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Tools For Organizing and Evaluating Research Findings

 

INTRODUCTION

General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary

CENSUS FORMS

SOURCE / CITATION FORMATS

LETTER FORMATS

GENERAL RESEARCH FORMS

GENERAL RECORD FORMS

INFORMATION WEBSITES

INTRODUCTION

     The basic purpose of genealogical research is to gather the details about possible ancestors from the various records created as a result of the events of their lives, to compile those details into meaningful form, and to evaluate them to determine genealogical connections.  You cannot do this effectively without keeping a record of your research.

     There are many different systems for recording your research in current use, which is just as well, because what works for you may be ineffective for others.  We each have our own ideas about what is best.  Any system is good which gets the job done with a proper balance between completeness and simplicity.   An imbalance  in  either  direction  is

 

serious.  It is bad to spend too much time and effort on over-elaborative notes as it is to be too brief.

    This webpage has been created in order for us to share with you some of the research aides and tools we’ve developed and created to organize, document, and evaluate our research findings.      Within the various categories listed on this page you will find a variety of free, downloadable, genealogical forms and documents that may assist you with your investigations.    Because we believe in creating & maintaining our files in an electronic rather than paper format, we offer these forms for you to use in MS Office. 

General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary

Source: http://genealogy.edu/moodle/

 

 

·        General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (a.l.s. - bangboard)

 

 

·        General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (Bounty land - Catholic)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. Census Forms 1790-1930

 

Using the following forms allows you to type in the information directly on your computer rather than having to download the form and do the transcriptions by hand.  Census forms from 1790 to 1840 include an additional abstract format to assist in determining the persons counted on the census form.

1790

1800

1810

1820

1830

1840

1850

1850
(Slave Schedule)

1860

1870

1880

1890
(Veterans Schedule Form A)

1890
(Veterans Schedule Form B)

1900

1910

1920

1930

1790-1930

Master Census Form

SOURCE / CITATION FORMATS

The Source Formats are mostly used in conjunction with the Family Tree Maker software where they are utilized as  “Master Sources” within the aforementioned software.  The Citation Formats constitute a list of citations we’ve developed for published and unpublished sources, as well as official records and online sources.  The online sources feature citations specific to such websites as Family Search, Ancestry, RootsWeb and Genealogy.com.  The Image Citation Formats were developed to address the need to put a document in an image format, such as Gif, Tiff, Bitmap,etc., containing more than one page together into one form. 

Source Formats

Citation Formats

Image Citation Format

 (1 Column 1 Row)

Image Citation Format

 (2 Column 1 Row)

Image Citation Format

(2 Column 2 Rows)

Image Citation Format

(3 Column 1 Row)

Image Citation Format

 (3 Column 2 Rows)

 

 

LETTER FORMATS

Correspondence is essential to genealogical research.  There is no doubt that personal research in the appropriate archives is the best way to obtain information but since this is often not feasible you may need to write letters.  Writing a good letter is often difficult and many people expend a great deal of time and effort in genealogical correspondence with little to show for it.  As such we have collected the following letterforms that have proven to be worthwhile.  Follow the links to the downloadable formats.

Genealogy Correspondence Tips

Records Request Letter (General)

Records Request Letter (State)

Records Request Letter (County)

Social Security Administration

 

GENERAL RESEARCH FORMS

It is necessary to organize, file, and index the information you’ve uncovered.  Though style and form may vary from one person to another each set of research notes will have certain things in common with every other set.  The following forms may help you to insure that you’ve addressed the specific details required for proper record keeping.  Follow the links to the downloadable formats.

Ancestor Research Checklist

Family Information Form

Genealogy Site Finder Format

Research Calendar

Research Extract Format

Research Planner Format

Resources Checklist

 

 

GENERAL RECORD FORMS

 

Abstract of Civil War Pension File

WW I Draft Registration (Card C) Pg.1 and Pg.2

SAR Record Form

WW I Draft Registration (Card A)

WW I Draft Registration (Card B)

 

 

INFORMATION WEBSITES

The following are links to websites that will provide you with specific genealogical  information to assist with organizing and evaluating your research. 

 

 

 

 
CONTACT INFORMATION

Email

Pony Express:

Tom
27 Christopher Dr.
Burton, NB E2V3H4
Canada

Email

Snail mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA