.genealogy.com/genealogy/university.html),

Ancestry Learning Center (www.ancestry.com/Learn/main.html)

Use newsgroups, mailing lists, family history societies, and libraries to ask questions and learn about research methods, sources, and resources. Use search tools to find past discussions (mail list archives, newsgroups at http://egroups.google.com)

Attend a genealogy conference or seminar for instruction (such as this one!)

Find where records are located

Use catalogs (see www.lights.com/webcats, www.cyndislist.com/lib-gen.htm, etc.) See Finding Aids on the Internet for more information.

Family History Library Catalog www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp

Use indexes (some listed at www.geocities.com/Heartland/6266/indexes.htm, www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/8310/gensearcher.html).

Get Access to records by having others look them up for you.

Others willing to look things up for you. These are called lookup lists or lookup exchanges. You can find several such things listed at www.cyndislist.com/lookups.htm. Many of these are limited to a specific area. Use USGenWeb (each U.S. county has a lookup list) or WorldGenWeb to find others willing to help. One excellent example is the all England Lookup Exchange located at www.lookupcentral.f9.co.uk/eng.html. Another is Mike Rice's helplist at posom.com/hl

©Copyright 1997-2003 by Alan E. Mann. All rights reserved. Written permission to reproduce all or part of this syllabus material in any format, including photocopying, data retrieval or the Internet, must be secured in advance from the copyright holder.