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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 the Microsoft Office format.

Gen Vocabulary Dictionary

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

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (A - Algonquin Indians)

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

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (banjo - bounty hunter)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (Bounty land - Catholic)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (catorce - coal oil lamp)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (cobbler - County Recorder)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (county line - daughter-in-law)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (d.b.a. - domestic animals)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (domicile - et al)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (et uxor - gait)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (gaiter - head of the family)

· General Genealogical Vocabulary Dictionary (head money - immigration passenger list)

· General Genealogical Dictionary (impeach - puberty)

· General Genealogy Dictionary (Public Domain - zwolf)

A Guide to Acronyms

· AAGG: African-American Genealogy Group

· AAHGS: Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society

· ACPL: Allen County Public Library .

· AGBI: American Genealogical-Biographical Index

· AAD: Access to Archival Databases

· AIC: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

· APG: Association of Professional Genealogists

· ARC: Archival Research Catalog

· BCG: Board for Certification of Genealogists

· CG: Certified Genealogist

· CGL: Certified Genealogical Lecturer

· CMSR: Compiled Military Service Record

· CWSS: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System

· DAR: Daughters of the American Revolution

· ED: Enumeration District

· FEEFHS: Federation of Eastern European Family History Societies

· FGS: Federation of Genealogical Societies

· FHC: Family History Center

· FHL: Family History Library

· FHLC: FHL Catalog

· FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

· FTM: Family Tree Maker

· GAR: Grand Army of the Republic

· GEDCOM: Genealogical Data Communication

· GLO: Bureau of Land Management General Land Office

· GPS: Genealogical Proof Standard

· HQO: HeritageQuest Online genealogy databases

· IAJGS: International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

· ICAPGen: International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

· IGI: International Genealogical Index

· ISFHWE: International Society of Family History Writers and Editors

· ISOGG: International Society of Genetic Genealogy

· LOC: Library of Congress

· MRCA: Most Recent Common Ancestor

· NARA National Archives and Records Adminstration

· NEHGS New England Historic Genealogical Society

· NGS: National Genealogical Society

· PAF Personal Ancestral File

· PALAM: Palatines to America

· PERSI: Periodical Source Index

· RM: RootsMagic

· SAR Sons of the American Revolution

· SCGS: Southern California Genealogical Society

· SCV: Sons of Confederate Veterans

· SGGEE Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe

· SMGF: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation

· SUVCW: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

· TMG: The Master Genealogist

· UDC: United Daughters of the Confederacy

· WRHS: Western Reserve Historical Society

TinyURL

Making long URLs usable!

Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to have to cut and paste it back together? Then TinyURL will be a useful and FREE addition to your genealogy tool-kit. By using this tool you can create a tiny URL that will not break in email postings and never expires. We have been using TinyURL as a worthwhile publishing tool for many years in the creation of our newsletters. TinyURL is especially worthwhile if you want to put a web address into a PDF document.

Here is an example

Turn this URL:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&mqmap.x=300&mqmap.y=75&mapdata=%252bKZmeiIh6N%252bI
gpXRP3bylMaN0O4z8OOUkZWYe7NRH6ldDN96YFTIUmSH3Q6OzE5XVqcuc5zb%252fY5wy1MZwTnT2pu%252bNMjOjsHjvN
lygTRMzqazPStrN%252f1YzA0oWEWLwkHdhVHeG9sG6cMrfXNJKHY6fML4o6Nb0SeQm75ET9jAjKelrmqBCNta%252bsKC
9n8jslz%252fo188N4g3BvAJYuzx8J8r%252f1fPFWkPYg%252bT9Su5KoQ9YpNSj%252bmo0h0aEK%252bofj3f6vCP

into this tinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/6

Which one would you rather cut and paste into your browser? That's the power of TinyURL!

Free Software

Free Software for your
Genealogy Research

The purpose of this “Genealogy Research Tool” is to expose you to free programs that can be found on the Internet. While it is easy to go with expensive mainstream software such as Family Tree Maker, the use of freeware like Personal Ancestral File should not de discounted. If you are new at researching your family you may not want to spend money on expensive software especially if you are not sure how much time you can or want to put into looking for your ancestors.

Finding good software to use for your various tasks and projects can be a frustrating experience especially if your funds are limited. A decision about what genealogy software to use is a personal choice best decided by your own working style. Ultimately what software you choose to use is up to you. So take a look at the following programs, as well as other programs found through the links of the “Website Resources” listed below. Install a few programs that interest you and see which one works the best for your needs.

TITLE: GedView

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tmark/GedView.html

TITLE: MyHeritage

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.myheritage.com

TITLE: Ancestry.com

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.ancestry.com

TITLE: Clarityx Family Chronicle

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.sharewareconnection.com/clarityx-family-chronicle.htm

TITLE: Gramps

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.gramps-project.org

TITLE: Roots Magic Essentials

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.rootsmagic.com/Essentials/

TITLE: Personal Ancestral File

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

TITLE: Legacy Standard Edition

WHERE TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD:

http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/

Internet Resources

· Shareware Connection

· Download - SmartGenealogy

· Family Tree Builder

· Legacy Family Tree Genealogy Software

· LifeLines Genealogy Software

· ScionPC Genealogical Management System

· XY Family Tree - Free Family Tree Software

· GEDCOM Date Calculator

· Gedcom Viewer / Reader FREE!

· GEDitCOM Genealogy Software ~ Macintosh

· GEDmagic Products - GEDxlate

· GEDPRT Shareware Program

· Download.com

· Ged2Web

· GedReporter– FREE Database Report & WebSite Generator

· GEDvisual

· HuMo-gen - FREE Gedcom-to-Website Gen. Program

· Oxy-Gen

· GED Browser

· GenealogyJ: Summary

· S2 Services Data Recovery & Genealogy Freeware

· yGED - FREE GEDCOM file generator for paternal family

· GeneoTree - Genealogy software

Tools for Researching Census Records

What's in U.S. Census Records? Clues & Research Tips

The US Federal Census Records contain many clues to help genealogy researchers find information about their ancestors. This webpage contains a list of the basic information given in each census by year with links to online indexes. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page, along with a guide for searching census records offline using National Archives (NARA) and LDS microfilm.

A Guide to Federal Census Records 1790-1930

U.S. Census Formats 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 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1800-1810 Census Sheet PDF | TEXT

· 1820 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1830 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1840 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1850 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT
(includes slave schedule)

· 1860 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT
(includes slave schedule)

· 1880 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1870 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1890 (Veterans Schedule A)

· 1890 (Veterans Schedule B)

· 1900 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1910 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1920 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· 1930 Census Worksheet PDF | TEXT

· Census checklist PDF | TEXT

General Forms and Worksheets

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 and worksheets may help you to insure that you’ve addressed the specific details required for proper record keeping.

The following formats have been developed us and utilized during our research. They have been created with Microsoft Word or Excel Software, and may be completed via your keyboard.

· Ancestor Research Checklist

· Family Information Form

· Genealogy Site Finder Format

· Research Calendar

· Research Extract Format

· Research Planner Format

· Resources Checklist

· Abstract of Civil War Pension File

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

· SAR Record Form

· WW I Draft Registration (Card A)

· WW I Draft Registration (Card B)

The following research documentation help forms are presented by Family Search

· Blank Analysis Chart for a Possible Match

· Blank Analysis Chart for My Ancestor

· Blank Time Line for a Specific Record for a Possible Match

· Blank Time Line for My Ancestor

· To Do List for My Ancestor

· Family Group Record Form

· Pedigree Chart Form

· Requests for Photocopies - Census, Books, Microfilm, or Microfiche

· Requests for Photocopies - IGI and Sources

· Research Log

Letter Writing Forms and Guides

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 letter forms and guidelines that have proven to be worthwhile.

These formats have been developed us and utilized during our research. They have been created with Microsoft Word or Excel Software, and may be completed via your keyboard.

· Genealogy Correspondence Tips

· Records Request Letter (General)

· Records Request Letter (State)

· Records Request Letter (County)

· Social Security Administration

The following research letter writing forms are presented by Family Search

· Czech and Slovak Letter-writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36340

· Finland Letter-Writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36215

· French Letter-Writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 34059

· German Letter-Writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 34066

· Italian Letter-Writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36338

· Polish Letter-writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36339

· Portuguese Letter-writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36341

· Spanish Letter-Writing Guide [Description] [PDF] 36245

Google Translation

Translation, Caculation
& Conversion Help

Translators

Calculators

Converters

Online Language Translators For Family Historians

Use the following Dictionaries for FREE online translations.

FREE Google Translations of Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Paragraphs

Enter a search phrase in your own language to find information in other languages. Get translation with a single click and make your web

page instantly available in other languages. Create content in other languages in an easy-to-use translation editor.

Online Calculators for Family Historians

Use the Following FREE Tools for a Wide Variety of Conversions

· Age Calculators - Calculate the age based on the Date of Birth and another date

· Online Date Calculator – Calculate between two days or add/ subtract from a given date

Online Converters for Family Historians

Use the Following FREE Tools for a Wide Variety of Conversions

· Advanced Roman Numerals Converter

· Kilometers to Miles (km to miles) Conversion

Glossaries of old occupations

Glossaries of
Old Occupations

The world of work has changed greatly from the times of our ancestors, causing many occupational names and terms to fall into disuse. The work that our ancestors chose for their living is an important part of who they were. Learning about the occupations of our ancestors can provide insight into their daily lives, social status, and possibly even the origin of your family surname. Not to mention, many old occupations are interesting enough to add a touch of spice to your family history.

These free glossaries of old occupations, professions, titles, and trades explain the function of hundreds of old job names. To find the old occupations that you are looking for, simply click the appropriate letter in the navigation bars located below:

A comprehensive listing of Old Occupation Names

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

A collection of the occupations or job descriptions of the people living in London in the 1890's.

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

A General Glossary of hundreds of old occupations, trades, and job titles.

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

Lists of jobs in France along with definitions and explanations. This information may be translated into English by utilizing the Google translation tool (see above).

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

A German-English glossary of German words referring to occupations and professions (Berufe) common in former times. Most of these words will not be found in modern German dictionaries. Completed up to I check the website for updates.

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

A list of over 1500 Scottish occupations, their definitions and variants, compiled from various sources including those taken directly from the index to Wills & Testaments. Please select a letter.

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

· GENUKI: UK & Ireland Topics - Occupations

· The Colonial Craftsman, by Carl Bridenbaugh

· Glossary of Old Occupations & Trades

· Index of Old Occupations

· Scottish occupations - ScotlandsPeople

· A dictionary of the English language, pub.1828

· English trades, and useful arts, published 1818

· Germanic Genealogy: Old Occupations

· Victorian Occupations - Job Titles in the 19th Century

Land Records

Land records provide two types of important evidence for the genealogist. First, they often state kinship ties, especially when a group of heirs jointly sells some inherited land. Second, they place individuals in a specific time and place, allowing the researcher to sort people and families into neighborhoods and closely related groups. By locating people with reference to creeks and other natural features, the deeds, land grants, and land tax lists help distinguish persons with the same name living in the same county. Prior to the Civil War, most free adult males owned land; so if the land records of an area have survived but do not mention your ancestor, you should reevaluate the assumption that he or she lived in the area.

The following LINKS will assist with researching your ancestors using deeds and other land records, including how to decipher old deeds and draw a plat map. Plus, how and where to access land records on the Internet.

· Legal Land Descriptions in the USA

· The Official Federal Land Records Site

· Bureau of Land Management – State Links

· Land Record Reference

· Researching Land Entry Files

· Understanding Legal Land Descriptions

· Skillbuilding: Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues

· Cyndi’s List: Land Records

· Land Records Research Directory

· Public Lands & Claims Amer. State Papers, 1789-1837

· List of Useful Resources About Land Records

· Glossary, Acronyms & Abbreviations- Land Records

Classes and courses

Learning more about becoming a better family historian is an important part of your research experience. Genealogy classes and courses in will teach you how to learn basic and advanced research skills such as finding new records and websites that will assist you in tracking down some of your hard to find ancestors. There are free classes available to you on the Internet so why pay for them. Such classes vary from those that are based on readings and corresponding questionnaires to classroom presentations via videotaped sessions. The following LINKS will lead you to several FREE learning opportunities found on the Internet.

· Research Classes Online at Family Search

· Genealogy.com: Learning Center

· BYU Independent Study - Free Online Courses

· Genealogy Podcast Schedule and Audio Guide

Genealogy Blog Finder

How to Blog About Your Family History

Learning how to blog about your family tree is easy with this 4 part video series by Lisa Louise Cooke of the Genealogy Gems Podcast at http://www.genealogygems.com . Blogging about your family history and genealogy research is a wonderful way to share your ancestry with friends and family. It also means that key information from your research will be found in the Google search engine which means long lost distant cousins will be able to find you and collaborate.

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Part 1 How to Blog Your Family History - Genealogy Blogging

Part 2: How to Blog Your Family History - Genealogy Blogging Added to queue

Part 3: How to Blog Your Family History - Genealogy Made Easy

Part 4: How to Blog Your Family History - Genealogy Made Easy

Genealogy Blog Finder

Genealogy blogs have become a great new research method, and should be added to the tools you currently use to search for ancestors. Because there are so many blogs to choose from we could all use some help figuring out which ones exit. The blogs listed below are included on the “Genealogy Blog Finder” webpage. This simple-to-use research tool makes it easy to quickly learn about any number of genealogy blogs which address topics that are of interest to you or may contain information relevant to your research.

· African-American - Blogs devoted to African-American research

· Associations & Societies - Family association and genealogical society blogs

· Australia & New Zealand - Blogs from Australasia

· Cemeteries - Cemetery and gravestone research tools

· Community - Blogs for online communities

· Conferences - Official blogs of genealogical conferences

· Corporate - Blogs published by businesses and non-profits

· Documentary - Digitized and transcribed documents

· Famous Folks - Exploring the origins of famous people

· French-Canadian & Acadian - roots in French-speaking Canada

· Genealogy News - The latest developments in the genealogical world

· Genetic Genealogy - On the use of DNA in genealogy

· GenWeb - Blogs associated with GenWeb projects

· International - Bloggers beyond the United States

· Jewish - Blogs for those with Jewish roots

· Libraries - Librarians offer tips on finding resources

· Locality Specific - Regional and local news and resources

· Obituaries - Blogs featuring death notices

· Personal Research - Family historians share their personal stories

· Photography - Family history told with photographs

· Podcasts - Listen online to genealogy news and advice

· Polish - Blogs for those with roots in Poland

· Preservation - Tips on preserving your family's history

· Professional Genealogists - The pros weigh in

· Queries - Questions asked and answered

· Single Surname - Blogs focusing on one surname

· Technology - Using technology to aid research

· Tips, Resources & Reviews - Tips for building skills and finding resources

· Vlogs - Blogs with genealogy video clips

We thank the folks at “The Genealogue” for keeping track of all of these Genealogy related blogs. As

such we encourage you to click on the link below to visit their site to see what else they have to offer.

Publishing Family History

If You are looking for a simple and economical method for producing a quality family narrative you may want to consider the following online services.

· MyCanvas - Build books from scratch or keep it simple with templated samples to make your own. Browse samples.

· Footnote Pages – A new way to help you collect and share everything you know about someone or something.

· Scribd - Millions of documents and books at your fingertips! Read, print, download, and send them to your mobile devices instantly. Or upload your PDF, Word, and PowerPoint docs to share them with the world's largest community of readers.

· Smashwords - Smashwords makes it fast, free and easy to publish, distribute and sell your ebooks to a worldwide audience at the largest ebook retailers. At Smashwords, there are no setup fees, no packages to buy, and no cost to update or revise your book. They also provide free ISBNs.

· CreateSpace - CreateSpace, a member of the Amazon group of companies, is your one-stop shop for book publishing success.

· Blurb - Make beautiful books with Blurb’s bookmaking tools. Order books and share with friends or fans. Sell your books in the Blurb Bookstore.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

· Self-publishing a book: 25 things you need to know

· FreeJoe Enterprises

· Self Publish A Book With the Experts

· Cyndi’s Home Page Genealogy Construction Kit