Abstract: One of the most important steps in your research is investigating the resources hidden in your basement or dusty attic. Use this guide to understand the different types of resources that you can find within your home and how they can help you make discoveries about your family’s past.
After you have recorded all of your personal knowledge onto your genealogy forms such as your pedigree chart and family group sheet, you must branch out to your next best resources, your family and family friends. As you begin your research, make sure you continue to move from the known to the unknown.
Talking to Your Family
Speaking to your family members may be one of the most informative and rewarding parts of your research project. Relatives can offer stories and knowledge that can both add new information to your family history forms, and can also validate information that you have already recorded. In fact you may be lucky enough to find that one of your own family members may have conducted a similar genealogy project in the past. The best way to find the answers to your questions is to schedule an interview with each relative, starting with the oldest member of your family. These conversations are a great way to catch up on some family research and can help you fill in unknown facts while offering you clues for further research.
5 Family Interview Tips
1. Approach your interview as a conversation. Relatives may relax with a conversational tone, thus will be more willing to share personal details and memories.
2. Start with an icebreaker question to get the ball rolling. This question should be more informal to help ease your relative into the conversation and make them feel more comfortable for the duration.
3. Bring sentimental family heirlooms or mementos (such as photographs, documents, old trinkets, etc.) that relate to family members or occasions you will be discussing. These items will help to jog your relative’s memory and will help create a richer conversation. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask your relative to identify the people and places in photographs.
4. Record both questions and answers throughout the duration of the interview. When writing notes, make sure you use a pencil. Avoid writing on photographs or documents as much as possible, but if it is necessary to annotate them, use a pencil.
5. After the interview, write your relative a thank you note and share your notes, recording, and/or transcription of the conversation. Seeing their personal story documented will help them see the value of your research and will serve as a physical thank you for their time.
For a list of interview questions click HERE
Understanding Your Resources
As you begin to discover the multitude of resources available, you may feel a bit overwhelmed when deciphering the information. Once you have a better understanding of the resources that you are looking for, you will be able to more effectively select and use the most helpful records related to your search. Hiding in closets, dusty attics, or desk drawers, you may discover multiple valuable resources.
Vital Records
Vital records are documents that have data about life events such as birth, marriage, and death. They can include information such as the event location, date, parent’s names, spouse name, residence at the time of the event, and occupation. Potential vital records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives include but are not limited to:
- Birth certificate
- Adoption certificate
- Christening certificate
- Marriage license
- Divorce certificate
- Death certificate
- Burial certificate
Personal Records
Personal records are records, documents, or photographs that were created or collected by your family members themselves. These items can give you wonderful insight to the lives of your ancestors. You will often find information that will add more color to your research project. Do not forget to include photographs when you are recording your information. Photographs will make your family’s story come alive, and will help preserve it for generations to come. Potential personal records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives include but are not limited to:
- Diaries/Journals
- Letters/postcards
- Newspaper clippings
- Family Bible
- Wedding Invitations
- Burial Records
- Photographs/Albums
- Wedding album
- Baby book
- Funeral Pamphlets or announcements
- Heirlooms
- Medals
- Badges
- Embroideries
- Jewelry
- Furniture
- Oral Traditions
- Interview Notes
Legal Records
Legal records can offer clues your ancestors’ financial status, and occupation. These records can sometimes be easier to find because they would need to be filed with the court, meaning there will be a public record of the document. This information can also help you if you are trying to prove family ownership of a business or estate. Potential legal records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives might include:
- Accounting Records
- Bonds
- Contracts
- Deeds
- Employment Records
- Insurance Records
- Mortgages
- Probate documents
- Tax bills
Religious Records
Before civil registration of vital statistics was mandated, religious records were one of the only sources for vital information such as birth, marriage, and death. The most important step in finding religious records is to determine what religion(s) your ancestors practiced. Potential religious records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives include but are not limited to:
- Church Admissions
- Annulment
- Baptism
- Burial Records
- Confirmation
- Church Dismissals
- Membership lists
- Minutes of church services/meetings
School Records
School records can help you uncover details about your ancestors. Was your grandfather captain of the football team? Was your grandmother the senior class president? Check these records to discover a different perspective of your ancestor’s past. Potential school records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives include but are not limited to:
- Diplomas
- Awards
- Alumni papers
- Yearbooks
Government Records
Government records can give you a perspective on immigration by including passport, naturalization, and citizenship records. Military records can include multiple documents providing information about your ancestor’s service, any awards that they earned, and much more information to help honor their service in the future. Potential government records that you could find in your home, or the homes of your relatives include but is not limited to:
- Social insurance or security cards
- Military Records
- Service records
- Draft cards
- Discharge papers
- Awards
- Pension applications
- Naturalization papers
- Citizenship papers
- Passports
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