TRACINGS BY SAM

We need to haunt the house of history and listen anew to the ancestors' wisdom. -- Maya Angelou

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GETTING STARTED: SAM'S TIPS

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Genealogy

Getting Started ...

LINKS AND TIPS

The Basics

Bring your Ancestors to Life!
A Dozen Tips for Expanding Upon the Family Story

Research: Getting Past Name Changes and Spelling Variations!

Tip: Be sure to record the name of your ancestor just as it appears in each document. Keep a list of all of the variations you've found in the spelling of your ancestor's name. This will help you and others to find the document again in the archives and databases. It will provide you with clues as to how the name might be spelled in other records.

Not all Genealogy Databases are Created Equal --
Consider the Source of the Information!

Tip: From time to time, take another look at the records you have collected. It is easy to overlook important details. Also, recently acquired information may shine a new light on the information gathered previously.

Create a Timeline of Your Life
by Dawne Slater-Putt, CG, originally published in Genealogy Gems -
News from the Fort Wayne Library on December 31, 2013

Tip: Hit a "brick wall"? Research sidelines -- siblings, cousins, inlaws, neighbors. Sometimes their records can provide just the information you are looking for.

Example: Marie-Madeleine Normand, Fille du Roi: Using the Fan Principle to Discover and Tell Her Story

Free Trial Membership in Genealogy Services --
Six Steps to Ensure that they are, in fact, free for you!

Tip: Family letters, a few public documents, and a bit of historical context can add up to a fascinating family story.

Example: My 2X Great Uncle Marshall Howver: Oh What a Fascinating Life He Led

Tip: Include stories of maiden aunts, bachelor uncles, and childless couples in your family histories. Sometimes their stories are the most interesting.

APRIL 2024