Background details

Seeking names, dates, places, relationships -- it’s the great fun of genealogical research. So much fun, in fact, we may forget that some background reading is in order now and then. No instant gratification here, so it is not easy to tear oneself away from the treasure hunt long enough to sit down with a book and notepad (digital or analog).

In writing up a narrative for my paternal line, descended from Thomas Cain who settled in Delaware in the 1700s, I wanted to fill out the picture with some details on living conditions, social life, and what the surroundings were like, so it became necessary to turn to just such background material.  Here is how you can do the same.

The first step of course is to learn what is out there.  In the old pre-computer days, one went to the library and looked for appropriate subjects in the card catalog. Even children’s books could be helpful (and still can) in explaining matters (besides, they have pictures).  If nothing came up, the next step was to ask the reference librarian if she or he could make some suggestions. Books not held locally could be borrowed on inter-library loan (ILL) though the process often took many weeks.  And it was necessary to know the exact title, not just a subject.

It is a lot easier now.  For one thing, there is WorldCat, the online catalog of the holdings of numerous public and academic libraries.  The researcher can inquire about books on his/her subject of interest without a precise title, and find records galore,  with information on where the items are held. Another place to search is the Family History Library catalog, also online, at FamilySearch.org.  They do not lend books, but … there are plenty of options. Your local public library may be able to find a copy from an institution that does lend. This is the old ILL procedure, but today many libraries enable that process online as well. At most, you may have to go to your local public library and hand in your request in person. In my experience, the turnaround times are much shorter now.

In all your searches for a “book” don’t overlook the possibilities of digitized works -- books you can read online.  With a tablet or laptop computer you can download whole volumes for reading whenever and wherever you choose.  Or you can simply read the books online as long a you are connected to the internet.

FamilySearch.org has a “Books” choice, at the top of the home page. Enter a title or keywords on the Books site and you will get a list of items.  Also, books that have been digitized will be so designated in the Family History Library catalog.

Google has a section named (at this writing) “Google Play.” More online books are found there, for reading online or downloading. And you can find other sources by simply typing in a book title or keywords such as "Delaware Kent history" (without quotes) on Google’s main page.  

But suppose your subject is too obscure or narrow to be covered by a whole book? Try PERSI, the PERiodical Source Index, which is an index of nearly 10,000 genealogical newsletters, magazines, journals and other publications. If your library subscribes to Heritage Quest you can search PERSI online for articles of possible interest (the index is just for title and subject, not every word), or you can search the same service via Ancestry, if you or your library subscribe.  Articles  may then be requested by mail.  

Did I say most of this is free?  Downloading older digitized books, from Google and other services, costs nothing. (They are clearly marked.) There may be a minimal fee associated with ILLs (though I have never had to pay one.)  PERSI requests have a basic $7.50 charge for up to five articles, and when the material is sent you will be billed an additional 20¢ per page. There is of course no charge for searching online catalogs or having the local public library’s reference person assist you. 

Deep pockets not required

In all my years of chasing clues to my family’s history, I’ve tried to keep a close eye on expenses.  I grant you, it is sometimes necessary to fork over a few dollars for that critical document, or to join an organization with emphasis on your research area. Or even to save up for a trip to the home turf. But still … this enthusiasm of ours does not have to break the bank.

I  did tentatively accept a subscription to a major for-profit genealogy firm once, but trying to cancel at the end of my “trial” period was a real headache (no phone number! no address!). Sometimes membership offers are so confusing you think you’re getting one “tier” of records and really you’re into more money for another group you don’t even need.  Then too, some outfits appear on the horizon for a few years (or months) and then disappear, leaving their members in the lurch, completely out of luck or tacked onto the subscriber list of some other irrelevant service.

By now the big players are pretty well established, and if you are so inclined, fee-based memberships can provide quick and easy access to certain types of documents. (As well as some rather questionable “family trees.”) On the other hand, there are many free and low-cost ways to find much of what you are seeking.

I live in a California county with a library system that provides home access to Heritage Quest for its card-carrying patrons. That means indexes and images for many (though not all) US census records, a way to search over 28,000 family and local histories, access to the PERSI index to articles in many genealogical publications, and more.  On site at any of the library branches, I can also log onto the “Library Edition” of Ancestry. 

Another resource I use almost daily is the FamilySearch website, that well-known Mormon entity.   Their religious emphasis on posthumous baptism has inspired the creation of the world’s largest collection of genealogical materials.  And their Family History Library in Salt Lake City is a genealogist’s dream -- open to all, no strings, no subtle pressures or proselytizing. They are presently underway on a mammoth project to place online their millions (literally) of microfilmed records from all over the world.  With the help of an army of trained and supervised volunteers, they are making new material available over the Internet just about every day -- and their indexing is of the highest quality.

One of the features that really helps me is their indexing of virtually all census records, in a “fuzzy” way that brings up “sound-alike” surnames -- something you don’t get with Heritage Quest.  So I am always sure to check both indexes when a family member is eluding me.

I strongly suggest joining genealogical and/or historical societies in the states or counties of interest, too.  That will often put you in touch with individuals who can help with your specific issue.  Another place to look is local public libraries in your research area. They often have local history collections and may have old newspapers in their holdings.  Go online first, and see what their catalog shows.  Then send a note or email to the reference department.  I’ve had good results from queries about old obituaries, land records, and other local information.  Costs are usually quite low, or non-existent (but send them something anyway! They need it!).

There are far too may free and low-cost sites to name here, but I’d like to remind you of one more: Find a Grave.  In their words, it is “a resource for finding the final resting place of family, friends, and ‘famous’ individuals.  With millions of names and photos, it is an invaluable tool for the genealogist and family history buff.”  I’ve had considerable luck finding names there and even photos of family gravestones, and after registering (free) was able to provide additional information and an image for one Civil War solder’s resting place.

So the next time someone tells you she thinks "doing genealogy" is too expensive, just smile -- the same way you do when people say their family history is "complete."