"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Hunting becomes easier when you use an appropriate research plan. Last week, I suggested the starting points as: (1) targeted person or family; (2) gather all information on hand on the targets; and, (3) itemize all information needed on a spreadsheet. This week I will try and help you organize further.
With the T-chart you made last week showing all the information on hand and what you need on your research targets, it is time to sit down and evaluate it harshly. Does it match? Does it tie-in? Is there anything missing?
Look at it again. Put everything in chronological order. Now how does the data on hand match dates and places? You may be wondering why I ask you to continue with redundant activity. The procedure for an objective research plan means you must analyze, analyze, analyze.
Carefully examining all data leaves little room for substituting your personal theories or ideas. Transferring your views into your research without proper documentation can often spell disaster. This is easily spotted when a researcher argues their personal views over and again and dismisses the research facts.
With this phase of your research plan underway, you can be organized and ready for next week s suggestions. These hints can be used for day by day research or for a major research expedition.
ATLANTA RESEARCH CENTER
I ve heard genealogy compared to candy, insinuating that it is addictive, but I have never opened a Web site to find a picture of ice cream. Nevertheless, that is what you find when you visit the new James G. Kenan Research Center in Atlanta. The 42,000 square foot facility houses more than 3.5 million items of the Atlanta Historical Society. Additional items are manuscripts about business and private records, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, newspapers, and microfilm. This means it contains lots of items of genealogical importance on the South. The address is 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305-1366. Phone 404-814-4000. The Web address is www.atlantahistorycenter.com/ and E-mail is information@atlantahistorycenter.com.
GENEALOGY AND HISTORY LIBRARY LINKS
This site contains about everything you ever thought you wanted to see, genealogically speaking. It has links to domestic, international, and surname links that are surname related, cemeteries, ports and lots of other things. Visit it at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genealogylinks/.
PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS
Want to look at a directory of online passenger lists for those shops carrying German immigrants to Philadelphia circa 1727-1808? You can at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pagermanpioneers/.
CALENDARS THROWING OFF YOUR CALCULATIONS?
Sometimes finding dates during the colonial times is misleading because of the double dating used before the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the colonies. The four URLs listed below cover several calendar systems and offer much valuable information.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
