Southern California Genealogical Society – Jamboree 2019

The Southern California Genealogical Society – Jamboree 2019, “50th Birthday Bash”, will be taking place May 30th – June 2nd and we here at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies are excited. Why are we excited? Because we will be attending!  We enjoy meeting with our current students, those who have graduated, and new students. No matter where you are at in your genealogy education, we have courses for you. I’m sure you have questions for us so please stop by our booth and visit with Angela Rodesky they will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.   Plus, while there don’t forget to register for your FREE complimentary course just for attending the conference. 

Research and Collaboration

Collaboration and Brick Walls Many of us tend to work on our genealogy research alone. It is an independent activity where we can lose ourselves for hours on end. In some cases, family members actually work together to solve a common research problem. It is these situations that can benefit us the most. But what can we do if we do not have someone in our family that shares our passion? There are several different options available. Society Meetings & Conferences Folks who attend these meetings and conferences are just as interested in genealogy and are probably willing to listen to the story about great-aunt Elsie, of which your children and cousins have grown tired. Social Networking Websites There are many popular websites that allow you to “friend” or “follow” other people, from family, friends, coworkers, etc. to others who share similar interests (such as genealogy!). Message Boards & Mailing Lists Although these tools have been around for ages, they are still popular among genealogists and are a great place to ask brick wall questions. Online Family Trees Having your tree online makes it possible for cousins or others researching your family to get in touch with you. Blogs Blogging also lends itself to reaching a broader audience than a genealogical publication, and, because it is online and searchable, you stand a good chance of attracting others. Remember, it may take multiple strategies to find the answer to your research question. Sometimes you just need to step away from a research problem. With our Skill-Building: Breaking Down Brick Walls course we will give…

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Alberta Genealogical Society Conference

The Alberta Genealogical Society Conference, “Images Through Time”, will be taking place April 26th – 28th and we here at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies are excited. Why are we excited? Because we will be attending!  We enjoy meeting with our current students, those who have graduated, and new students. No matter where you are at in your genealogy education, we have courses for you. I’m sure you have questions for us so please stop by our booth and visit with Louise St Denis she will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.   Plus, while there don’t forget to register for your FREE complimentary course just for attending the conference. 

Recording Your Information

Recording your information The Pedigree Chart (or Ancestral Chart) will record your direct line ancestors’ information. In other words, you will record the dates and locations of births, marriages, deaths and burials from one father and mother to the next father and mother. While the potential is there for an endless number of ancestors, most of us in the beginning only have knowledge of two or three generations. Genealogical Numbering Systems The Sosa-Stradonitz genealogical numbering system is very common. This system assigns a number to ancestors, beginning with the descendant. So your pedigree charts start with the first line, labeled number 1. Number 1 is the name of the person whose genealogy you are doing. So, if you’re doing your own genealogy, your name will be on line number 1. The abbreviations used on the form to record places and dates include: B for date of birth M for date of marriage D for date of death P for place or W for where (location of above events) The number 2 person on your chart, if number one is yourself, will be your father’s name and his factual information. Number 3 will be your mother’s name and her information. Number 4 is your father’s father, in other words, your paternal grandfather and number 5 your paternal grandmother. Numbers 6 and 7 are your maternal grandparents. Numbers 8-15 are your great-grandparents.  Notice that all the even numbers indicate your male ancestors and all the odd numbers indicate your female ancestors. Taking…

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Marriage

Marriage Records  The marriage certificate is the only civil record that actually records a union between two individuals, whereas other marriage records indicate that a marriage was “projected or planned.” So be cautious regarding which marriage document is being reviewed and understand the difference. Information you will always expect to find on a marriage certificate:  the name of the bride and groom  the date of the marriage   location of the marriage (at least the county in which the marriage was filed)  the individual who married the couple  name of the clerk who recorded the marriage with the county  The type of information recorded on a marriage document will change over time and will vary from county to county and state to state.   The US Federal Census can also help with finding a marriage record. What kind of marriage information can the census provide? While the 1850 to 1870 census doesn’t record marital status, it does note if the person was married within the year. The 1900 through 1940 census will provide the marital status “married, single, widow, or divorced,” the “age at first marriage” (1930), or the “number of years of present marriage” (1900, 1910).   Record Keeping  In our modern society (the 20th and 21st century), marriage records are typically kept at both the county in which the ceremony took place and the state bureau of records. There is a central gathering point in each state, typically known as the Bureau of Vital Records or Statistics (or something similar).   For most states, marriage records began being kept at the time a county was formed at the county level. These early records…

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