The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is a subject index to family and local history literature published in periodicals. Originally created in 1986 by the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it is the second largest family history library in the United States, in print and fiche formats. PERSI now includes more than 11,000 genealogical, historical, and patriotic periodicals, including magazines, newsletters, journals created by societies from around the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Ireland. The articles are indexed by place, subject, surname, ethnicity, and methodology. FindMyPast partnered with ACPL in 2013...
Do you have ancestors who immigrated to the United States since 1790? Have you discovered their village, town, or even country of origin? Family stories or census records might give clues, but often give conflicting information. Is there another record type that could give additional hints to your ancestors homeland? Naturalization records might provide important details but what are these records and how do you find them? This three-part series will address those questions and give you a foundation in this sometimes confusing record set. Why Use Naturalization Records Many record collections are now easily searched online and because we...
Have you tried searching the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) for a surname but come away empty? Me too. I searched with "Dyer" in the who field and "North Carolina" in the where field. My search returned 0 results! I was disappointed. I felt like it was probably incorrect. There just had to be some articles in PERSI about Dyers in North Carolina. PERSI includes over two million entries for articles from thousands of genealogical and historical periodicals. Dyer is a fairly common name, and many Dyers lived in North Carolina. Why wasn't my search getting any results? I wondered if...
When is the last time you discovered an important new genealogy record because of the FamilySearch indexing effort? Did you know that when you attach a record hint generated by the system you may also have the option to send a thank you to the indexer? Lest we ever forget that our ability to research quickly and effectively is due to the efforts of many who volunteer their time, during this season of Thanksgiving we can take a moment and give thanks. Recently in reviewing the FamilySearch details for my third great grandfather, Hickman Monroe Shults, I saw a new...
Censuses and vital records are the backbones of genealogical research. Finding ancestors on every census and discovering their vital records can help a researcher begin to identify an ancestor and the familial relationships for that ancestor. Land and probate records are also valuable sources. But what happens when a search of these records doesn't yield many results? Additional (and often less-used) records can then be examined with the goal of finding clues that will lead to more information about the ancestor. I recently finished a project where I relied heavily on city directories to help find new avenues of research. ...
What types of cemetery records are available to shed light on your ancestor's life? Have you considered searching for more than the headstone? A cemetery record can contain important genealogical information such as birth and death details, family relationships, and more. If we're going to discover all we can about our ancestors, we need to be aware of the variety of cemetery records and what can be found in them. In Back to the Basics: Cemetery Records Part 1 you learned about the various types of U.S. cemeteries, and how to find the cemetery where your ancestor might be buried....
How can you find tax records for your ancestors? That's what I want to share today in the third post in our back to basics with tax records series. The other parts are here: Back to the Basics with Tax Records: Part 1 - what tax records contain and how they can help you prove identity and relationships Back to the Basics with Tax Records: Part 2 - what types of tax records exist So you are convinced by the first two articles that you want to find some tax records for you ancestors? Okay, here's a process to get started!...
What kind of tax records exist? That's what I want to share today in the second post in our back to basics with tax records series. The first post, by Diana, gave you a taste of what tax records may contain and how you can use them in your research to determine identity and relationships. Hopefully now you're convinced of their usefulness. Tax records might be especially helpful when you're facing a tough problem like a burned county or when you are performing reasonably exhaustive research. Let's discuss what types of tax records exist. Part 3 (coming out next week)...
Have you used church records in your genealogy yet? If not, you might be interested to know how helpful a church record can be in researching your family. Because birth and death certificates were not required by most states in the U.S. until after 1900, church records can be a substitute for vital records. They can also help establish an ancestor's status in the community, reveal associates, and point to previous or subsequent residences. In this two-part series, we’ll examine the value of church records, what kind of records were created, and how to find them for your ancestor. Because...
Have you wondered what is behind the scenes at an archive? Any idea what work goes into preserving the records that we use for our genealogy research? I recently presented a class on using probate records at the Family History Workshop sponsored by the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service and was treated to a tour of the archived records. My guide opened an innocuous door and when I entered the archive I was shocked to see the boxes extending five stories high! Glen Fairclough, the Utah Public Notice Website Administrator, has worked at the Utah Archives for over...
