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If you're about to research your family tree, and you're reading this article online, you may already know that you're sitting in front of one of the best tools you can use. Here's what you need to know to make the most of genealogical databases. The following information is excerpted from Reader's Digest's The Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree.
A genealogical database is a collection of information arranged and formatted for quick search and retrieval. There are thousands of online databases that offer a range of information -- from government vital records to minor county records. There may only be one or two databases relevant to your research, but they could put you on a path to finding concrete information.
One Researcher's Story
"In 1997, I wrote my first family history article, 'Somewhere in France,' for Ancestry magazine. It was based on letters that my mother had, which her uncle Edwin had written to his American father and sister while fighting in World War I. As the article was being written, my mother and I talked about finding Uncle Edwin's grandchildren, as these letters surely belonged to them. We put a note in the article asking anyone that knew of Edwin Dyer's descendants to contact the magazine. About this time, my mother found an old letter tucked inside a storage file at home. Written by her aunt, the letter gave the married name of Edwin's daughter and mentioned 'New Jersey - three boys.'
"We searched the New Jersey online telephone directories for the married name. My mother began calling the numbers and got lucky the first time. A cautious-sounding woman answered our questions about the possibility of being a relative. She said, 'You definitely have the right family, but my husband is the one you should have talked to, and he died just a few weeks ago.' The woman was Edwin's second wife. She said that her stepson, one of the boys mentioned in the letter, might like to speak with us, since he was interested in family history. She said she would call and ask him if he wished to get in touch.
"After ten minutes, the telephone rang. On the line was a man saying that 'Ghosts were surely swirling around,' and the hair on his neck was standing on end. It was Edwin's grandson Bob Lazell, calling from New York. His mother died when he was a boy, his father remarried, and contact with his mother's family was lost. He was amazed to find that his grandfather had sisters and that he had cousins. He now has the letters, and we have found a kindred spirit." -- family researcher, Loretto Szucs
Online databases must be regarded as a secondary source, and any facts gathered from them will need verifying using a primary source. Use online data as a guide to locating original records, rather than proof of any date, name, or place. This is particularly true of lineage-linked databases and data without cited sources.
Databases should be treated with a measure of skepticism. They are typically transcriptions, indexes, or abstracts, and are thus subject to a margin of error. In addition, by finding the original documents instead, you may discover useful information that was omitted from the database.
Online data should be accompanied by full source information stating where the cited records were found, since you may have to contact an archive center or library for original documents.
Scanned Originals
Scanned images of vital records are more reliable sources, since they show the original document. However, you will need to assess their validity by checking the person or organization that posted them, and be sure that they were not altered during scanning. Remember that even original records can contain errors.
The Family History Library
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, is home to the world's largest genealogical collection and contains vital information on millions of names. Its Web site, located at www.familysearch.org houses a vast array of records. Included in this database is the International Genealogical Index (IGI), a collection of birth, christening, and marriage data about persons of many nationalities and cultures who are now deceased. The catalog of the Family History Library's holdings is on the Web site, and users can browse it at Family History Centers all over the world. Also included in its database is the Ancestral File, which is a special lineage-linked database submitted by family historians worldwide.
Commercial Databases
Commercial sites offer huge amounts of data from around the world. One of the most popular of these sites is www.ancestry.com. While some records are available only to subscribers, other databases, such as the U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), the Ancestry World Tree, and European and U.S. telephone listings are all free. All databases can be searched simultaneously by using the Global Search template. Ancestry.com also offers international databases, including a number from Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and Great Britain.
Other Web sites from all over the world are posting new databases at an increasing pace. The Danish Emigration Archives in Aalborg, Denmark, maintains a database of emigration lists compiled by the Copenhagen police from 1869 to 1940, which it has made available on its site. The National Archives of Canada has an index to the 1871 Census of Ontario online, as well as other databases and finding aids. The General Records Office for Scotland has posted a variety of indexes to vital records and census returns at www.origins.net. By performing a search on a search engine, you will find similar sites for your area.
Professional Hint
GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunications) is a file format that allows genealogical databases and charts to be read by different software programs. Information can be downloaded from the Internet and also posted for others to access. Submitting your GEDCOM databases and other files to genealogical Web sites, such as the Ancestry World Tree, is a great way to make contact with family historians researching the same lines. GEDCOM is sold separately and also included with most genealogical software packages. Follow the manual for creating and transferring GEDCOM files. When sending GEDCOM data to genealogists, find out what software they use so you can customize the file correctly.
Lineage Databases
There are several online lineage databases. The Ancestry World Tree is composed of pedigree files submitted by site visitors and is the largest collection of its kind. RootsWeb sponsors the WorldConnect Project, a similar project that forges connections between researchers working on the same family lines. You are welcome to post your own GEDCOM databases on such sites.
Making the Most of Online Databases
An important thing to remember when searching databases is that most of them will only give hits on exact matches. When too much information is included in a search, you risk eliminating a hit in cases where names have been abbreviated or misspelled, where variations exist, or when information is missing. When specifying a date, try including only the month and/or year, as opposed to the full date. One of the most extensive collections of databases is the GENDEX Web site. Searching with surnames and given names, you can access millions of personal histories and also find out which vital records were used to submit the data. GENDEX is most appropriate for information on individuals, rather than general surname searches.
Consider the Cost
Although many online databases are free of charge, such as those located at searches.rootsweb.com, others require payment through an online subscription. Consider whether this payment is worth the investment in terms of the particular databases you want to explore.
Database Search Tips
Despite the Internet, you may still have to travel during the course of your research to verify records in person. However, by researching online in advance, you will be better prepared and save time while you are there.
Keep a Log: With the immense array of resources available online (and new sites going up every day), it can be difficult to keep track of where you have searched, when, and for what. Do not rely on the "favorites," or "bookmarks," option offered by your Internet browser. Keep a search log of sites visited, searches performed, and results, since this will help you plan which sites you use and avoid returning to the same sites time and again. With Web sites that are constantly being updated and/or added to, you may want to go back every so often to re-check them. Use your log to tell you when you last checked a site.
Citations and Sources: When you find a piece of information, be sure to include the full bibliographic citation. Include the original source of the data, the name of the database, the URL of the site on which you found it, and the name of the site (very important in the online environment, where URLs can change). You will be grateful for this information farther down the research road.
Follow Up Off-Line: While the Internet has put a wealth of information at our fingertips, traditional sources should not be overlooked. Online data needs to be verified with original or primary source documents. The exception to this would be scanned original documents that have been posted online, but in these cases, the method of indexing these documents may contain errors, causing you to miss the document you're searching for.
Save Time With Off-Line Research: When you are planning a trip to an off-line facility, such as an archive center, check to see if its catalog is available online before venturing out. This can save you unnecessary trips in cases where the facility either does not have the materials you need for your research or is closed for one reason or another. Contact the archive in advance to make sure that the collections you seek will be available (the phone number and/or email address will be available on the site). This checking procedure will save you valuable time, since you will have already searched the catalog before making your trip.
Using Advanced Searches: General genealogy Web sites offer advanced search tips that allow you to specify a particular geographic region, date range, keyword, or proximity. Use these tips wherever possible.
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