Holiday shopping for a genealogist

This post is just for fun! Since holiday season is rapidly approaching, consider buying something genealogy related for the family historian in your life. Below are a few examples I've collected, but I'm sure there are lots of other great gift ideas out there!

Family tree charts
Most of the genealogists I know go through a lot of family tree charts, pedigree charts and family group sheets and prefer to gather most of those for free online or at their local libraries. However, there are specialty items, poster sized charts, and other goodies that may be perfect for a genealogist.

Scrap-booking materials

Archival quality preservation materials

Eccentric genealogist clothing

Family themed home and office gifts

Books! Because I am a librarian by trade, I always love receiving books as gifts. And looking through thrift stores for books. And looking through commercial bookstore for books. Consider buying a book about genealogy or a certain local history book for your friendly genealogist!

National Origins: Scotland

**The content of this post will be made into a new page on our blog in the near future. For now we are excited to share what we have discovered so far!**

Since I have been researching Scotland recently, I have decided to compile some of my Scottish resources as a way to organize my own research. This post will serve as sort of a libguide for Scottish genealogical research that I hope will help others as well.

Introduction to Scottish Research

Starting with the basics is key to any genealogical research. To research Scottish genealogy, one must first establish and prove a connection to Scotland. This step may be quite easy if you or your parents were born in Scotland, but others may be researching ancestors that are removed by several generations.

Below are some basic resources for Scottish genealogical resources. More will be added, along with annotations before this content is made into its own page.

General Genealogy Resources

Ancestry.com

FamilySearch.org

GENUKI

Scottish Genealogical Resources 

Getting Started in Scottish Genealogy

Scottish Genealogy Society

Scottish Records

National Records of Scotland

Scotland's People 

Scottish Records Association

Family History Case Study: Martin Family History

As we prepare for the holidays, I hope you have lots of family with which to visit, celebrate, and reconnect. I always find November and December to be a particularly reflective time for me and I do a ton of writing during these two months. I find myself looking over oral histories and transcribing them, volunteering to index names for my local genealogical society, and just wanting to conduct in-depth genealogical research.

I thought November would be a great time to share some of my own family history research. Portions of the content below (employment information and residences in Champaign, IL) were originally published by the Champaign County Genealogical Society in November 2015 for their quarterly journal.

Perry Newton Martin (1875-1956) and Mary Olive Keltner (1875-1965)

Perry Newton Martin is my second-great-grandfather and is my father’s direct male line ancestor. Perry Newton Martin was born in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana on 13 November 1875. His parents were Valerian I. “Valley” Martin (1851-1931) of Crawfordsville and Mary Jane Corn (1850-1928) of Henry County, Kentucky. Perry’s parents were married 14 September 1871 in Crawfordsville.  Perry’s father, Valley Martin was employed as an engineer by the Crawfordsville Casket Company for over twenty years and was a lifelong resident of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Mary kept house and cared for Perry and his three younger brothers: William, Walter, and Clarence.

Perry Martin married Mary Olive Keltner (1875-1965), daughter of Jacob Keltner and Margurete “Maggie” Cain, on 8 April 1895 in Montgomery County, Indiana. Their three eldest children, Arthur (b. 1896), Harry Ellsworth (b. 1898) and Lee Otis (b. 1900) were born in Montgomery County, Indiana. Perry was listed as a machinist on the 1900 census when he was living with his family in Union, Montgomery, Indiana and Mary was listed as keeping house. The company of employment is not listed with Perry’s occupation, though according to his retirement records Perry began working for Illinois Central Railroad in 1899.

Perry’s obituary states that he had been a resident of Champaign, Illinois since 1902. By 1904, Perry is listed in the Champaign-Urbana city directory at 308 S State Street, working as a fireman for Illinois Central Railroad, so Perry and his family may have traveled to Illinois for work opportunities. This is the first record of Perry and his family living in Illinois and it is certain that the family moved from Indiana to Illinois between 1902 and 1904.

By 1906, Perry had begun his lifelong career as an Illinois Central Railroad Company locomotive engineer. Perry worked for IC as an engineer for 46 years, retiring in 1945.  The Martins welcomed their fourth child--and only daughter--Thelma Madeline on 20 April 1906. Their fifth and last child, Ernest Walter, was born in 1912. While Perry worked for the railroad, Mary Olive kept house and raised their six children. She later worked as a telephone operator for Illinois Bell Telephone Company.

The family rented homes throughout the city of Champaign until 1920 when they purchased their first residence at 1111 Champaign Avenue in Champaign; both Mary Olive Martin and Perry Newton Martin are listed as the grantees.  From 1902 - 1920, the family lived in at least six different rental properties in Champaign.

In the 1920s, Perry vouched for all four of his sons as a reference for work at IC.  Arthur worked briefly as a clerk from 1916-1917, Walter worked as a fireman from 1920-1922, and Harry and Lee began as brakemen in 1922. After resigning his post with IC, Harry went on to become a truck driver and eventually returned to Illinois Central in that capacity.  Harry’s son Donald worked for IC for nearly forty years as a laborer, brakeman, and yard clerk.

Perry retired from IC in 1945 and lived for nine more years. During that time he and his wife traveled to visit family members and opened their home from time to time as a temporary home for children and grandchildren. Mary Keltner Martin lived for nearly nine years as a widow after Perry’s death. Mary made her home with her daughter, Thelma Martin Hughes and her daughter’s husband John B. Hughes at 916 West Tremont Street in Champaign during her final years. For her 89th birthday Mary’s granddaughter invited all of her friends and family to an open house celebration and dozens of people attended. A write-up of that party was featured in the Champaign News-Gazette.  That was her last birthday.

Goodbye Family History Month, Hello Winter Research!

It is not quite winter yet, so enjoy any warm Autumn weather that is left! As the days become shorter and more of our time is spent indoors, genealogical research can be a fun, productive way of keeping busy. Now that family history month has past, our blog will revert to once weekly in-depth posts on Tuesdays with other tidbits posted here and there. If you're new to Tangled Branches, now is a great time to catch up on our Beginner Genealogy series; all of the posts begin with the phrase "Beginning Genealogy" and have the "getting started" tag. As always, feel free to comment or contact us via the form to the right. Happy searching!

Upcoming Topics: November 2015

Upcoming November topics will include:

Beginner Genealogy -- because there is so much to cover when starting your research, we will continue this series throughout the fall and into winter. The cold weather months are a perfect time to start your genealogical research in a warm, cozy library or archive! 

Archival Resources -- In this series we will profile different record types and include examples and visuals when available. 

Beginner Genealogy -- Biographical sketches

When conducting family history research, sometimes we find interesting facts or anecdotes that we want to share, but maybe this information does not fit into a pedigree chart or family tree. Writing a short biographical sketch about an ancestor is a good way to keep track of anecdotal or more complex or in-depth genealogical data. You can include almost anything in a biographical sketch, but some typical information to provide is: full name; birth, marriage, death location(s) and dates; names of parents, spouses, and children; residence information; stories or legends; accomplishments; occupation, career, military service, and/or education; etc. Many towns and counties will have a "History and Biography" or "Biographical Sketches" of town leaders or pioneers. These relatively brief life stories can be filled with helpful family history leads!

Below are links to a couple of examples of biographical sketches. Remember that bios do not have a particular narrative style, length, or voice. Try your hand at sketching some family history biographies!

Beginner Genealogy -- Collateral Lines

As promised, this post will cover what genealogists call "Collateral Lines." In a nutshell, a collateral relative is a blood relative who is not in your pedigree, or your direct line. An example of a collateral relative would be an aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, or even your siblings. In genealogical research, these collateral relatives are often many times removed from you, for example you may be searching for a great-great-great-grand uncle. Collateral lines are the lineages of these relatives. When you start researching people who were born several generations back, sometimes your direct ancestors have less of a paper trail than their siblings or other relatives.

It is important to remember that even if you are researching a line that is 2, 3, or more generations removed, eventually a common ancestor will be shared. Then, all of the previous generations before that ancestor are shared for that line. For example, if you research a cousin who shares a 3rd great-grandparent with you, then the 4th great grandparents and generations beyond them are also shared. So, working on collateral lines can lead to excellent genealogical breakthroughs.

Where to start searching for collateral relatives 

U.S. Federal Census
Any source that indicates family relationships is worth looking at. Depending on the year in which you are searching, a US Federal Census record will usually begin by listing the head of household and follow with any other person living at the residence and their relationship to the head of household.

Obituaries
Obits are hit-or-miss when looking for genealogical information. They can be wealth of birth, marriage, and death dates along with maiden names, parents' names, sisters, brothers, children, spouses, etc. They can also be a few sentences regarding funeral arrangements.

Probate records
If a person left a will or an estate, it never hurts to search through the paperwork. When a will is probated, all living individuals who may have a claim to the estate are listed along with their relationships to the deceased.

Marriage license applications
Depending on the year and the state in which the application was filed, public health information was collected from both the bride and groom when they filled out a marriage application.

Family trees
Search Ancestry, Family Search, or other sites the find related family trees. Maybe someone has information on their direct ancestors who are your collateral ones. Many people have family pictures, stories, and even records that may be indirectly related to your family.

Family Bibles
It used to be common practice to keep vital information stored in family bibles--and lots of people kept track this way for generations, creating many possible collateral lines for a descendant to search.

Death certificates
If you are looking for an ancestor's parents, try searching for records related to your ancestor's siblings. If a death record exists and parents names are listed, you will at least have a starting place for research.

The Ancient Roots of Clan McArthur

While researching the McArthur family, I quickly discovered the ancient roots of Clan Arthur (also McArthur, MacAthur, or Artair), which is often cited as originating in the Scottish highlands pre-1100. From early times the clan claimed origins in the mythical King Arthur, presumably a 6th century Celtic chieftain. The clan is known to have originated in the Scottish Highlands and, being a branch of Clan Campbell, is one of the oldest clans in Argyll. The clan originally held lands on the shores of Loch Awe. For their support of Robert the Bruce, the clan was rewarded with MacDougall lands in,Dunstaffnage after his defeat of clan MacDougall. The Arthur clan chief was appointed captain of the Castle of Dunstaffnage.

Quick facts:

The clan’s motto is Fide et Opera, or Faith and Work.
The clan slogan is Eisd o Eisd, pronounced “Ishd o Ishd” and meaning Listen O Listen.
The clan badge is wild myrtle or fir club moss.

Below are some visual representations of the Arthur's.

Clan Arthur tartan. Retrieved from: The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: with Notes (Library ed.). Edinburgh: W. & A. K. Johnston. p. 38.

Clan Arthur arms

Presented in the center, the Arthur arms are represented by three crowns surrounding a cross.

Clan Arthur crest

Two laurel branches in orle proper

Beginner Genealogy -- Brick Walls

Brick walls are probably the most frustrating part of family history research. A brick wall is simply an ancestor for which you are not able to find any leads or break-throughs that can help you move beyond them and find the generation before them. When I first started my genealogy research, I ran into several "brick walls" because most of my research was done using family sources. For an example of a researcher's brick wall ancestor, see our previous post on Joseph Martin (1811-1854). Luckily there are many resources out there to help! Below is a list of 10 steps I take when I hit a brick wall.

My strategy for working past a brick wall

1. Check for variations. It is almost impossible to find someone if you are searching for the wrong name, or the wrong spelling of their name. My great-great grandmother's first name was Jinsey. I have seen it spelled Jency, Jensey, Jencie, Jensie, Jinsie, etc. Her death certificate was on Ancestry.com for months before I found it because I hadn't tried any variation of her name other than the way it was written on her gravestone "Jinsey", which happens to be completely different than the way it is spelled on her death certificate "Jency." I also did not know her maiden name, but that's another story...

2. Look through the records you already have. I have discovered many clues from reviewing sources like census records, marriage certificates, and obituaries. If you are lucky enough to have a valuable resource, search it again for any and every clue that it may yield! I remember reviewing a marriage record to find that one of the witnesses was the bride's father, but he wasn't listed as such because neither party was a minor. He ended up leading me back three more generations for that family!

3. Make a list of records that may be useful. Did you lose your ancestor or family sometime between 1880 and 1900? Maybe that pesky missing 1890 US Federal Census is to blame! After taking a look at the resources I do have, I try to come up with a game-plan for which records I may need. I create anything from a list of missing chunks of time in the person's records so far to a list of document and record types that may be useful.

4. Take a break! There's nothing like stepping away from the situation to clear your head and come back to the research task with a fresh pair of eyes. I use my "break" to work on a completely different line, or use it to step away from genealogy for a few days or weeks.

5. Join a local genealogical society! I am the vice president of my county's genealogy society, so I use those connections when I hit a brick wall. Sometimes talking it out can help to reorganize your thoughts and most of the time another research can point you in the right direction. Other researchers can always give you their opinions on research family history and most of your fellow family historians don't mind helping out!

6. Find similar ancestors and research others like them. Is there something about your ancestor that may make it more difficult to find them? Was he or she undocumented? Was he or she born a slave and later emancipated? Try researching specialized methods for searching for someone of their particular ethnic or national group, or for people of their profession or in the region where they were from. Sometimes a little historical research can lead to fascinating clues.

7. Do local history research. Hanging onto the coattails of the "find similar ancestors" strategy, researching the local history of the region in which your ancestor was born, lived, and/or died can provide the context and historical backdrop for his or her life. County and city history books can be a valuable resource, especially if your ancestor was around for the locality's pioneer days.

8. Go to the library. I'm a librarian, so I'm at my local library all the time! When possible, use local repositories for the area from which your ancestor came, or try to access records online through local public libraries and archives. Remember to call, email, write, or stop in with your research questions. If you can't contact a library or archive for the area you are researching, visit your on local library, preferrably one with a local history and/or genealogy department. Librarians love helping researchers solve mysteries!

9. Research collateral lines. Collateral relatives are those who are not in your direct pedigree, but are blood relatives. These are usually aunts, uncles, cousins, and their families. Our next Beginner Genealogy post will cover this method of breaking through brick walls in more depth, so stay tuned!

10. Helpful websites and blog posts. Another thing I do when I'm taking a break from a brick wall, or when I'm coming back to one, is to read about other researchers' approaches to brick wall research.

Below is a list of other helpful websites and blog posts that contain strategies and ideas for breaking through genealogy brick walls.

20 Things to do when you are stumped Find My Past

Genealogy Research Tips: Breaking through brick walls and getting past dead ends New York Public Library

Brick wall strategies for dead-end family trees About Parenting

Brick wall research GenealogyPro.com

Help for Busting Genealogy Brick Walls Genealogy Insider

Tips for removing stubborn genealogy research blockers Archives.com

UPDATE: Ahnentafel -- the pedigree chart

Below is a post from March 2014. After linking to it in a recent post, I realized the information in my family chart has changed. At first it was just  moment to reflect on the hard work and research it takes to create a family tree and on the fluidity of something that would seem to be unchanging. That's when I decided to edit the post with updates to my family tree that have occurred over the last year and a half: to show that your family tree is always a work in progress. Even with only names and dates-as opposed to listing location as in most Ahnentafel charts--there are still several updates. Text in red represents a change. Enjoy! 

Whether you are just starting to research your family history or you have joined your local genealogical society, chances are you have heard of the pedigree chart, specifically the Ahnentafel. The Ahnentafel, German for "ancestral table" is a numerical system used to create a pedigree list of one's direct ancestors. This type of genealogical list has been around since 1590.

How does it work? You, or the subject, is labeled as number 1 in the list. Your father is number 2 and your mother is number 3. Then, your paternal grandparents are numbers 4 and 5 and maternal grandparents are 6 and 7. Using this numbering technique, a person's father is their number multiplied by 2 and a person's mother is their number multiplied by 2 + 1. Consequently, though number 1 can be either male or female, all males have even numbers and all females have odd numbers. Some people choose to use binary representations for their Ahnentafel. You can read more about that practice on the Ahnentafel Wikipedia page.

This chart style is useful because you can create a list in a word processor and make additions and corrections to the document as you find more information. Another good way to utilize this numbering system is an ancestral chart, which you can find at your local history and genealogy center or online. For example, Ancestry.com makes an ancestral chart that follows the Ahnentafel numbering style.

Below is my Ahnentafel through my third great grandparents. For privacy reasons, I've chosen not to list the names and dates associated with persons who are still living, or the names of my grandparents. My chart begins with my father's father's father.

Happy searching!

8. Harry Ellsworth Martin (6 January 1898 - 26 June 1972)
9. Thelma Clotine Sayles (26 June 1906 - 27 January 1973)
10. Floyd Jack Davis (21 February 1911 - 26 March 1992)
11. Goldie Marie Guthrie (15 January 1919 - 15 September 2004)
12. Herbert Reynolds (24 September 1898 - 13 April 1950)
13. Anna Walker (1905 - 1 January 1942)
14. Hulon Miller (6 March 1911 - 6 February 1985)
15. Cora Hazel West (1917  2 March 1916 - 22 September 1974)
16. Perry Newton Martin (December 1874 13 November 1875 - 26 July 1956)
17. Mary Olive Keltner (23 September 1875 - 11 May 1965)
18. Arthur Sayles (8 January 1887 - 30 March 1927)
19. Mary Jane Woodruff (7 July 1887 - 30 October 1918)
20. Claude Davis (9 March 1878 - 13 June 1956)
21. Della Louisa Ruyle (22 March 1890 - 22 October 1954)
22. William Hugh Guthrie (29 April 1886 - 19 November 1967)
23. Elsie Alice Walton (22 May 1895 - 23 April 1933)
24. Lindsey Reynolds (October 1871 - 11 December 1955)
25. Margaret Stinnett (3 October 1872 - 29 May 1944)
26. Nathan Walker (1868  29 January 1867 - 13 March 1963)
27. Mattie L. Lowery (11 April 1884 - 13 February 1956)
28. Cyrus Elmor Miller (13 September 1883 - 24 April 1968)
29. Fannie Elizabeth Smith (20 August 1891 - 9 April 1968)
30. James B. West (7 November 1862 - 20 November 1932)
31. Jinsey Carroll (28 April 1878 - 2 July 1952)
32. Valerian I. Martin (21 November 1851 - September 1931)
33. Mary Jane Corn (September 1850 - 23 December 1928)
34. Jacob Keltner (23 November 1843 - after 1930)
35. Margaret Cain (1845 - ?)
36. Tillman Sayles (10 February 1863 - 27 February 1933)
37. Florence May Baker (20 June 1862 - 1911)
38. Cornelius C. Woodruff (15 January 1842 - 21 February 1926)
39. Cinderella VanKirk (1852 - ?)
40. John Payton Davis (7 January 1836 - 2 November 1905)
41. Elizabeth Davis (30 July 1838 - 18 March 1904)
42. John P. Ruyle (28 September 1852 - 17 January 1937)
43. Caroline Elizabeth Cummings (10 May 1860 - 5 June 1929)
44. John Adam Guthrie (23 September 1843 - 19 April 1929)
45. Mary Catherine Kent (17 October 1856 - 10 July 1934)
46. Adolph Robert Walton (21 June 1861 - 8 May 1925)
47. Bertha Catherine Borst (25 October 1876 - 15 December 1906)
48. Absalom Reynolds (22 May 1839 - 26 June 1903)
49. Martha Jane Walker (15 August 1836 - 19 June 1909)
50. John William Stinnett (11 June 1843 - 13 August 1913)
51. Samantha "Panthy" Cobb (1845 - ?)
52. Unknown  Samuel Walker (1837 - ?) 
53. Unknown  Letty Margaret Hager (October 1845 - 24 February 1922)
54. William Lowry (28 May 1842 - 1 August 1924)
55. Mary Jane Stinnett (July 1850 - 1 January 1926)
56. Unknown John L. Miller (4 August 1850 - 1 May 1908)
57. Mary T. ? Mary Frances Bolin (1854  27 August 1856 - 15 February 1939)
58. James Hayden Smith (9 March 1858 - 12 February 1929)
59. Margaret Ann Adams  (January 1856 - 22 May 1926)
60. Barney West ( 27 December 1927 - 16 September 1914)
61. Elizabeth Carroll Carrell (1823 1831 - 1885 1886)
62. Barney Carroll/Carel (1856 - ?)
63. Sarah Francis Stephens (1856 - ?)

Ancestor of the Day: James McArthur (1731-1810)

If you know me, or have talked to me about genealogy to any extent, then you have probably heard me mention James McArthur, Sr. (1731-1810). James is the ancestor who features in my much told "stowaway story" -- yes, I have told the story so much it has its own name. I've begun to write the family history of the branch that includes James, so I have quite a bit of pre-written information on him. Below is a short excerpt from the family history:

My mother first told me the story of my father’s ancestor, James McArthur of Scotland, when I was ten years old. According to family legend, James boarded an unknown ship as a stowaway and hid in a barrel for at least part of the journey from Scotland to Virginia.[1] Years later, my first goal in family history research was to find out if this story was true and, secondly, to trace my ancestry to James McArthur. 

 I began my research process like many family historians, by working reverse-chronologically, beginning with myself. By this method I discovered that the McArthur family—who dropped the “Mc” in the nineteenth century and went by “Arthur” thereafter—were my ancestors through my father’s paternal line with the Martin surname. 

 The origins of this particular branch of the McArthur clan are hard to trace before the 1760s. The earliest known progenitor may have been James McArthur.[2] This James McArthur married Elizabeth Rodger of Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. A marriage certificate was issued to James McArthur and Elizabeth Rodger in Greenock on 3 August 1728.[3] James McArthur, the immigrant, may have been the son of James McArthur and Elizabeth Rodger. A baptismal record dated 11 July 1731 for James McArthur, son of James McArthur and Elizabeth Rodger names his birthplace as Greenock.[4] James McArthur is often cited as having been born in Glasgow, Scotland, but I have yet to discover a primary source to support this assumption. 

 James married Hannah Stuart in Burlington County, New Jersey. This means James was definitely in America by the year 1760. Several other McArthur researchers have heard the same stowaway story, be it through family lore or from written sources. These discoveries prompted a more in-depth search into the Scottish Central Lowlands of the eighteenth century to answer questions of why James McArthur may have wanted to leave Scotland for the colonies as a young, unmarried man. 

---

[1] My mother heard the story from my grandfather’s cousin, Phyllis Sturdyvin Leonard (1928-2007), who had originally heard the story from her grandfather, Perry N. Martin (1876-1956).

 [2] As will be seen in the following paragraphs, not much documentation exists to support or discredit this theory.

 [3] Online database: Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah. FamilySearch, 2013. 

 [4] Online database: Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. Salt Lake City, Utah. FamilySearch, 2013.

As you can see, I still have some questions about James. Was he a Jacobite? He would have left Scotland soon after the second rising in 1745 as a young man in his mid- to late-teens. He ended up fighting against the British in the American Revolutionary War, so it is possible. I also would really, really like to know if the stowaway story is true! I suppose it will remain a mystery, though.

Beginner Genealogy -- Family group sheet

Family group sheets are another popular way to keep track of family history data. Each family group sheet provides room to go into more detail about a particular couple and that couple's children. There is much more room for the husband and wife's information (or mother and father if they were not married), including occupation, church affiliation, military service, and usually space for notes on additional marriages. 

Below is an example of a blank Family Group Sheet, front and back.

And here is a family group sheet that has been completed:

Note the citations listed in the far right column of the page. These come in handy when compiling your family history! 

Archival Resources: Plat Maps

A plat is a map that is drawn to scale and shows land divisions. Maps are resources that are often overlooked, but can be invaluable when searching for land owning ancestors. County and city plats usually look something like this image taken from Tazewell County Map Company, East Peoria IL, 1921, 48 pp: 

If you look closely, you will see that the information recorded on the map includes the names of each property owner:

All counties have land plats, but to gain access to them you have to know where to look. In some areas the county Archives or Local History room in your local library will have various plat books and maps. Sometimes researchers must travel to a local historical society library or courthouse to gain access to plat maps. Start by talking with a librarian or reference person at your local public library. These folks can be of great help when getting started with any type of research project. If library staff cannot point you in the right direction, speak with a representative from your local historical or genealogical society. Chances are these individuals have experience researching history and genealogy in your location. If the above options do not generate good leads try contacting your local courthouse or city planner. Someone will be able to grant access to these records or can tell you where to find them. Happy searching!

Happy Family History Month!

Did you know that October is Family History Month? Well, now you do! If you have ever wanted to start researching your family history, but never found the right time, this is a great time to start. Take a look at our previous posts with the "Beginner Genealogy" heading or the "Getting started" tag for tips on how to get started. Happy searching!

Beginner Genealogy -- Identify your sources

One important thing to remember about family history research is that you must keep track of your sources! What is a source? A source is anything that contains information you use in your family tree. These can include family sources like oral history interviews, family stories, obituaries, funeral cards, photographs, bibles, and other documents. As you continue researching your family tree, you will begin to find other sources including local records, county and state records, and even national or international records.

The important thing that I cannot stress enough about sources is to DOCUMENT them by providing complete CITATIONS for them. I carry several mantras that I learned in graduate school as an English major and one of them is "Cite your sources." Writing down source information will save you a lot of time and headaches in the future.

Basic citation information for any source will include information such as:

• Type of document
• Location of document
• Author or government agency
• Page number, volume number, or certificate number
• Date of document creation or publication

It is also helpful to include:

• Date of access
• Location of access (either online website or repository)

For visual learners, Ancestry.com's YouTube channel has a a slide presentation and step-by-step guide to citing sources in your online family tree or your family tree making software.

Family History in the News -- September 2015

A couple of family history and genealogy related news stories and blog entries from this past week:

Genealogy: Published data a source to check NJ.com
One particular source type that you may want to check out as you do your genealogical research is the published genealogy. These published volumes can be very helpful if you find one that lists an ancestor of yours, but they're not without their pitfalls either.

***I would add to this article that researchers can use Worldcat.org to search through millions of cataloged books held by both public and academic libraries. It is a great place to start your published family history search. Also, ask your local librarian if your library has a subscription to Heritage Quest and use the PERSI index to search for books and articles as well.***

Genealogy Today: Immigrant ancestors' work experience Green Valley News
Do you know what your ancestors did for a living? Did they continue in the same work they did in Europe after they came to America? We sometimes assume all the early settlers were farmers, but that is not necessarily true.

And just for fun...

J.K. Rowling reveals Potter family history on new Pottermore site  Entertainment Weekly
Pottermore, the online portal containing everything Harry Potter-related, has been spruced up. The site relaunched a “newly imagined” version Tuesday with an introductory note from Rowling, and an essay from the author, explaining the Potter family’s history.

Upcoming Topics: October 2015

New posts will now be available at least twice per week on Tuesday and Friday mornings! The "Beginner Genealogy" series will continue throughout September.

Topics in October include:

Beginner Genealogy -- we are happy to continue adding new topics under this popular new heading. Contact us using the submission form if you have any questions while starting your genealogy research or if there is a topic of interest to you that we haven't covered.

Ancestor of the Day -- in honor of Family History Month we will resurrect this popular series from years past. Each post will include information about an interesting ancestor and the investigative techniques and sources that helped to find them.

National Origins -- this new series will launch in October with "National Origins: Scotland." The goal is to provide specialized resources for research that involves ancestors from countries other than the United States. My own ancestry is fairly diverse, so I will begin with what I know. Feel free to request a post on any country's records and genealogy resources.

Archival Resources -- this is another new series that will launch in October. In this series we will profile different record types and include examples and visuals when available.

Beginner Genealogy -- Standard pedigree charts

Now we know how to discover basic genealogical information and how to record it in standard formats. What's next?

Perhaps the most popular chart to start with is a standard pedigree chart. Most are four or five generation charts and trace back to the starting person's great-great-grandparents. The numbering system on the charts is based on the Ahnentafel system, you can learn more about Ahnentafel charts in this previous blog post. Pedigree charts typically have room for full names in addition to the dates and locations of birth, marriage, and death.

Important things to remember about pedigree charts:

• Begin your first chart with yourself 
• Provide as much information as you can for each person 
• On numbered charts using the Ahnentafel system, person #1 is you, #2 is your father, #3 is your mother. Every subsequent man should have an even number and every subsequent women an odd number. 
• You can make as many subsequent charts as you'd like 

Below is an example of a work-in-progress pedigree chart: 

Family History in the News -- September 2015

This week I have compiled some genealogy and family history news stories that may be of interest to readers. Click on the headlines below to read more. Enjoy!

Genealogy Gold Mine: Millions of Wills Now Online Chicago Tribune

Thousands of amateur genealogists who fantasize about being left a fortune by a distant relative can now get a reality check. Starting Wednesday, upward of 100 million wills written over the last three centuries will be posted to Ancestry.com, the popular genealogical search engine.

DAR offers free online genealogy research tools Examiner.com

The DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) is the free online portal to genealogical records maintained by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. It provides seven databases that contain a wealth of information to help potential DAR members complete membership applications, but even genealogists who do not plan to join DAR may find valuable information on their ancestors.

Genealogy records to be available online after closure of library East Valley Tribune

Many genealogy enthusiasts were very disappointed last month when the Arizona Genealogical Library was closed and the more than 20,000 documents that made up the archives split up and distributed between several different locations.

And for fun...

Seven dastardly deeds of genealogy Green Valley News

We’ve all heard of the seven cardinal vices, the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. We genealogists have our own list of dastardly deeds to consider, like refusing to share information because it is “ours,” or not verifying secondary sources.

Beginner Genealogy -- How to record basic info.

So, you have collected family history data through family sources and interviews, now what? 

Recording basic genealogical data can be a little overwhelming when you aren't used to genealogical record keeping. Luckily , there are a few basic standards to learn that will get you started. Record your information in standard genealogical forms and charts or family tree computer software. Note: in our next post, we will discuss standard pedigree charts. Below you will find basic genealogy information and the standard way in which genealogists keep track of it. 

Names: first, middle, surname (maiden name only for women)

            Dates for birth, marriage, death: use military style, example: 3 June 1873

            Locations: Record places using town, county, state
Record non-US countries using town, province/shire/county, nation

            Add as many details as you can or want: 
            stories, legends and traditions
            occupations
            biographies
            physical description 
            photos of people, houses, farms, businesses
            military service
            education
            immigration and naturalization
            letters
            family recipes
            transcriptions of oral histories

Beginner Genealogy -- Where do I start?

A common questions asked of genealogists is "where do I start?" My short answer is simple: start with what you know. Take out a sheet of paper and a pencil and jot down some family history notes.  Make a few phone calls or stop by to visit your aging relatives (if you're lucky enough to have some of those!) Don't be afraid to interview family members and write down everything.You never know when a scrap of information can present itself as a lead later on. Important pieces of information to include are: full names; names of spouses, children, and parents; dates of birth, marriage, and death; locations of birth, marriage, death, or residence;  After exhausting your own memory and those of your family members, look for written family sources. Do you have an old family bible? Photographs? Funeral cards or obituaries? Military papers? Other records? These family sources can be extremely helpful in getting started, even if they are not  properly sourced.

Good luck in getting started! This series of posts will continue with "Beginner Genealogy -- How to record basic info."

For more tips on getting started, visit the FamilySearch "Begin your genealogy quest" page. Are you more into vlogs or webinars? Try watching Ancestry.com's Back to the Basics: Genealogy 101 video on their YouTube channel.

Resources on the Web: Youtube

When we think of online local history and genealogy resources, it is easy to forget that some of the websites we use daily for other reasons may be packed with genealogical resources as well. Youtube is a great example of this issue. Many of the leading sites that grant access to vital records and provide tree building software, such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org also create and upload helpful videos to Youtube. Ancestry adds how to videos to their channel  whenever a change to the website occurs and they also advertise and demonstrate many of their services as well. They also have a series of videos called the Desktop Education Series that provides expert advice on a variety of research topics. In addition to Ancestry, FamilySearch demonstrates services and provides brief explanations about certain record types, like the 1940 census set. The blogger who calls herself Dear Myrtle also has a Youtube channel.

Library of Congress American Memory Project

In the early 1990s, the Library of Congress ran a digitization pilot program that culminated in a set of CD-ROMS being sent to 44 schools. The American Memory project stemmed from this digitization effort and became the most important component of the National Digital Library. American Memory exhibits digital collections covering myriad topics including recent historical events (i.e., the events of September 11, 2001), women's history (check out the digitized scrapbooks of suffragists), papers and records of past presidents (the James Madison Papers collection is a well organized, easy to browse collection), and many, many more!

The Benefits of Fresh Air in Education -- from the Champaign County Historical Archives blog

Here is a great post from the Champaign County Historical archives blog.  The post focuses on the "open air school movement" that occurred primarily during the decades between World War I and World War II.

New Name, New Mission

Tracing Your Roots is back with a new name and a new attitude! We are now called Tangled Branches Genealogy, which is also the name of our private genealogical research business. Our mission is to continue to provide access to topics of interest to genealogists at all stages of research, and to also give back to the community through volunteer work with a focus on local history and genealogy.

What have I been up to in these past months? 

In addition to conducting my own family history research, I have been busy working as a county archives assistant librarian. I have also become a volunteer for both Find-A-Grave and Illinois Ancestors, specifically the Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project. My current project for both organizations is the Riverside Cemetery in Mahomet, Illinois. It is such a beautiful location and only about 50% of the cemetery has been transcribed and/or photographed.

I have also accepted a position as Vice President of Membership for the Champaign County Genealogical Society. As part of my service to the genealogical society, I have become an indexing volunteer, which entails indexing names from the society's quarterly publication dating from 1979 - the present! It is a huge undertaking. If you are a Champaign County local, or have Illinois research to conduct, consider joining the CCGS. If you are interested in joining your local society, visit the Federation of Genealogical Societies to learn more about societies in your area.

Join your local genealogical society!

I cannot stress enough how helpful it is to be a part of my local genealogical society. Members and officers are there by choice and many of these people genuinely enjoy helping others with genealogy. To find out about your local organization, visit the Federation of Genealogical Societies website. You can search by the society's name or by location. Happy Searching!

Mothers, Sisters, Aunts, and other Feisty Female Ancestors

Another blog post I did for work. This one focuses on the search for female ancestors in honor of Mother's Day. Enjoy!

May Day -- Local History Blog Posts

At least once per month I blog for work. We post primarily about Champaign County, Illinois--since we're the county archives. Here is a link to a recent blog post I wrote on May Day. Enjoy!