1. Genealogy Project for New Mexico 4-H
By Carol Wilson

2. Who am I?
Everyone is unique and has something individual about their lives. But we also study history to see where we came from. We want to know about the people who came before us. The tragedies they overcame can help inspire us. Their triumphs can fuel our desire to achieve and excel.
So we study genealogy to find out about our roots.

3. Tools in the toolbox Pens and paper D ring notebook Camera
Inquiring mind
Tape recorder or video recorder are optional

4. Tracing out your roots
Start with self. Then go to family. Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. Ask questions. Use 5 Ws and H.
Example page 25A.

6. Adoptions, Foster and Step families
9 out of 10 families that this program was tested with were not two-parent families with children from only that marriage.
4-H projects traditionally took the stance that only a biological genealogy would be accepted.
I wrestled with this issue and finally decided that it was more important that the child learn the process of documenting genealogy. They may put “this is not a biological genealogy” on their forms and trace adopted lines or step lines. They may also alter forms to read “father” and “mother” instead of “husband” and “wife”.

7. Important documents Old photographs Diaries
Birth and death certificates
Marriage certificates
Newspaper articles
Family bibles
All must be treated with respect and care

8. Sources Secondary sources Primary Sources
Government and church documents
Secondary sources
Family bible
Family oral history
Traditions and legends
Birth announcements

9. Letter writing Family and other sources Be concise Be reasonable in
requests
Include identifying information
Include SASE

10. Major sources of information
Courthouse
Cemeteries
Church records
Genealogical Societies
Newspapers
Census Records
Land Ownership
Military Records

11. Documenting Procedures
Instead of saying “US Census” include the year census was taken and the county and state, as well as page number if available
Don’t say “Uncle John told me”, say “John Smith told Carol Wilson
18 Apr 2011”.

12. Using the Computer The Pros
Material can be stored, changed, and retrieved easily.
Information only has to
be entered once
NEAT!

13. Using the Computer Cons Fee may be charged for use A web based program
isn’t private
Check and double
check the information.

14. For preservation’s sake
People are sharing their treasures with you. Treat them with care. Keep them out of light and humidity. Photos and important papers like to live where you live, never in basement or hot attic.

15. Family papers Never laminate a page Remove all staples and paper clips
Try to keep it flat,
do not fold
Do not punch
holes in the
original

16. Family Photos Photos jog the memories of family members. When
you put a photo in the hands =
of an elder family member,
be prepared to write
stories

17. Family stories
Help define a story and give more information about real life, flesh and blood people.
Told from different
viewpoints, or
perspectives
Some subjective
Some objective
All should be
preserved and
documented.

18. Exhibit requirements Starts with 3 generations
Can go up to 8 generations
Designed for junior 4-H
members but can be
completed by younger
kids with parents help

19. Guide to Data Sheets Precise instructions
One sheet already filled out as a guide
Individual Data Sheet
Family Group
Sheet
Pedigree Chart

20. Practice Turn to page 28 in your project document
Review the rules for the pedigree chart.
1) You are #1
2 Last name first and CAPITALIZED
Continue …then do first three generations of the pedigree chart using the rules on pages 28 and 29. An example is filled out in 29A.

22. Appendices Master copies of worksheets Courthouse records
Glossary of Public Land Terms
Calendar of American Wars and Campaigns

23. Bibliography
Bibliography includes Creative Memories and thanks to Ohio State University and Purdue University for generously allowing us to use some of their material

24. Readability Survey Sentences per paragraph 2.9 Words per sentence 14.1
Characters per word 4.7
Passive Sentences percent
Flesch reading Ease
FleschKincaid Grade Level 8.2
Note to parents: last page of
document, older 4-H members

25. More on Readability
5,6,7,8th grade classes in Carrizozo Schools previewed this curriculum. Style, layout and white space were minimized in this survey and
will be important components of the finished
curriculum. 70 percent of students reported
no problems with
readability. 30
percent did not read.

26. Hopes and dreams
Hope this project will help 4-H members discover their roots
Children will find pride in their ancestry and find the strength in
their family stories
Children will remember
their own stories and find
that everyone is unique,
individual and has their
own story to tell.