How To Use The Census In Your Genealogy Research

You've gone through the preliminaries.

You've collected all your household vital records, interviewed relatives, gathered additional records from living relatives and followed-up on some of the leads that were developed. Now, you're stuck and not sure what to do next in your genealogy research.

If you've worked your way far enough back, it might be time to start checking the Census.

But first, you'll want to understand that while the Census Bureau collects some great genealogical information, it has the responsibility of confidentiality. As a result, the Decennial Census of Population and Housing on individuals does not become available to the public until after 72 years.

That's why you have to have worked your way far enough back in your research before you'll find the Census helpful.

But here's what you'll really like ... not only will the Census records help you locate where an acestor lived, after 1840 the Census collected age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education, spouse, children, hired hands, and even immigration information. A gold mine for genealogists.

Copies of the original decennial census forms from 1790 through 1930 are available on microfilm for research at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC (http://www.archives.gov/), at Archives regional centers, and at select Federal depository libraries throughout the United States. In addition, these records are available at various other libraries and research facilities throughout the United States.

You can also check with the reference librarian at your local library and see if they're set up to borrow microfilm through the National Archives' census microfilm rental program.

There's something else you're really going to like ... immigration records are also on microfilm at the National Archives. These records have been collected for all major U.S. ports since 1820. They include Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The western ports of San Franciso and Seattle are also archived, though those records weren't started until late in the 19th Century.

Here's what these immigration records include: the full name, age, sex, place of origin, and destination for every passenger on the ship. The records even include those who were born or died during the voyage.

And there's more. You can also track down some naturalization records through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Naturalization is the process by which a a person becomes an American citizen. By law, a person can be naturalized in any "regular" court. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has records for the entire country beginning in 1906, but before this time, the procedure will only be located in the records of the court where it took place. These records often provide a person's birth date and location, occupation, immigration year, marital status and spouse information, witnesses' names and addresses, and more.

For Pre-1906 Naturalizations:

Contact the State Archives for the state where the naturalization occurred to request a search of state, county, and local courts records.

Contact the NARA regional facility that serves the state where naturalization occurred to request a search of Federal court records

For Naturalizations After 1906:

After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of naturalizations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional facilities for the Federal courts for their area. Learn more: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/

Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful for learning learn more about the Census and how to access all the incredible information available to genealogy researchers:

USGenWeb Census Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/

Censuslinks.com
http://www.censuslinks.com/

U.S. Census Bureau's Genealogy Page
http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/

Census Finder
http://www.censusfinder.com/

There's nothing quite as exhilarating as uncovering new information about your ancestors. If you've reached a point where you aren't quite sure what to try next in your genealogy research, The Census might just be your best bet. Even if you aren't at that point, it's a resource that you should familiarize yourself with. Sooner or later, it's likely that's where your research is going to led you.

Debbie Pettitt is the webmaster of Ancestry Review, an online site dedicated to helping genealogists weave through all the available Internet genealogy, ancestry and family tree resources to find those that best suit their needs. For more information, please visit http://ancestryreview.com

Feed The Tree - The Genealogy of The Pixies, Throwing Muses, The Breeders and Belly

One of my very favourite sub-scenes of music is the interweaving family tree that includes The Pixies, Throwing Muses, The Breeders and Belly. I could write endlessly about any of these bands, even about individual songs, so I am going to try to strictly limit myself to a very potted history and include a few example videos by each band, as well as a diagram that explains a great deal more (well, that's if you can read it...it's sharp as a pin on my computer, but the quality doesn't seem to be so great in Blogger). The diagram, too, could be endless, and there is much that is not incuded...but that should inform a healthy comments debate of additions eh?

Recording during the late 1980s and the 1990s, I believe that these artists, and in particular The Pixies, really added something new to the musical landscape; and they have certainly been very influential on other musicians.

I shall start with The Pixies, as they are probably the best known of the bunch, and are really the 'daddy' of this scene (although Throwing Muses were around before The Pixies formed). Headed by Charles Michael Kitridge Thompson IV (!) under the pseudonym Black Francis, they were formed in Boston in 1986. Their full-length debut, Surfer Rosa, recorded by Steve Albini, was released in 1988 (following the release of EP Come On Pilgrim), and was quietly successful, particularly in the UK (more so than in their native US), and won both Melody Maker and Sounds' Album Of The Year title. They supported fellow Bostonians Throwing Muses on tour early on in their career, which introduced them to industry professionals and the wider public.

I would describe their sound as alternative, guitar-based surf punk. Their albums displayed a wide range of song styles and The Pixies seemed to have a really novel, original and unique way of doing things. Strange sound collages crash against surreal imagery on subjects as diverse as UFOs, Mose Allison, incest and biblical references, and the albums are peppered by lyrics in Spanish as well as in English. These lyrics are often 'spacey' or violent, yet it is clear that their author is eloquent and articulate. Their use of volume and dynamics is also of note, with quiet, lazy, restrained sections contrasting with loud hell-for-leather, beat-the-crap-out-of-your-guitar choruses, and gutteral growlings interspersed with sweet, almost falsetto, tunefulness. They were of particular influence on the grunge music scene of the early 1990s (Nirvana claimed, in interview, to have been trying to emulate their sound with Smells Like Teen Spirit), and have been cited by many, including David Bowie, U2 and Radiohead, as one of their favourite bands.

Black Francis, now rechristened Frank Black, has since been prolific, both solo and with his band Frank Black And The Catholics.

And so, before we move on, here are a couple of interesting tidbits for you...

The song Debaser (from the album Doolittle - which was provisionally titled Whore) was inspired by the film Un Chien Andalou, by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali...anyone that has seen this film will remember the eyeball-slicing scene vividly! The song Ana (from Bossanova) is an acrostic - the first letters of each of its six lines spelling out S-U-R-F-E-R.

Divinyl's tip for best introductory album = Doolittle.

Throwing Muses were formed in 1983 by Kristin Hersh and her step-sister Tanya Donelly. They self-released a set of demos (The Doghouse Cassette) in 1984, also releasing a self-titled EP later that year. Their debut album proper (again eponymous) was released in 1986. Muses were the first American act to be signed to British record label 4AD, which has housed all of these key bands, as well as lots of other great artists. 4AD is also responsible for one of my favourite compilation albums, which came free with the magazine Uncut in 1998 and features Lush, His Name Is Alive, Dead Can Dance, Lisa Germano, Mojave 3, Red House Painters and others. (Check out their website for a fuller overview of their artists/releases.)

Hersh has an extremely distinctive vocal style and the lyrics are quirky, sung over tempo shifts and catchy guitar hooks. This is still somewhat anguished 'alternative rock' (e.g. lots of references to mental illness in their lyrics - Hersh suffers from bipolar disorder and is compelled to write by auditory hallucinations which 'force' songs upon her), but it is tuneful, poppy and accessible. Hersh continues to record solo today - a more acoustic sound and stunning songwriting - and also, in 2003, formed the power rock trio 50 Foot Wave. She has been kind enough to share free-to-download mp3s from her solo career, as well as songs from Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave at her website Throwing Music.

Divinyl's tip for best introductory album = Limbo.

Best introductory Kristin Hersh album = Hips And Makers (which was co-produced by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye).

Kim Deal of The Pixies formed The Breeders (taking the name from the teenage band of she and twin sister Kelley, also in this incarnation - the word being one which homosexuals use to refer to heterosexual people) with Throwing Muses' (with whom they had been on tour) guitarist Tanya Donelly and bassist Josephine Wiggs of Perfect Disaster. Formed in 1989 and releasing their first full album, Pod, in 1990, this was a much more girl-based sound, where angular guitar-playing and feedback are complemented by the melodic singing voices of both Deal and Donelly (don't get me wrong, these women can howl too!). They were signed to 4AD after Ivo Watts-Russell heard their demo, and their debut was recorded (again by Steve Albini, with whom Deal had worked when she was in The Pixies) in only one week. And so to a fact, before we leave The Breeders - with their album Title TK (2002), they heralded the "all wave" philosophy of recording analogue instruments and vocals and eschewing computer technology and digital recording techniques.

Divinyl's tip for best introductory album = Last Splash.

Whilst The Breeders are still going (or at least haven't officially split - the last album they released was Title TK), Tanya Donelly (the most 'capped' in this pantheon) left in 1991 to form...

Belly. Who were a much more chart- and MTV-friendly band who fit nicely into the division of early 90s indie rock that also included groups such as Lush, Echobelly and Dubstar. Belly are, in my opinion, under-appreciated. Their first EP, Slow Dust, was released in 1992 and reached number one on the British indie chart. There followed two albums - Star in 1993 and King in 1995. And that was it (but it was enough to garner Grammy nominations)...unless you count a (great) album mixing 'best of'/B-sides and rareties not released until 2002. Their sound was much more 'pop' than their sibling bands, at times dreamy, at times thrashy, the lyrics still replete with weird, haunting and surreal imagery. They had their biggest success with the single Feed The Tree.

Donelly continues to work as a solo artist and has made some lovely songs; however, in my opinion, her solo efforts have varied widely in quality - it's all a bit hit-and-miss. You can visit her website, where there are free downloadable demos from Belly's album Star and also from her solo catalogue.

Divinyl's tip for best introductory album - Star. And by Tanya Donelly as a solo artist - Whiskey Tango Ghosts.

N.B. All still images original by Divinyl.

http://divinylblogs.blogspot.com

The Do's and Dont's of Genealogy Research

When it comes to genealogy research, there are a number of dos and don'ts you should keep in mind in order to guarantee the best results.

Do: Take the Time to Talk to Living Relatives

One common mistake many people make when doing genealogy research is forgetting to talk to those relatives that are still living. It is easy to get caught up in all of the researching and sorting through old records with the intent of catching up with living relatives later, only to discover that later never comes.

Genealogy research is very interesting and it is fun to learn more about your past relatives. Don't forget that your living relatives have many wonderful anecdotes as well. In addition, they have a great deal of insight to add to your research. For this reason, talking to your living relatives should be one of your top priorities.

If it is impossible for you to personally visit with a living relative, you might want to consider sending a memory book to the relative and asking him or her to fill the book with stories. Not only will this help you gain valuable insight, it can also make a marvelous memento.

Don't: Trust Everything You Read

Remember: just because it is in print, it doesn't mean it is true. In fact, it is actually quite easy to publish information. This is particularly true when it comes to researchers publishing information they have uncovered while exploring the mysteries of genealogy. Never assume this information is accurate. Instead, use it as a jumping block toward completing your own research.

Keep in mind that most printed histories do contain at least one or two small errors. Census, will, cemetery, and courthouse transcriptions may also contain errors such as missing information or make their own incorrect assumptions. The same holds true for printed information on the Internet.

Do: Avoid Blanket Family Histories

There are many companies out there that are willing to provide you with "everything you need to know" about your family surname. These generic family histories are not an accurate portrayal of your actual lineage. In addition, they are not very detailed or complete. In fact, most of these supposed family histories only offer a few paragraphs of information about the origin of the surname. In most cases, there are several different origins for a surname, with their being no guarantee that it is about your specific family.

Many of these companies also provide you with the coat of arms that is supposed to be related to your family. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that this coat of arms is related to your family because they were usually provided to specific people rather than to a surname. These companies also typically provide you with a list of other people with the same surname as you - information you can gather yourself by simply looking through phone books on the Internet.

Don't: Get Caught Up in Your Hopes

It is common to want to believe that you are related to some famous person from the past. In fact, many people begin genealogy research in the first place because they are hoping to find a family connection with a famous person with the same last name. Therefore, it is important to be honest and open-minded when performing research rather than sway the evidence in the direction you are hoping to go. In addition, resist the temptation to start with the famous person and trace him or her back to you. Rather, start with yourself and see where the research leads you.

Do: Document Your Sources

Every source you use should be documented. This makes it easier for you to cross-reference your findings while also adding clout to your research. Properly documenting your sources includes writing down the location of the document, as well as the name of the source and the date you retrieved it.

Don't: Use Just One Surname Spelling

Limiting yourself to just one surname spelling can cause you to miss out on a great deal of information. Remember that your ancestors may have gone by a number of different spellings. These spellings are commonly found in official records as well. In fact, names were commonly misspelled on accident or purposely changed in order to better fit within a certain culture or to make it easier to remember. Develop a list of possible variations in spelling of your name and go from there when doing research.

By keeping this list of dos and don'ts in mind when performing genealogy research, you will be more likely to successfully trace back the branches on your family tree - and have a great time doing it!

Marie Christianson is a senior business analyst at http://www.FamilyDetails.com. Visit the FamilyDetails.com Genealogy Info Center for more articles and resources!

There Are Many Sources Are Available For Genealogy Research

Today there are many Internet sources available for genealogy research. Some do require a monthly or yearly registration fee. In some cases purchasing genealogy software at an office supply store may give you the benefit of a limited time subscription to one or more of the internet resource sites. Since these temporarily free subscriptions often autmatically renew to your credit card vigilance is needed. Use the membership while it is free to determine if it worth a subscription fee later on. If it is not cancel within the free membership time frame.

There are some well known resources such as Ancestry.com, Familytree.com, and LDS Genealogy. There are also city, state, immigration, surname, religious, and educational searches. You can choose to do your own searches or enlist the assistance of topical software. In any event you will be hard pressed to run out of researches. Knowing where to search is one of the key elements to your task and it can be fun and informative. However it can become overwhelming or frustrating, and then it may be time to make a change or take a break from your genealogy research project.

Research can be fun but finding information for genealogy research can also be challenging. For instance, if you have a surname that is slightly unusual and have researched all possible spelling and pronunciations, you might find an obscure company name or corporation that has the similar or same name. Consider writing a letter to the President, aptly noted Personal and Confidential on the outside. Be sure to explain that you are in the midst of your genealogy research project and would like to ask if he knows the history of the company and the company name. If you are incredibly fortunate, the president may be or know the founder of the company. In some extraordinary cases, he will know who the company or firm was named after. It could be someone of relative importance. Although it could be simply the surname of the person who owns the business.

If you are a hard core genealogy research fanatic, you can go as far or farther than you ever thought you could. Networking is a key element. If someone is not related to you but has the same name it may be important to ask if they have found other people with the same name that are not related. Then, you follow up with those people. You are sure to learn more, eliminate areas, and make new friends along the way.

Be careful with regards to your genealogy research. People may be polite in answering your questions at first. However they may not share your enthusiam for the family heritage research. Do not impose daily, weekly or monthly updates on family who have not asked for them. Enjoy your hobby but in this case keep your enthusiam to yourself.

Remember if you send daily or weekly emails to people who have not asked for it is considered rude by many and actually violates laws about sending unsolicited emails. Your family members may not sue you, but you may be offending them before you get a chance to know them and learn more about your family tree. Learning about a relative you do not know is fun. After you do so for the 50th or 75th time, it becomes mundane.

Jerry Cahill is an author and webmaster. Check out his genealogy information at {a rel="nofollow" href=" http://www.familygenealogytreesite.com"}Genealogy Family Tree

The Basics of Genealogy Research

When it comes to genealogy research, there are many different tricks of the trade that you can use to find and gather the information that you need. No matter what methods you choose to follow, however, there are a few basics that always remain the same if you hope to have a successful and fulfilling search.

Record Information

One of the most important steps you should take when conducting genealogy research is also one of the most overlooked: make sure to maintain accurate logs of the information you have collected. In order to keep accurate loges, you need to document the resources you used for each piece of information you collect. This makes it far easier to do cross-references down the road and to verify information that you may collect elsewhere.

Gather Evidence

When conducting genealogy research, it will be necessary for you to create your own hypotheses when it comes to piecing information about your family together. Don't get carried away with romantic ideas of your lineage and fool yourself into believing them. Make sure to test every hypothesis and theory you develop by finding credible evidence to back it up. If your hypothesis is not supported by the evidence, reject it and move on to another hypothesis.

Go Original

As much as possible, always use original documents when researching your genealogy. If you use ones that have been reproduced, you run the risk of having documents that have been altered. This, of course, may cause you to have inaccurate information. When it comes to published works, compilations, communications, and other electronic or paper guides, you should use them as guides in order to help you find the original documents.

Never Stretch the Truth

Never communicate something as a fact when it comes to your genealogy until you are completely sure it really is a fact. You should never mislead another researchers - either purposely or out of carelessness - when stating information. If you communicate information as facts to other genealogists and have your "fact" disproved, you will lose respect within the community and others will be less likely to help you in your search. Also, site your reference when providing information as fact.

If you are still uncertain as to whether or not a piece of information you gathered is fact, then you should state that the information is probable or possible. Once again, cite your resource for the information that has led you to believe the information may be true. Be sure to acknowledge the research that others may have conducted for you.

Work Together

Genealogy research is a collegial interest. Therefore, you should openly and freely communicate with other researchers and share the information you have gathered. In order to do this, you should publish your work in some manner so it is available to others. You might also place copies of your research in repositories and libraries. In addition, you must be open to constructive criticism.

Since genealogy research is collegial, you should also feel free to read the information that has been gathered by other researchers. Never feel afraid to ask questions or to ask others to share the information they have gathered with you.

Keep an Open Mind

Since genealogy research is a process that involves formulating and testing a variety of hypotheses, it is important to always keep an open mind. New evidence may appear that discredits other evidence you once had and proves something other than what you had thought to be true. Do not set preconceived ideas about your genealogy and then refuse to change them. Also, be open when listening to the conclusions others have drawn and when they make comments on your work. If you listen with an open mind, you just might discover new ideas you had never thought about before.

Genealogy research is a rewarding, fun, and interesting experience. Just be sure to go into it with an open mind, with flexibility, and honesty. Be willing to share your information with others and to listen to their information without being judgmental or by taking offense to their thoughts. Unraveling the mysteries of the past is like a large puzzle, and the more ideas and help you have solving the puzzle, the great the chance of creating a beautiful family picture.

Marie Christianson is a senior business analyst at http://www.FamilyDetails.com. Visit the FamilyDetails.com Genealogy Info Center for more articles and resources

Tips for Buying Genealogy Software

Genealogy software can be a valuable and fun addition to your genealogy project. With the software, you can create magnificent displays of your family heritage and even create multi-media presentations. But, how do you select the genealogy software that is best for you and your needs?

Remember Your Operating System

There are nearly 50 different genealogy software programs available on the market, with many of them being quite similar in what they offer and in the price you will pay to purchase them. Therefore, the first step in narrowing down your search is to determine which ones are compatible with your operating system. Failure to purchase a genealogy software program that works with your computer system will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and wasted money.

The majority of the available software is created to work with Windows. Nonetheless, there are programs available for Linux, Palm, and Mac as well. Be sure to check the box before purchasing.

Consider Your Needs

Your personal needs should also be taken under consideration when selecting a genealogy software program. For example, you may need software that is available in your language if your primary language is not English. Or, you might need software that is compatible with a screen reader if you have vision problems. If you have a physical disability, on the other hand, you might need software that allows you to enter data with keystrokes rather than with a mouse. Consider your unique needs and narrow your choices down even further from there.

Decide How the Software will be Used

Of course, you also need to determine what you will be using the software for. If you are interested in creating a family web page or creating a family history book, you will need genealogy software that is capable of supporting these types of creations. Or, you might want to add audio, photos, or video to the information you are creating and saving. The software you select, therefore, must be compatible with the programs you will be using for your photographs or for your video or audio clips.

Your expected output is also important. For example, you might want to create a life-sized family tree to display at you family reunion. In this case, the software needs to be capable of creating such a large image and sending the information to your printer.

If you want the basics, there is also genealogy software available that simply stores names, events, and dates. Decide ahead of time what you hope to achieve with your software, and use that to help you determine which one you will purchase.

Determine Your Comfort Level

All the "bells and whistles" of a genealogy software program will mean nothing if you aren't comfortable using them! So, before you go out and purchase a program that does all sorts of wonderful and exciting things, make sure you are prepared to learn how to do them. Decide how willing and capable you are to sit down and learn about all of the special features offered by your genealogy software. If you know you won't be able to take full advantage of them, save yourself the time, frustration, and money by purchasing a more basic software program.

Get Help with Research

If you plan on sharing a great deal of your information with other genealogists or with family members, you might want to consider purchasing a software program that helps you out when it comes to reading genealogy files that were created by other programs. By purchasing a software program that is capable of interacting with other forms of software, you can easily transmit and share information without the risk of losing important data. In addition, you may wish to purchase a program that is capable of creating easy to read charts and other types of reports that can be easily uploaded to the Internet and onto your family website.

Genealogy software can make the process of researching your family tree far simpler if you take the time to find a program that is well suited to your needs. Similarly, it can make it far easier to share information with friends, family, and fellow genealogists. This sharing makes it possible for them to help add to your research. In addition, you can create attractive displays with the right software that can help you create lovely and meaningful gifts and mementos for your family members.

Marie Christianson is a senior business analyst at http://www.FamilyDetails.com. Visit the FamilyDetails.com Genealogy Info Center for more articles and resources

Tips for Buying Genealogy Software

Genealogy software can be a valuable and fun addition to your genealogy project. With the software, you can create magnificent displays of your family heritage and even create multi-media presentations. But, how do you select the genealogy software that is best for you and your needs?

Remember Your Operating System

There are nearly 50 different genealogy software programs available on the market, with many of them being quite similar in what they offer and in the price you will pay to purchase them. Therefore, the first step in narrowing down your search is to determine which ones are compatible with your operating system. Failure to purchase a genealogy software program that works with your computer system will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and wasted money.

The majority of the available software is created to work with Windows. Nonetheless, there are programs available for Linux, Palm, and Mac as well. Be sure to check the box before purchasing.

Consider Your Needs

Your personal needs should also be taken under consideration when selecting a genealogy software program. For example, you may need software that is available in your language if your primary language is not English. Or, you might need software that is compatible with a screen reader if you have vision problems. If you have a physical disability, on the other hand, you might need software that allows you to enter data with keystrokes rather than with a mouse. Consider your unique needs and narrow your choices down even further from there.

Decide How the Software will be Used

Of course, you also need to determine what you will be using the software for. If you are interested in creating a family web page or creating a family history book, you will need genealogy software that is capable of supporting these types of creations. Or, you might want to add audio, photos, or video to the information you are creating and saving. The software you select, therefore, must be compatible with the programs you will be using for your photographs or for your video or audio clips.

Your expected output is also important. For example, you might want to create a life-sized family tree to display at you family reunion. In this case, the software needs to be capable of creating such a large image and sending the information to your printer.

If you want the basics, there is also genealogy software available that simply stores names, events, and dates. Decide ahead of time what you hope to achieve with your software, and use that to help you determine which one you will purchase.

Determine Your Comfort Level

All the "bells and whistles" of a genealogy software program will mean nothing if you aren't comfortable using them! So, before you go out and purchase a program that does all sorts of wonderful and exciting things, make sure you are prepared to learn how to do them. Decide how willing and capable you are to sit down and learn about all of the special features offered by your genealogy software. If you know you won't be able to take full advantage of them, save yourself the time, frustration, and money by purchasing a more basic software program.

Get Help with Research

If you plan on sharing a great deal of your information with other genealogists or with family members, you might want to consider purchasing a software program that helps you out when it comes to reading genealogy files that were created by other programs. By purchasing a software program that is capable of interacting with other forms of software, you can easily transmit and share information without the risk of losing important data. In addition, you may wish to purchase a program that is capable of creating easy to read charts and other types of reports that can be easily uploaded to the Internet and onto your family website.

Genealogy software can make the process of researching your family tree far simpler if you take the time to find a program that is well suited to your needs. Similarly, it can make it far easier to share information with friends, family, and fellow genealogists. This sharing makes it possible for them to help add to your research. In addition, you can create attractive displays with the right software that can help you create lovely and meaningful gifts and mementos for your family members.

Marie Christianson is a senior business analyst at http://www.FamilyDetails.com. Visit the FamilyDetails.com Genealogy Info Center for more articles and resources!