From time to time, I encounter individuals who have huge family files comprising tens of thousands of names. These people, who I will call name collectors, seem intent on compiling the largest collection of names possible. Usually, they have absolutely no idea who any of the people actually are, but they take pride in the huge number of individuals. Name collectors are neither genealogists nor family historians. With today's technology and a few GEDCOM files anyone can have a huge collection of names. Often, these collections date back well into the Middle Ages and beyond. It is not unusual for someone to claim their genealogy goes all the way back to Adam.
I first ran into this problem years ago while doing my first survey of what research had been done in my family. I found a whole series of family group records extending the family line back and back in time to before 900 A.D. The sheets claimed to be the ancestors of Richard Warren, of the Mayflower. As the line kept going on and on, I became skeptical that anyone had actually made a valid connection between this long pedigree and Richard Warren of the Mayflower. I also soon found that no one had actually proved Richard Warren's parentage in England. As one Website by Caleb Johnson put it, "Richard Warren's English origins and ancestry have been the subject of much speculation, and countless different ancestries have been published for him, without a shred of evidence to support them." Since that time, I have found several instances in my own family of extensive unsupported pedigrees.
I find it difficult to believe that someone, wanting to claim a huge family file, would change the name of their father or grandfather to "adopt" someone with a long lineage of ancestors. But this is done all the time by name collectors with remote ancestors. They find a long ancestral line and decide they must be related. Their remote ancestor, John Smith who was a poor farmer, must have really been the famous John Smith with a huge pedigree. Historically, genealogists had a really bad reputation for doing just that, compiling false pedigrees to satisfy people's vanity and to make someone appear to be important. The problem is, the practice has not stopped. Name collectors do the same thing today.
What is the harm in having a huge family file? Who cares anyway? One problem, I have seen, is that people just starting out in family research are intimidated by the huge numbers and files. How would you feel if you were trying to find your grandfather and someone tells you they have 35,000 names in their family file? You might decide that you will never find that many names and just quit.
Some really good genealogists do have huge family files, but even professionals do not have the same level of confidence in the accuracy of every name in a big file. Think about it, if you had 35,000 names in a file and spent only five minutes looking at each one, it would take you more than 2900 hours to look at all the names.
It is also important to address the issue of quality. There is certainly more value in a well documented file with a few names than a huge file with no idea of source or validity of the names. Another problem arising from the lack of documentation of the name collector's files is that people just might believe the information. After all, it is a huge file and therefore must be true. Sometimes when I ask someone with a huge file going back into royal lineage where they got the information, they admit that they copied another file from someone else. It is not the copy that is the problem, it is the thought that the mere possession of a huge list of names is somehow validating.
Meanwhile, if someone comes into the Mesa Regional Family History Center and asks for help with a huge file going back to Charlmagne, I will still be as pleasant as possible. Maybe they really are related to him?
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
New Records on FamilySearch Record Search Pilot tied to Wiki FamilySearch
In a recent post citing FamilySearch on 11 September 2009, Dick Eastman listed a number of updated collections in FamilySearch's Record Search Pilot. But the most interesting thing about the new files is not in the article. The new files listed are:
The interesting thing about these new collections can be found from clicking on each collection from the browse collections menu. For example, clicking on the Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957 brings up a search screen for the collection. Down at the bottom of the page, there is another link "About this Collection." Previously, this link brought up sort-of a generic description of the collection. Now, the link ties into the Wiki FamilySearch page for that particular collection. This is a major advantage. The Wiki site has more links and a lot more explanation about the collections. It also means that all of the collections in the Record Search are now in the Wiki, making that resource priceless in finding the scanned images you need. So now, go directly to the Wiki FamilySearch, not to the Record Search site, if you want to actually find some useful information. This is a "Wow, guess what I found" kind of event.
| Collection Name | Indexed Records | Digital Images | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil, Pernambuco Civil Registration, 1889–2003 | 1,639,242 | Updated collection with new searchable images. | |
| Canada, British Columbia birth registrations, 1854–1903 | 38,340 | 39,973 | New index and image collection. The marriages and death projects for British Columbia are currently being keyed in FamilySearch Indexing |
| Czech Republic, Northern Moravia, Opava Archive | 120,412 | Updated collection with new searchable images. | |
| Hungary Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kis-Kun, Budapest Civil Registration, 1895–1972 | 520,274 | New image browse only collection. | |
| Mexico, Chihuahua Catholic Church Records, 1622–1958 | 322,386 | New image browse only collection. | |
| United States, Arkansas County Marriages, 1837–1957 | 234,570 | 83,094 | Updated collection. Added 15 additional counties. |
| United States, Illinois Cook County Marriages, 1871–1920 | 291,351 | 291,228 | Updated collection with new images and index content. |
| United States, New York State Census, 1892 | 2,714,193 | 19,634 | New index and image collection. |
| United States, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Marriage Indexes, 1885–1951 | 1,830,468 | 25,846 | New index and image collection. |
The interesting thing about these new collections can be found from clicking on each collection from the browse collections menu. For example, clicking on the Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957 brings up a search screen for the collection. Down at the bottom of the page, there is another link "About this Collection." Previously, this link brought up sort-of a generic description of the collection. Now, the link ties into the Wiki FamilySearch page for that particular collection. This is a major advantage. The Wiki site has more links and a lot more explanation about the collections. It also means that all of the collections in the Record Search are now in the Wiki, making that resource priceless in finding the scanned images you need. So now, go directly to the Wiki FamilySearch, not to the Record Search site, if you want to actually find some useful information. This is a "Wow, guess what I found" kind of event.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Don't overlook land records
One of my remote great-grandfathers moved from Rhode Island to New York. All of the published family histories had the story but the move had never been documented or, at least, the source had never been recorded. In reading through early Rhode Island town records, I discovered the real estate tax rolls for the town where they lived. In the tax rolls, I found the family listed year after year, and then they disappeared. This event gave me source for the timing of their movement to New York, thus documenting the family story after more than a hundred years of combined family members' research.
I find that very few genealogical researchers search land records even though they are more or less as available as any other type of records. For example, the Maryland Judiciary, the 24 elected Court Clerks of Maryland and the Maryland State Archives have joined in partnership to provide up to date access to all verified land record instruments in Maryland. This service is currently being provided at no charge to individuals who apply for a user name and password. There are huge databases such as the one maintained by the Bureau of Land Management for the General Land Office Records containing access to Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States. The site also provides image access to more than three million Federal land title records for Eastern Public Land States, issued between 1820 and 1908. Currently, we are adding images of Military Land Warrants. These land patents were issued to individuals as a reward for their military service. About.com:Genealogy also has a helpful list of Land and Property Records.
Many of the state land offices or county land offices (commonly called the County Recorder) have searchable online indexes to property ownership and some have copies of deeds and other records. Another example, the Massachusetts Secretary of State has a Website linking each of the County Registry of Deeds Offices. The Barnstable County Registry has indexes and images complete from 1704. (I have mentioned this before). The Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds goes back to 1686.
Stay tuned for more posts about land records and terminology.
I find that very few genealogical researchers search land records even though they are more or less as available as any other type of records. For example, the Maryland Judiciary, the 24 elected Court Clerks of Maryland and the Maryland State Archives have joined in partnership to provide up to date access to all verified land record instruments in Maryland. This service is currently being provided at no charge to individuals who apply for a user name and password. There are huge databases such as the one maintained by the Bureau of Land Management for the General Land Office Records containing access to Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States. The site also provides image access to more than three million Federal land title records for Eastern Public Land States, issued between 1820 and 1908. Currently, we are adding images of Military Land Warrants. These land patents were issued to individuals as a reward for their military service. About.com:Genealogy also has a helpful list of Land and Property Records.
Many of the state land offices or county land offices (commonly called the County Recorder) have searchable online indexes to property ownership and some have copies of deeds and other records. Another example, the Massachusetts Secretary of State has a Website linking each of the County Registry of Deeds Offices. The Barnstable County Registry has indexes and images complete from 1704. (I have mentioned this before). The Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds goes back to 1686.
Stay tuned for more posts about land records and terminology.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Removing the bricks in the brick wall
Perhaps a couple of examples will illustrate the reason for my recent posts on brick walls. I have the opportunity to talk to many people every week about their genealogy and for that reason, I frequently have comments about difficulties in finding one certain individual, sometimes a direct line relative but often a collateral relation. Often, these researchers become so consumed with finding the information about the difficult individual, they spend most of their research time going over and over the same sources, trying to find another piece of information that will unlock the puzzle and let them move on to other parts of the their family. Partially, I believe, because the situation is called a "brick wall" people become obsessed with finding the information. Many times the person becomes so involved with one or a few individuals, that they put the rest of their family research on hold until that one issue is resolved. In my own case, for lack of a birth place for a great-grandfather, the publication of a whole family history has been delayed.
I am likely writing this analysis as much to see why I feel it is so important to find that one missing piece of information, when I have so many other lines to investigate. I see my own issues, reflected in so many of the researchers I help at the Mesa Regional Family History Center. Sometimes the people become so obsessive, that they reject any and all suggestions that there may be some other explanation or alternative time or location. Frequently, researchers are looking for records that really do not exist. From time to time, I find people who are ignorant of the local history and are looking in the wrong county or even the wrong country. Other times I find people who find someone of the same name and immediately assume they have found the right person and then spend years trying to justify the assumption.
The concept of a "brick wall" does not allow for the elimination of negative information, because the concept focuses on finding positive facts, not in eliminating all possible sources. Because they are trying to break through a brick wall, they think that they are wasting their time if they look through a record source and do not find any information. They do not realize that eliminating one record source is progress. For example, the fact that a person does not appear in a certain U.S. Census year, may have significance for future research, if you can actually assume you haven't somehow overlooked the record due to spelling issues or some other factor.
Genealogical research is a complex process of setting goals, identifying sources, searching and evaluating information and then comparing the information to existing information for consistency. After recording the information and citing sources, you start all over again. The idea of focusing on finding one individual or one fact is contrary to the whole concept of research. Historical research efforts should not be focused on one fact but on the whole picture. Before you can address finding one individual or one date, you need to understand the bigger picture and have the perspective to know whether or not the specific information you are searching for is even possible to obtain.
You can still see the whole picture of a giant puzzle, even if one piece of information is missing. Don't confuse "end of lines" with "brick walls."
I am likely writing this analysis as much to see why I feel it is so important to find that one missing piece of information, when I have so many other lines to investigate. I see my own issues, reflected in so many of the researchers I help at the Mesa Regional Family History Center. Sometimes the people become so obsessive, that they reject any and all suggestions that there may be some other explanation or alternative time or location. Frequently, researchers are looking for records that really do not exist. From time to time, I find people who are ignorant of the local history and are looking in the wrong county or even the wrong country. Other times I find people who find someone of the same name and immediately assume they have found the right person and then spend years trying to justify the assumption.
The concept of a "brick wall" does not allow for the elimination of negative information, because the concept focuses on finding positive facts, not in eliminating all possible sources. Because they are trying to break through a brick wall, they think that they are wasting their time if they look through a record source and do not find any information. They do not realize that eliminating one record source is progress. For example, the fact that a person does not appear in a certain U.S. Census year, may have significance for future research, if you can actually assume you haven't somehow overlooked the record due to spelling issues or some other factor.
Genealogical research is a complex process of setting goals, identifying sources, searching and evaluating information and then comparing the information to existing information for consistency. After recording the information and citing sources, you start all over again. The idea of focusing on finding one individual or one fact is contrary to the whole concept of research. Historical research efforts should not be focused on one fact but on the whole picture. Before you can address finding one individual or one date, you need to understand the bigger picture and have the perspective to know whether or not the specific information you are searching for is even possible to obtain.
You can still see the whole picture of a giant puzzle, even if one piece of information is missing. Don't confuse "end of lines" with "brick walls."
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Final Stakes in Idaho Falls Temple District go live with New Family Search
The final Stakes in the Idaho Falls Temple District are now scheduled to go live with New FamilySearch on September 14, 2009. All of the members of the St. George Temple District now have full access to the Website. This leaves only the following Temple Districts to yet have access to New FamilySearch:
- Bountiful, Utah
- Draper, Utah
- Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Jordan River, Utah
- Mount Timpanogos, Utah
- Ogden, Utah
- Oquirrh Mountain, Utah
- Provo, Utah
- Salt Lake,Utah
Maps and more maps for genealogists
In a recent article in the print edition of Family Tree Magazine, Lisa Louise Cooke listed six very large online collections of maps. This list got me thinking and I decided visit a few of the sites and some others besides those in the magazine. The largest collection of maps listed was that of the National Library of Australia. However, the article claims that there are 300,000 maps in the collection, but the Website states that there are " Over 7225 items from the Map Collection are now accessible online. To review our progress read Maps digitisation - progress so far and Digitisation - overview." "The Maps digitisation - progress so far" article states that as of 30 June 2009 they had digitized 8,856 items, consisting of 16,775 images. Still a very valuable collection.
One small source for finding map collections is the Cartographic Information Center of the Louisiana State University, Department of Geography and Anthropology. This smaller site refers you to a much more extensive collection, the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection of the University of Texas Libraries. The links provided by this Website are extensive and way too long for this post.
One significant collection, although regional, is the Historic Maps Online of the University Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. One of the largest collections of maps in the world is in the New York Public Library. To quote their site, "Established in 1898, the Map Division today holds some 431,000 maps, 16,000 atlases and books about cartography. The collection is international in scope, and dates from the 16th century to the present, with a focus on cities, especially New York City. Computer mapping and Geographic Information Systems [GIS] are new programs of the Map Division. Six computer mapping workstations are located in the newly renovated Map Division for public use." The collection includes the online collection of over 1,000 maps of North America from the earliest printed portrayals to the close of the 19th century; multiple versions and editions allow for historical comparisons.
There are really an almost endless variety of maps and collections.
One small source for finding map collections is the Cartographic Information Center of the Louisiana State University, Department of Geography and Anthropology. This smaller site refers you to a much more extensive collection, the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection of the University of Texas Libraries. The links provided by this Website are extensive and way too long for this post.
One significant collection, although regional, is the Historic Maps Online of the University Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. One of the largest collections of maps in the world is in the New York Public Library. To quote their site, "Established in 1898, the Map Division today holds some 431,000 maps, 16,000 atlases and books about cartography. The collection is international in scope, and dates from the 16th century to the present, with a focus on cities, especially New York City. Computer mapping and Geographic Information Systems [GIS] are new programs of the Map Division. Six computer mapping workstations are located in the newly renovated Map Division for public use." The collection includes the online collection of over 1,000 maps of North America from the earliest printed portrayals to the close of the 19th century; multiple versions and editions allow for historical comparisons.
There are really an almost endless variety of maps and collections.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Washington State's Digital Archives Project a model for other states
Despite the economic difficulties and their impact on various state libraries and archives, there is one very bright spot, the State of Washington. A recent blog of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, once again called my attention to this huge online resource. The main Washington State Archives Website has access to the Digital Archives site with an amazing 83,887,328 total records with 66,904,296 searchable online. The online records include the following collections,
Let's hope that other states see the importance of making their records readily available to the public and especially to genealogists.
- Audio Records
- Auditor Misc Records
- Birth Records
- Census Records
- Corporation Records
- Court Cases
- Death Records
- E-Publications
- Frontier Justice
- Institution Records
- Land Records
- Marriage Records
- Military Records
- Minute Records
- Minutes/Resolutions/Ordinances
- Miscellaneous Family History
- Naturalization Records
- Oaths of Office
- Ordinance Records
- Photographs
- Plats and Surveys Records
- Power of Attorney Records
- Professional License Records
- Real Property Record Cards
- Recorded Agreements and Contracts
- Resolution Records
- Uniform Commercial Code Recordings
Let's hope that other states see the importance of making their records readily available to the public and especially to genealogists.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)