How Do I Begin To Document and File Family History?
An Introduction: How do I begin to document and file family history
and genealogy, in preparation for computer online Internet publication?
 

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Preparing The Family History

Family Records & Traditions

CURRENT INFORMATION: IMAGES
AwesomeStories: Blended Learning, Research, Reading, Writing, Citing
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Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:    Part One
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:    Part Two
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:  Part Three
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:    Part Four
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:    Part Five
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources:      Part Six
Genealogy's Star: How to Analyze Genealogical Sources: Part Seven
Genealogy's Star: How to Read an Old Document:
What is Document?
Genealogy's Star: Where was the Event? - - - Where are the Records?
 

FAMILY HISTORY

The rule book for doing proper genealogy research is exceedingly simple.
It follows the same pattern given for translation of records. I will quote and
then paraphrase, to achieve greater clarity. [7 Behold, you have not understood;
you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save
it was to ask me. 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your
mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your
bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 9 But if it be
not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought
that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot
write that which is sacred save it be given you from me. 10 Now, if you had
known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that
you should translate now.] Reference:
Oliver Cowdery’s Gift

Basic Rule #1 THE RULE BOOK
Facts and sources are not an option; they are the very essential elements
from which further actions can be prayerfully developed, to complete and
extend the known evidences. To study and evaluate information out in one's
mind, in an orderly, line upon line, structurally creative process, justification
must be assured in references that can be restudied by any other reasonable
person. Other researchers must be given information that can reduplicate
the mental process and arrive at the same conclusion as the original author
and researcher. -------- If it is right, it will be mentally satisfying to professional
genealogists and feel good. But if the evidence is not provided, it will seem
questionable and doubts will arise in the mind, causing a sense of confusion;
a stupor. To remove this feeling of doubt and unease, the scholarly mind
is compelled to seek for confirmation, by additional research as deemed
necessary, to replace the doubt with substantiating facts, or to remove
and eliminate all questionable connections made by the original author.

Dan Rottenberg mentions in: Finding Our Fathers: A Guidebook to Jewish Genealogy,
that individuals need a degree of inner strength, since
genealogy is a very lonely hobby:
nobody is likely to be interested in your particular family other than you and your relatives. 
This inner strength is found in the concepts presented by
Norman Vincent Peale in his
inspirational bestseller:
The Power of Positive Thinking.  With belief in yourself and
expecting the best,  you are mentally prepared to
undertake genealogy research:
personal
genealogy and family history.

Walter Rye, in his  A.D. 1897 edition of
Records and Record Searching, mentions
a critical and significant point, that:  "In working up a pedigree you should always
begin with the earliest undoubted fact in your possession."  A reasonable self evaluation
of one's own mind indicates that doubt and belief upon a particular point of interest
do not exist in the mind at the same time.  Using only known, undoubted facts generates
mental power to solve personal research problems in a relaxed, peaceful manner.
There is a powerful inducement to believe in your own future after literally
and correctly determining your ancestors' past accomplishments of survival
as they relate to your present condition and circumstance.

Each individual can, with proper education and training, become proficient
in genealogical research and have the deep, satisfying experience of finding
themselves through the correctly related experiences of their ancestors.

New to computers or genealogy?
  Welcome to Gen-Newbie.

In the Genealogical Journal, formerly published by the Utah Genealogical Association
for March-June 1976, an article appeared ("Introduction to Professional Genealogy"),
as written by
John F. Vallentine, Editor.  He mentions that professional genealogy
and all genealogical endeavors generally, can be placed in two major categories:

(1) 
Record searching, involving the search of specified categories of records
      at specified locations and accurately reporting the contents of those records.
(2) 
Analysis, the examination of known, undoubted data on your individual pedigree
      in evaluation of your research objective; accomplishing record searching considered
      necessary; analyzing results of the searches as they pertain to the evaluated objective.

In performing one's own obligation to self, ancestry and posterity, as well as to
the general public at large, (for those who publish), each individual must have
personal
integrity in competently combining and producing fundamentally correct,
just and true findings from the record sources reviewed.  This can be easily
accomplished by following current
professional genealogy standards, such as:

      A.  Explaining research steps taken (
Tracing Your Family Tree);
      B.  Listing sources searched (
How to Cite Genealogy Sources);
      C.  Giving citations of documents supporting your oral or written compilation; and,
      D. 
Obtaining and presenting all essential information to allow others  to carry on
           further research, at your suggestion, without unnecessary duplication of
research
          
already performed by you; or, from sources known to you. (Web Page)
           Keep a Chronicle of Life™ - Save Your Memories Forever.

In an individual's desire to achieve and maintain competence in the compilation
of a proper pedigree, an effort will automatically be made to obtain a fundamental
knowledge of the history, legal statutes, social customs,  religion, geography, and
perhaps language acquisition for the area of the ancestry involved.  This in turn will
generally obtain, with the aid of select genealogical guides and books, a good working
knowledge of pertinent genealogical record sources, heir content and availability
(with the concurrent understanding of their relative genealogical value),
to achieve the goal of establishing a correct pedigree.
*
Beginning Your Genealogy Research - The Basics

*
Cyndi's List - Hit a Brick Wall?
*
Cyndi's List - Etiquette & Ethics
* Cyndi's List - How To
* Family Tree Searcher | Subject and Course Guides:
Metasearch Engine
  Provides a metasearch of genealogy sites using detailed data on your ancestor.
  - Search for Your Family Tree at Ten Websites; additional recommendations.
* GenealogyDatabases Digital Libraries | Indexes | By State or Region | Other
  Princeton Public Library:
United States and international digital collections.
* Genealogy Decision Charts
  Fast Track Genealogy Research Using Decision Charts
* How to "DO" Family History Research
*
Principles of Family History Research
* Research Process: Research Process
* Your Family Legacy - Ideas & Tips

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↑ upΛ PREPARING THE FAMILY HISTORY

Your families are unique.  Record the story of their family life.
The following guideline will assist you in compiling your
family history:

I.   
OUTLINE:  A guide to important dates and events in each family group lifestyle.

     
A.  Names in full.

      B.  Births - When (day, month, year) and where.

      C.  Parent's names in full and names of grandparents.

     
D.  Pre-school period - earliest memories, recollections of parents,
           older brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, other relatives.
 
      E.  Childhood memories - early friends; schools; teachers;
           advisors; adventures; dreams of the future.

      F.  Young adulthood - thoughts on growing up; home life; high school days;
           choice of residences, college or work and the reasons for each choice;
           educational, governmental or military experiences.

      G.  Courtship and marriage.

      H.  Children - where born; church christenings or blessings,
           circumcisions, children's personality development as they grow;
           hopes and aspirations for the children; awards received.

      I.   Vocations - jobs held; preparation for life's work;
           success in work, awards and special recognition.

     
J.  Church/Synagogue activities - positions held and services given.

     
K.  Political or Civic activities - positions in organizations held and services given.

     
L.  Religious convictions with spiritual or faith promoting experiences.

      M.  Various plans and hopes for the future.


II.   FILE SYSTEM:  Set up a file system in which you chronologically
      
deposit the material (hardcopy) you have and that which
      you will gather in the future, for each family group.

      A.  Suggested file systems:
In a Pile or a File
           1(a).  Use
binders divided by time period for each area of interest; or,
             (b).  Use small boxes with each box representing a time in
                    the group family life such as  pre marriage experiences,
                    beginning married life, family formation, child rearing,
                    middle years, retirement; or,
             (c).  Use manila
folders by time period, for each area of interest.
           2.      Use a computer software program, or establish a set of index cards,
                    divided into appropriate sections. Catalog in alphabetical order
                    all family surnames and given names, locations, or Key Words,
                    contained in your binders, boxes or folders.


      B.  File your materials according to the categories you have selected
            in your filing system.  This is the basic format for the recording
            of a written or oral Family Group History.

      C.  Choose a computer software program, such as those listed
           at the
Directory of Family History Software (Family Tree Maker;
           or, TMG, etc.). 
Create, compile, organize
and upload your
           personal home page to obtain
world wide Internet coverage.


III.  FAMILY GROUP RESEARCH:  Gather the necessary information.
      [Step 1 for LDS (Mormon) Church Members: Identify Your Ancestors]

      A.  Living collective memory.  This is a great beginning source.

     
B.  Existing Records from the Family and from Genealogical Research.
           1.  Documents
           2.  Diaries
           3.  Family Records
           4.  Mementos and Family Tapestries
                [Note: use a scanner and enter all of the above items into
                a Computer Family History Program of your choice.]


IV.  WRITING SYSTEMS & HANDWRITING: Writing Family History
     
      A.  WRITING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS and WRITING THE JOURNEY™
           1.  Make an outline from areas of interest in your filing system.
           2.  Use your own language and natural style,  interjecting language
                of the family time frame where available, for compilation
                from original record sources.
           3.  Explain how and why things happened, maintaining the integrity
                of the original record sources, but always emphasizing positive experiences.
           4.  Use good, simply
written expressions,
                when
writing your family and personal history.

      B.  PERSONAL - ORAL HISTORY:
Personal History
           1.  To prevent rambling, make at outline from areas
                of interest,  obtained from your family filing system.
           2.  Use a high quality tape recorder or digital camcorder.
           3.  Record in a quiet, undisturbed location.
           4.  Record others and speak in a clear and natural voice.
           5.  Record musical or dramatic talent with appropriate background effects.
           6.  Add other people's voices who are important to each family group.
           7.  Make h
ome movies and memories with a camcorder, tape recorder, etc.
           8.  Convert
Home videos, sound files or other images to DVD.
                These can be stored in the
family history section of your own media library
                for later use in DVD players, or a Home theater PC.

           9.  References: EyeWitness to History
                History through the eyes of those who lived it.
                - Create a
Biography and Memoir Online and become part of History
                  through the eyes of those who lived it.  Include a Personal Health History.
                  See: The  Midwife's Tale used as a Teacher's Guide for Active Learning.
                -
How to Care For Home Movies
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↑ upΛ FAMILY RECORDS & FAMILY TRADITIONS

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THIS RECORD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Archival Management: A Guide for Organizing, Cataloging & Preserving Collections
Caring for Your Family Archives
: How Do I Preserve My Family Papers?
Family History for Beginners: Websites for Family History Beginners
Genealogy - The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Making a Family Tree
Guide to Donating Your Personal or Family Papers to a Repository
Personal Archives and a New Archival Calling ---- Google™ Books
Publication provides basic advice on safeguarding family records.
Preserving History: Insturctional Videos - Why Kep Records?
Videos and documents describing simple ways individuals
can preserve important historical items in their homes.

The Basics of Paper Conservation - YouTube™
The Organized Genealogist

INTRODUCTION: Learning Center

Fathers Leading the "Genealogy Community" by Example
This being the month of June, it is appropriate to mention that Father's Day
will be presented as an event for family involvement. Father's Day is a celebration
honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence
of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June,
though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father's_Day

On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, James Tanner gave his
opinion about "Finding the Genealogy Community"
http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2014/03/finding-genealogy-community.html
 
James Tanner then wrote:
The Elements of Research -- Part Seven: Can You Reproduce It? . . .
"Why am I writing all this about research? Apparently, there is a limited
amount of it around and what there is hasn't seemed to make much of an
impact on our greater genealogical community. Maybe that is the reason."
 http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-elements-of-research-part-seven-can.html
 
Anyone who has read the Bible and evaluated the pedigrees therein, would know
for a fact that from both the religious and secular history [King lists] contained therein,
[due to the exceedingly sparse mention of women in the said records], that absolutely,
fundamentally, as, it is demonstrated by the records themselves, (The Book of Mormon
not excluded), that record keeping was an inherent male duty and obligation. To define
the greater group of genealogists, family historians, generational historians, hobby
enthusiasts and professionals, it must be clarified once and for all that the Father
in the family, (like Abraham of old, who kept the handed down records in his day),
is accountable and responsible for his family's salvation. Thus, from an administrative
standpoint, all natural, patriarchal, and priesthood fathers, irrespective of religious
affiliations, (those human beings descending from Adam and Eve), are the inherent
leaders who are responsible for the status and functioning of the worldwide genealogy
and family history community. How can they fulfill this weighty male obligation
and unavoidable responsibility for which accountability exists?
 
Elder, Dean L. Larsen, "Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy",
May 1980 issue of The Ensign, wrote about "
Self-Accountability and Human Progress".

M. Russell Ballard, "Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles", provides insight,
in the June 2015 issue of The New Era, by noting information concerning
"
How Are Missionaries Called?"

Following in the footsteps of all of the general authorities, fathers, prayerfully
concerned about their own eternal salvation, (as well as that of their immediate
and extended families), will show great diligence in reviewing the records
of the deceased; as if they are still "present", though physically deceased.
This gives to the fathers, the unique opportunity to know them (through all
of the acquired records) personally, and to be able to renew them and note
their posterity, (through the
preservation of correct records). Thus, we,
as fathers, love them and support them in their own continued progress,
which is forever intertwined with our present family happiness and joy,
as all are part of an endless chain of life.
 
This "genealogical perspective" is a scientific method of looking to the past,
by using a "reverse" process of economic projection methodology; i.e.,
[an absent or imagined person (prior to genealogical confirmation
from primary source documentation) is figured forth -- the "face created"
as the Greek suggests -- in words, as if present (after the pedigree is established
according to the current genealogical proof standard).]  In other words,
extrapolating trends into the past, are a function of conditions, characteristics
and data records, endogenous to the current variables in our family performance.
It reassigns and restores one's ancestry to its rightful position and "mission"
as honored parentage. We come to understand ourselves better through them,
being sealed to them forever by the virtue in Jesus Christ.
 http://www.academic-genealogy.com/academiceducationlearningresources.htm

Living FAMILY and FUN Portal
Strengthen family ties with fun times, shopping, finances, home life,
working, education, recreation and social interactions worldwide.
-
Old Fashioned Living.com
  Brings old family traditions to modern families.

President
David O. McKay:
"I know of on other place where happiness abides more securely
than in the home.  It is possible to make home a bit of heaven.
Indeed, I picture heaven as a continuation of the ideal home."
Inspirational Quotations (Ensign Magazine, May 1964, page 5)

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World": . . .
"marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God
and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal
destiny of His children. . . . that God’s commandment for His children
to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. . . .
Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan";
also
D&C 131: "Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation in the highest heaven".
The Messiah, obeying the will of the Father and fulfilling all righteousness,
entered into this
order of the priesthood [new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
knowing thereby that He was
sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit
of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood; Christ sitting upon the throne
at the
right hand of the Father.
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Λ

MISCELLANEOUS RECORD SOURCES OF GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION
+ RBMS Genre Terms - Thesaurus:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
    Worldwide Genealogy Facebook® Groups: Genealogy on Facebook® List

Ancestral Halls in Hong Kong, Asia Reveal Chinese History
Associations & Organizations
Award
Census Records
Church Records & Synagogue Records
Court Records
-
Family Law: Guide To Family Law
  - Adoptions
  -
Conservatorship
  -
How to Store Legal Documents
    Family bible records. family papers, journals, unrecorded deeds,
    wills, or any other
legal instrument.
  -
Legal Guardian
Cyndi's List - Lost & Found
Cyndi's List - Novelties & Gifts
Cyndi's List - Odds & Ends
Diary and old Letters
- diaries - Google™ Books
- List of Books on Diaries & Journals
Digging Up the Family Past (pdf)
Government Resources
Immigration & Migration Records
Land Records
Links to Original Records
Military Records
- Patriotic Organizations
Newsletters
Oral Tradition & History
-
Interviews
Obituaries and other Newspaper clippings
Photography & Digital Preservation
Published Histories
Quilting: Quilt History
- International Quilt Study Center & Museum
School Records
- Diploma
Scrapbooking: Scrapbook Portal
-
Cyndi's List - Scrapbooks
- SCRAPO™
  Digital online scrapbooking, with fully customizable drag-and-drop web interface.
-
YouTube - Scrapbooking for Beginners
  Design principles for scrapbooking.

Social Security
Tax Records
Telling Your Story
- Daytum™
  Free help to collect, categorize and communicate
  the most important everyday statistics in your life.
-
Every Object Tells A Story
-
Imprint: The Best Design Blog Written by top Illustrators & Designers.
  Expanding the design conversation.
  -
A Life's Work - Print Magazine: The Life of Gordon Felton
- MiLegacy
  Celebrate your life while you live it.
Milegacy fills that gap
  between transient social media and antique archive technology.
  Keep your legacy alive for generations to come.
-
Take Control of Your Digital Legacy
-
We Remember™
  Free online memorials for sharing memories.
Vital Records
- Birth certificates
- Church baptismal and confirmation/synagogue data
- Death certificates, sexton/cemetery data
- Marriage certificates and wedding records
Wills
- Estate administration
- Inventories
Your Old Books
- Are old letters, scrapbooks, and documents valuable?
- Preservation?

  - Caring for Your Family Treasures: Heritage Preservation - Google™ Books
    Preserve heirlooms and other family keepsakes, including photo albums,
    clothing, leather, paper documents, scrapbooks, furniture, old silver,
    wedding gowns and dolls.
YouTube™ (Facebook®): "family history" and genealogy Search Query
Join and participate in the largest worldwide video-sharing community.
- rootstech - Search
- SURNAME SEARCH EXAMPLE: tinney - Search
YouTube
™  Results for "family history" Channels and "genealogy" Channels
- Ancestry - YouTube™
- BYU Family History Library - YouTube™
- DearMYRTLE - YouTube™
- Family History Guide
  - The Family History Guide - YouTube™
- FamilySearch - YouTube™
- Findmypast - YouTube™
-
GenealogyMagazine, Episode 1: Courthouse Research
-
GenealogyMagazine, Episode 2: Family Bible Records
-
GenealogyMagazine, Episode 3: Diaries and Journals
-
genealogyscrounge
  Research & tools to make your genealogy as free or cheap as possible.
- Geni.com - YouTube™
- Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island
- Library of Congress - YouTube™
- Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems
- MyHeritage - YouTube™
- National Genealogical Society - YouTube™
- RootsMagicTV - YouTube™
- RootsTech 2019 Highlight Video - YouTube™
-
The British Library - YouTube™
- US National Archives - YouTube™
- WorldVitalRecords - YouTube™

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How Do I Begin To Document and File Family History? An Introduction.
↑ upΛ
Copyright © 1997-2024  By: V. Chris & Thomas M. Tinney, Sr.
All rights reserved.  Email: vctinney@sbcglobal.net

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