Genealogy and the Modern Internet

Session Two: basic steps to efficiently use online resources, whether paid or free

During this session, students will be guided through the steps for using the class-chosen browser for use in research. Efficient use a browser includes:

creating a list of browser bookmarks of valuable online tools for genealogical research; a sample list on this website can be found here and also HERE.
setting up multi-tabs in the browser to allow for quick movement from website to website
setting up multi-tasks in the Windows Task bar for quick movement from app to app
learning how to use the various online resources whether fee-based or free
developing greater skill in using the various search engines to narrow down the list of possible hits more directly associated with the student's own family
learning how to effectively read and understand the United States federal census forms used from 1850 to 1940; blank forms can be found online at http://www.ancestry.com/download/Forms#uscensus

Examples of how "brick walls" can be removed as an obstacle to family research will be explained. Current samples available on this website are a guideline PDF and well as a detailed sample study.

Time will be allotted so that students will continue their online research into their own family history. For students that do not have their own device, the LSCGG can provide four work-stations for this task.

Session Three will be designed to assist the student in becoming an efficient creator of citations and attributions that will enhance the value of their family tree research.

Students are asked to fill-out and return a Session Two "question sheet." A PDF copy is available here.

Website Resources for Genealogical Research

Free Use:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/home.html - this website has changed URL paths several times in the past - Databases are maintained by the office of the Illinois Secretary of State

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ - this website offers access to family researches done by private citizens; most of these records are not sourced RootsWeb/FamilyConnect is now owned by Ancestry.com but is still free for public use.

http://www.findagrave.com/ - this website offers access to burial information posted by individuals concerned with preserving and making available to the general public this type of information. Information can be used as "hints" as to what to research about a family member as far as identifying a "paper trail."

http://www.50states.com/abbreviations.htm#.UToHeleyI6w - a handy list of abbreviations of the names of states for your making of notes and citations.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/newspapers/?state=Illinois&ethnicity=&language=eng - the list of Illinois newspapers currently available in a searchable, digitized format; site is part of the United States Library of Congress

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm - website maintained by the United States National Park Service; allows access to lists of those who were in the many various military units that served during the American Civil War; also has information regarding the history of each military unit.

http://genscriber.com/genappsd/ - the homepage of this website states "GenScriber is a transcription editor for census records, church records, birth, marriage ,baptisms, burials, index records etc ."

https://familysearch.org/ - the homepage of the genealogy project supported and organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; free access to transcriptions and/or document images is available with the creation of an account.

Free Basic Use with Expanded Use with Fee Payment:

http://www.mocavo.com/ - a fairly recent addition to the world of Internet genealogical research; available in a free, basic package as well as a fee-based "Gold" membership

http://www.lscgg.org/ - website of the La Salle County Genealogy Guild, a volunteer based organization whose history began in 1979; useful for tracking a paper trail of those ancestors who lived part or all of their lives in La Salle County, Illinois.

http://www.fold3.com/choose-a-plan/?xid=1156&gclid=CKu2p_jz-cACFedzMgodfS4AsA - available options for use of this website that is devoted to allowing access to a collection of original military records.

http://search.ancestry.com/search/group/usfedcen - section of the website maintained by Ancestry.com; this service will allow free access to "public trees" as well as the United States Federal Census for 1880 and 1940. "Public Trees" posted to this website are generally not documented.