Unlocking Stories of Our Female Ancestors through Effective Research Methodology
We will explore how implementing standard research methodology may open up new avenues of discovery to unlock previously “hidden” evidence of female ancestors’ stories. Using reasonably exhaustive research, evidence correlation, analysis proof standard elements and cluster research methodology, we can uncover critical information to help us develop our female ancestors’ stories. Today’s discussion includes two case studies of females born in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. An exploration of sources, beyond census and marriage records, was required to enhance their life stories. One subject was born into an affluent family who settled in north central Tennessee, and the second was enslaved from birth until Emancipation in western Kentucky.
We will explore how implementing standard research methodology may open up new avenues of discovery to unlock previously “hidden” evidence of female ancestors’ stories. Using reasonably exhaustive research, evidence correlation, analysis proof standard elements and cluster research methodology, we can uncover critical information to help us develop our female ancestors’ stories. Today’s discussion includes two case studies of females born in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. An exploration of sources, beyond census and marriage records, was required to enhance their life stories. One subject was born into an affluent family who settled in north central Tennessee, and the second was enslaved from birth until Emancipation in western Kentucky.
Spinsters and Widows: Using Women to Reconstruct Families
We frequently bemoan the dearth of records left by women, but records left by spinsters and widows can be particularly valuable for reconstructing families when properly analyzed. Many people neglect to research spinsters (women who never married) as they have no descendants, but to whom shall they leave their estates? Extended family! Tracing widows to see who they live with can reveal previously unknown family members. See examples where women’s records have illuminated familial relationships and learn strategies to apply to your own research.
We frequently bemoan the dearth of records left by women, but records left by spinsters and widows can be particularly valuable for reconstructing families when properly analyzed. Many people neglect to research spinsters (women who never married) as they have no descendants, but to whom shall they leave their estates? Extended family! Tracing widows to see who they live with can reveal previously unknown family members. See examples where women’s records have illuminated familial relationships and learn strategies to apply to your own research.
Searching for the maiden name of our ancestress can be frustrating. This webinar presents a hierarchy of search strategies for tracing the maiden name. Begin by trying to locate a marriage record, keeping in mind the record will vary by time period and geographic location. If a marriage record search proves fruitless, a second tier of sources is recommended including children’s death records, the women’s death record, census and other sources. Finally, the webinar presents strategies specific to the maiden name search such as following the husband and learning about history where the couple lived.
Searching for the maiden name of our ancestress can be frustrating. This webinar presents a hierarchy of search strategies for tracing the maiden name. Begin by trying to locate a marriage record, keeping in mind the record will vary by time period and geographic location. If a marriage record search proves fruitless, a second tier of sources is recommended including children’s death records, the women’s death record, census and other sources. Finally, the webinar presents strategies specific to the maiden name search such as following the husband and learning about history where the couple lived.
The Wives of Fishermen: The Lives of 19th Century Women and the Records They Left Behind
Using a case study we will take a look at their lives and the records they left behind as well as what 19th century records might record your female ancestor’s life.
Using a case study we will take a look at their lives and the records they left behind as well as what 19th century records might record your female ancestor’s life.
Learning More about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850
One of the stumbling blocks for family historians is researching before 1850 when the US census is limited to only the names of the head of household. Compounded by laws that affected women, such as coverture, and those female ancestors can be fairly invisible to the researcher. So how do…
One of the stumbling blocks for family historians is researching before 1850 when the US census is limited to only the names of the head of household. Compounded by laws that affected women, such as coverture, and those female ancestors can be fairly invisible to the researcher. So how do…
“Women can’t be found in genealogical documents.” “They are difficult to research.” While these statements can be true, there are records out there that document their lives. We will explore 50 records to consider as you research female ancestors from the colonial period to the 20th century in the United…
“Women can’t be found in genealogical documents.” “They are difficult to research.” While these statements can be true, there are records out there that document their lives. We will explore 50 records to consider as you research female ancestors from the colonial period to the 20th century in the United…
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we’ll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we’ll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
Mormon women in Utah have a rich history that includes suffrage, important work outside of the home, and of course polygamy. In this presentation learn ways to find out more about your Mormon ancestress aside from information about her in familiar sources like the census or vital records.
Mormon women in Utah have a rich history that includes suffrage, important work outside of the home, and of course polygamy. In this presentation learn ways to find out more about your Mormon ancestress aside from information about her in familiar sources like the census or vital records.
What resources are available for researching your California ancestress? California women received the right to vote in 1911 which results in records nonexistent in some other states but other activities like club memberships, church activities, and work leave even more. Periodicals, directories, cookbooks, and organizational records leave…
What resources are available for researching your California ancestress? California women received the right to vote in 1911 which results in records nonexistent in some other states but other activities like club memberships, church activities, and work leave even more. Periodicals, directories, cookbooks, and organizational records leave…
Researching Women – Community Cookbooks and What They Tell Us About Our Ancestors
Community cookbooks, commonly known as fundraising cookbooks with the plastic comb binding, have been around since the Civil War. They serve as a "city directory" of women with everything from names, residences, and in some cases familial relationships and photos. Learn more about community cookbooks and using them for your…
Community cookbooks, commonly known as fundraising cookbooks with the plastic comb binding, have been around since the Civil War. They serve as a "city directory" of women with everything from names, residences, and in some cases familial relationships and photos. Learn more about community cookbooks and using them for your…
The Secret Lives of Women – Researching Female Ancestors Using the Sources They Left Behind
How do you research the women in your family tree? In some of the same ways you research men but you also have to consider what documents and items were left behind by women. In this lecture we look at the specific trail women left including signature quilts, community cookbooks…
How do you research the women in your family tree? In some of the same ways you research men but you also have to consider what documents and items were left behind by women. In this lecture we look at the specific trail women left including signature quilts, community cookbooks…
Ready or Not: Strategies to Discover Ancestors Playing Hide and Seek
Thu, June 15 2023: 0:00 UTC
Successful researchers carefully mine sources, correlate, and analyze extracted information to solve research problems. Identifying a research subject that materializes or disappears from thin air is challenging, but careful attention to detail may help researchers overcome frustration. This lecture will use mini-case studies to outline strategies.
Successful researchers carefully mine sources, correlate, and analyze extracted information to solve research problems. Identifying a research subject that materializes or disappears from thin air is challenging, but careful attention to detail may help researchers overcome frustration. This lecture will use mini-case studies to outline strategies.
Finding Your One Among Millions: Methods and Tips for Urban Research, a New York City Case Study
Wed, June 21 2023: 0:00 UTC
Family history research in a large city can be richly rewarding as urban centers typically kept better records. However, when it is your ancestor who does not appear in the vital records, how do you find them? Searching among the plethora of people in a city such as New York can be challenging. This presentation will give attendees some ways to navigate research in urban areas using a case study in 19th-century New York City to illustrate the methods.
Family history research in a large city can be richly rewarding as urban centers typically kept better records. However, when it is your ancestor who does not appear in the vital records, how do you find them? Searching among the plethora of people in a city such as New York can be challenging. This presentation will give attendees some ways to navigate research in urban areas using a case study in 19th-century New York City to illustrate the methods.
What’s the Evidence? How to Probe Documents Beyond the Obvious
Fri, June 23 2023: 18:00 UTC
Whatever our research dilemma, a correct solution depends upon a reliable evaluation of the evidence we are using. Evidence is not concrete. It is not definitive. It is not a source. It is not a fact. It is not “proof.” It is, instead, our interpretation of what a piece of information means. Evidence is both singular and collective. We analyze it piece by piece. We correlate each piece with everything else discoverable, and then we analyze the whole to reach conclusions that are reliable. This session walks us through the three levels at which each piece of information should be evaluated, in order to draw a reliable conclusion from it. The principles are then illustrated with a common but thorny problem: a Revolutionary War–era case study that might be called: How to Identify Someone Who’s Been Mangled by ‘Facts.’
*** This class requires a password and an active webinar membership to attend. On the day of the webinar, obtain the password (located at the top of FamilyTreeWebinars.com when logged in as a member). Then click the Join Webinar link in your confirmation/reminder email, and enter the password when prompted. ***
Whatever our research dilemma, a correct solution depends upon a reliable evaluation of the evidence we are using. Evidence is not concrete. It is not definitive. It is not a source. It is not a fact. It is not “proof.” It is, instead, our interpretation of what a piece of information means. Evidence is both singular and collective. We analyze it piece by piece. We correlate each piece with everything else discoverable, and then we analyze the whole to reach conclusions that are reliable. This session walks us through the three levels at which each piece of information should be evaluated, in order to draw a reliable conclusion from it. The principles are then illustrated with a common but thorny problem: a Revolutionary War–era case study that might be called: How to Identify Someone Who’s Been Mangled by ‘Facts.’
*** This class requires a password and an active webinar membership to attend. On the day of the webinar, obtain the password (located at the top of FamilyTreeWebinars.com when logged in as a member). Then click the Join Webinar link in your confirmation/reminder email, and enter the password when prompted. ***
Collateral Research-The Secret Sauce to Finding Family Records
Wed, July 5 2023: 18:00 UTC
Your ancestors didn’t live and have experiences alone. Researching collateral lines may be the secret sauce you need to find clues that will answer genealogy questions. What is Collateral Research? Research of family members you are not a descendant of.
Your ancestors didn’t live and have experiences alone. Researching collateral lines may be the secret sauce you need to find clues that will answer genealogy questions. What is Collateral Research? Research of family members you are not a descendant of.
Why did your Italian ancestor have five cousins all named Joe? Why did married women travel under their maiden names? Was Sally really Serafina? This presentation explores the factors that pushed and pulled Italians to emigrate, what they found when they arrived, Italian naming patterns and name changes, and how to start your search. Knowing what their life was like in Italy helps us to understand their choices and behavior when they emigrated: why they were slow to naturalize, why the family was the most important institution, and why food was a source of celebration.
Why did your Italian ancestor have five cousins all named Joe? Why did married women travel under their maiden names? Was Sally really Serafina? This presentation explores the factors that pushed and pulled Italians to emigrate, what they found when they arrived, Italian naming patterns and name changes, and how to start your search. Knowing what their life was like in Italy helps us to understand their choices and behavior when they emigrated: why they were slow to naturalize, why the family was the most important institution, and why food was a source of celebration.
I Hate Conflict! Mediating Sources that Don’t Agree
Wed, July 19 2023: 18:00 UTC
Sooner or later, every family researcher comes across information that conflicts with what was found earlier – a date, a name, a place. How can the conflict be resolved, and if it cannot, what to do?
Sooner or later, every family researcher comes across information that conflicts with what was found earlier – a date, a name, a place. How can the conflict be resolved, and if it cannot, what to do?
Why We Should Look at In-Laws When Doing Genealogical Research
Wed, July 26 2023: 18:00 UTC
Often, when the records of family members can’t be easily found, a review of fictive kin and other connections might bring those missing individuals into view. Let’s look at some cases when broadening our focus might bring the target directly into our view.
Often, when the records of family members can’t be easily found, a review of fictive kin and other connections might bring those missing individuals into view. Let’s look at some cases when broadening our focus might bring the target directly into our view.
Problem Solving in the Problem-Riddled Carolina Backcountry
Fri, July 28 2023: 18:00 UTC
The Carolina backcountry is known for its genealogical roadblocks: from social and geographic challenges to record destruction, to the failure to create records in the first place. This session begins by examining the cultural influences that have created the problems—influences we need to understand if we are to develop alternative resources and approaches. Building on this foundation, Mills then explores thirty-two strategies for overcoming research obstacles, using a variety of short case studies and little-known materials to illustrate key points.
*** This class requires a password and an active webinar membership to attend. On the day of the webinar, obtain the password (located at the top of FamilyTreeWebinars.com when logged in as a member). Then click the Join Webinar link in your confirmation/reminder email, and enter the password when prompted. ***
The Carolina backcountry is known for its genealogical roadblocks: from social and geographic challenges to record destruction, to the failure to create records in the first place. This session begins by examining the cultural influences that have created the problems—influences we need to understand if we are to develop alternative resources and approaches. Building on this foundation, Mills then explores thirty-two strategies for overcoming research obstacles, using a variety of short case studies and little-known materials to illustrate key points.
*** This class requires a password and an active webinar membership to attend. On the day of the webinar, obtain the password (located at the top of FamilyTreeWebinars.com when logged in as a member). Then click the Join Webinar link in your confirmation/reminder email, and enter the password when prompted. ***
What Happened to Uncle Walter? Evidence Analysis and Correlation Uncover a Man’s Dual Identities
Wed, August 16 2023: 0:00 UTC
Walter’s family lost touch with him after his 1920 arrest. Learn how collaboration, evidence correlation, and predictive research solved the mystery of Walter’s fate more than a century later.
Walter’s family lost touch with him after his 1920 arrest. Learn how collaboration, evidence correlation, and predictive research solved the mystery of Walter’s fate more than a century later.
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