1. Beginning Genealogy Series ©1Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Beginning Genealogy Series Sponsored By: Tallahassee Genealogical Society

2. Beginning Genealogy Series ©2Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Session One – How to Get Started Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter

3. Beginning Genealogy Series ©3Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com How to Get Started Begin with Yourself –Complete a Pedigree Chart & Family Group Sheet/s Collect What You Have Photos, Birth Certificates, Birth, Baptismal, Death and Marriage Certificates, Burial Records, Deeds and Wills, Military Records, Journals & Diaries, and Family legends Record Your Family History by Interviewing Older Relatives Obtain Genealogy Software –Personal Ancestral File (PAF) (FREE Download from familysearch.org) –Family Tree Maker, Legacy, RootsMagic, Master Genealogist, etc.

4. Beginning Genealogy Series ©4Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Where to Begin? Researching your roots can be a lifelong project. With so many records and resources, it's not easy to find a starting point. While every family history follows a different path, there are general guidelines that every beginner should know.

5. Beginning Genealogy Series ©5Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com 1.Type dates using European format: Day Month Year (Spelled Out) In European Format 06/07/1908 is July 6 not June 7 2. Always include county in location. (city, county, state, country) NOTE: County lines have changed over time – Always use the county at time of the event. 3. Be Consistent! If you spell out the name of the state do so on all locations OR If you abbreviate the state, do so on all locations. Complete a Pedigree Chart

6. Beginning Genealogy Series ©6Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Standard abbreviations used on genealogy charts: b – Birth/Born m – Married d – Death/Died bur – Burial div - Divorced Complete a Pedigree Chart

7. Beginning Genealogy Series ©7Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Complete a Family Group Sheet NOTE: You will need to complete a group sheet for each family member.

8. Beginning Genealogy Series ©8Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Tips for Filling out Charts 1.Use each person’s full name when it is known. 2.Show a nickname in quotation marks or parentheses after the given name. 3.List each female by her maiden name. 4.When estimating a date from facts use about or c (an abbreviation for the Latin circa, meaning about). Example: c 1874 - means about 1874 5.When you have evidence but cannot determine a exact date or place, use qualifiers - Examples: by 1764, after 20 Jan 1823, before 20 May 1735, probably in South Carolina 6.When you do not have piece of information or data on which to make an estimate, leave the space blank. 7.If you have evidence for a date, place, or name but have not yet proved it, write on your working copy what you think is true and add a questions mark to indicate the uncertainty.

9. Beginning Genealogy Series ©9Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Tips for Filling out Charts 8.If you have conflicting pieces of evidence for a date and have not yet determined which is correct, list both on your working copy of the chart. Example: 1828/1829 (State your evidence on the back of the page.) 9.If you have narrowed down a range of dates for an event, list the range to show that the event took place between the given dates such as 5-16 Feb 1892. (State your evidence on the back.) 10.When you have the space and the inclination, you can name the children or add other notes, such as military service or cemetery name to a person’s entry. 11.If you do not have evidence or confirmation of the facts, leave the space blank.

10. Beginning Genealogy Series ©10Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Nicknames of the Past Commonly Known: Elizabeth – Liz, Beth Jonathan – John Abigail – Abbie(y) Charles – Chuck Andrew – Andy, Drew Virginia – Ginger, Ginny William - Bill Margaret – Peg, Peggy, Midge Christopher – Chris Dorothy – Dot, Dottie Daniel – Dan, Danny Katherine – Kathy, Kit, Katie Richard - Dick Commonly Unknown: Mary – Polly, Mollie, Mamie Samuel – Sonny Melody – Lodi Benjamin - Jamie Ann – Hannah, Susanna Floyd - Lloyd Joanna – Jean, Jane Gilbert - Wilbert Lillian – Odie Henry – Hank, Harry Daisy – Margaret John – Ivan, Jack, Hans, Jehu

11. Beginning Genealogy Series ©11Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Collect What You Have 1.Photos 2.Birth Certificates 3.Baptismal Records 4.Marriage Certificates 5.Death Records a.Obituaries b.Funeral Memorandums c.Death Certificates d.Burials 6.Military Records 7.Land Records a.Deeds b.Land Patients c.Homestead 8.Wills 9.Journals & Diaries

12. Beginning Genealogy Series ©12Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Record Your Family History by Interviewing Older Relatives 1.Schedule a time in advance. 2.Prepare a list of questions and share them with your relative beforehand.. 3.Arrive prepared (bring several notepads and pencils, tape player, microphone, extra tapes and batteries). 4.Take good notes and make sure you record your name, the date, the place the interview is being conducted and the interviewee. 5.Start with a question or topic that you know will elicit a reply, such as a story you have heard him/her tell in the past. 6.Ask questions which encourage more than simple 'yes' or 'no' answers. Try to elicit facts, feelings, stories and descriptions. 7.Show interest. Take an active part in the dialogue without dominating it. Learn to be a creative listener.

13. Beginning Genealogy Series ©13Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Record Your Family History by Interviewing Older Relatives 8.Use props whenever possible. Old photographs, favorite old songs and treasured items may bring memories flooding back. 9.Don't push for answers. Your relative may not wish to speak ill of the dead or may have other reasons for not wanting to share. Move on to something else. 10.Use your prepared questions as a guideline, but don't be afraid to let your relative go off on a tangent. They may have many things to say that you never thought to ask! 11.Don't interrupt or attempt to correct your relative; this can end an interview in a hurry! 12.When you are done, be sure to thank your relative for his or her time.

14. Beginning Genealogy Series ©14Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Obtain Genealogy Software

15. Beginning Genealogy Series ©15Deanna D. Ramsey, Presenter www.deannaramsey.com Buyer Beware! Heraldry, Coat of Arms, Shields, Family Crests You see and receive advertisements offering to sell you the crest, coat of arms or shield associated with your family name. Problem is... these items were awarded to individuals -- not to families. Now, some day you might be one of the lucky people who come across a symbol belonging to one of your specific ancestors. Let me assure you that you won't make this find at a booth in the shopping mall or through mass-mail advertisements. Don't fall for that scam! Published Family Histories If you receive an advertisement offering to sell you a book of your family's history -- buyer beware. You may be buying a compilation of telephone directory listings for your surname, or other such information which is virtually useless (and which is available free on the Internet, anyway). There are authentic family history books, but you won‘t typically hear about them through mass-mailing advertisements!