Search results: 202
Note: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered.
The book(s) are available at GenealogyStore.com
Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian (1997; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2011).
OR
Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, Third Edition Revised (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2017).
Optional Print Course Material: American: Census Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.This course is designed to give you a better understanding of the history, content, and uses of census records and related material. Much census material is available on computerized databases located in many familiar places—libraries, archives, etc. This course focuses your search for documents and information. We review common pitfalls and offer tips on how to avoid them.
MODULE 1
FEDERAL CENSUS 1790-1940 POPULATION SCHEDULES
Strategies for Using Census Records
A Bit of History About the Census Enumerations
Colonial Census
History of Federal Census 1790-2000
Census Schedule Availability
Slave Population Schedules for 1850-1860
MODULE 2
FEDERAL CENSUS 1790-1940 POPULATION SCHEDULES...Continued
Things to Consider About the Census
The Other Population Schedules
Finding Persons in Military Service
MODULE 3
1885 CENSUS AND NON-POPULATION SCHEDULES
Census of 1885
Non-Population Schedules
Mortality Schedules 1850-1885
Social Statistics Schedule 1850-1885
1890 Special Schedule of Union Surviving Soldiers, Soldiers,
Sailors and Widows, etc.
MODULE 4
INDEXING AND RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Census Availability
Census Indexing
Variations Between Census Indexes
Government Work: Soundex & Miracode Systems
Citing Your Sources
Scanned or Printed Images
MODULE 5
COLONIAL, STATE, TERRITORIAL & NATIVE AMERICAN/INDIAN CENSUS
Boundary Changes
Non-Federal Censuses
Native American/American Indian Census
MODULE 6
SUBSTITUTE RECORDS
Tax Lists
Voting Registers
City Directories
Note: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered. The book(s) are available at GenealogyStore.com
-
Mills, Elizabeth
Shown, Evidence! Citation
& Analysis for the Family
Historian (1997; reprint, Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co.,
2011). OR,
-
Mills, Elizabeth
Shown, Evidence Explained:
Citing History Sources from Artifacts to
Cyberspace, Third Edition
Revised (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co., 2017).
Optional Print Course Material: American: Vital Records, Understanding and Using the Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.The objectives of this course include:
-
Understanding the creation
of vital records in the United States
-
Locating vital records in
the United States
-
Evaluating information in
these records
-
Creating a research plan
based on availability of records
- Securing documents needed to prove your family lineage
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Reference Books & Websites
UNDERSTANDING & USING VITAL RECORDS
Creation of Vital Records in the United States
Points of Reference for Documents
MODULE 2
20th AND 21st CENTURY DEATH RECORDS
Death Indexes
Social Security Death Index
Resources
MODULE 3
LOCATING A DEATH DATE
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules
Information on the Mortality Schedules
USGenWeb
Headstones and Cemetery Indexes
Family History Library and FamilySearch
MODULE 4
MARRIAGE RECORDS
Introduction
Finding the Marriage Date and Location
Gathering Necessary Information from Census Schedules
Locating the Original Records
Divorce Records
MODULE 5
BIRTH RECORDS
Locating the Birth Records
Court Records
Military Records
Using the Ancestry.com Databases
MODULE 6
RESEARCHING OTHER RECORDS
Court Records
Military Records
Passport Applications
Immigration & Emigration Records
Naturalization Records
Ships Lists
Lineage Societies
Criminal Records
Census Records
Optional Course Print Material: American: Religious Records - Part 1
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course focuses on religions with a significant presence in the developing America, prior to 1800. While the basic tenants of various religions, particularly Protestantism and Catholicism were being debated in Europe prior to 1800, it is the culture and beliefs of the immigrants who settled in America. Understanding these developments assists any search for genealogical information. First the religion and its main subcategories are identified, then a brief historical sketch and a timeline for context. Next, discussion of available records and location, including addresses and websites is offered for the various religious groups. Tips further assist a search for genealogical information.MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION & HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Introduction to Religious Records
Different Colonies, Different Denominations
The Records
MODULE 2
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Catholic Records
Parish Registers
Parish & Diocesan Histories
Repositories Diocesan Archives
MODULE 3
SOUTHERN ANGLICANS
Congregational Church
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Unitarians and Universalists
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Episcopal Church (Anglican)
Timeline
Records and Repositories
MODULE 4
LUTHERAN / REFORMED CHURCHES & ENGLISH QUAKERS
Lutheran Church
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Reformed Churches (Dutch and German)
Timeline
Records and Repositories
English Quakers
Timeline
Records and Repositories
MODULE 5
SCOTS / SCOTS-IRISH PRESBYTERIANS, ENGLISH METHODISTS & BAPTISTS
Presbyterian Church
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Methodist Churches
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Baptist Churches
Timeline
Records and Repositories
MODULE 6
MINORITY SECTS IN COLONIAL AMERICA
Moravians
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Mennonites & Amish
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Huguenots
Timeline
Records and Repositories
Brethren Churches
Timeline
Records and Repositories
REFERENCES & RESEARCH MATERIALS
Optional Print Course Material: American: Land Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Overview of the history and types of land documents in the United States with Colonial Records (English, French, Mexican, Spanish). We examine land grants, the history of homestead records, and the development bounty lands are discussed. Deeds and maps are examined. The availability of statewide and Internet land record sources and resources, where located ,and how to contact the appropriate repository are integral to this course.
MODULE 1
OVERVIEW OF HISTORY & RECORD TYPES
Reading Up on Land Records & American History
Guides for Selected Localities
Strategies for Using Land Records
Land Records Definitions
MODULE 2
COLONIAL RECORDS
British (English) Colonial Land Records
MODULE 3
LAND GRANTS
An Overview of the Land Grant Process
State Land States versus Federal Land States
Determining a Legal Description of Land
Tract Books & Plat Maps
MODULE 4
HOMESTEAD RECORDS & BOUNTY LAND GRANTS
Homesteads
Bounty Land Grants
Federal Bounty Land Grants
State Bounty Land Grants
Other Bounty Land Warrants
MODULE 5
DEEDS & MAPS
Individual Land Sales
Deed Indexes
Types of Deeds
Maps
US Geological Survey
MODULE 6
IMPORTANT STATEWIDE & INTERNET LAND RECORD SOURCES
Selected Sources for the Various States
Optional Print Course Material: American: Cemetary Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course will explore the history of cemeteries, the symbolism used, and the types of cemeteries. We will discuss the records created, how to locate a gravesite, and a summary of records published in books and online.
MODULE 1
DEATH, DYING & THE HISTORY OF CEMETERIES
Early History of Burials in the World
United States
Funeral Customs
MODULE 2
GRAVESTONES SPEAK
Introduction
Colonial America
New England
Ethnic Influences
18th, 19th & 20th Centuries
MODULE 3
TYPES OF CEMETERIES & THEIR RECORDS
Cemetery Types
Churchyard Burial Grounds
Potter’s Fields
State & National Cemeteries
Cemetery Records
MODULE 4
LOCATING A GRAVE
Introduction
Find A Grave
Interment.net
Billion Graves
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project
MODULE 5
CARING FOR GRAVESTONES & ABSTRACTING THEIR RECORDS
Preservation of Gravestones
Collecting the Data
MODULE 6
PUBLISHED & ONLINE SOURCES
Introduction
The Published Book
Books to Electronic Files
Online Sources
Miscellaneous Sources
Optional Print Course Material: American: Religious Records - Part 2
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
In this course we discuss American religions in the United States primarily after 1800, including the Orthodox, Easternrite Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, groups of the Restoration Movement, and others. The course will explore types of religious records available, how to use them, and where accessed. History of religious groups as relevant to their records is included.
MODULE 1
OVERVIEW: RELIGIOUS GROUPS & RECORDS IN THE 19TH & 20TH CENTURIES
Accessing Religious Records
Realignment of Colonial Religious Groups
Education & the Church
Slavery Issues & the Church
Emerging Religious Groups - Early 19th Century
Post Civil War Population and Intellectual Climate
Black Churches
Immigrants in the Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries
Latecomers to the Religious Scene in America
MODULE 2
THE RESTORATION MOVEMENT
The Restoration Movement Defined
Records—Churches of the Restoration Movement
Timeline
MODULE 3
MORMONS AND COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
Membership Statistics
Timeline
Mormons
Genealogy: Uniting the family beyond the grave
Family History Library
MODULE 4
ORTHODOX CHURCH AND EASTERN-RITE CATHOLICS
Shared Eastern Roots
Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Orthodox Church in America
Eastern-Rite Catholics
MODULE 5
JUDAISM
Judaism, a World Religion
Forms of Judaism in the Modern Era
Judaism in the 19th and 20th Centuries in the U.S
A Response Concerning Orthodox Records
MODULE 6
BUDDHISM, HINDUISM, AND ISLAM
World Religions Compared
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Optional Print Course Material: American: Immigration and Naturalization Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
In this course we discuss how to trace your immigrant ancestors to the United States. Includes the various immigration and naturalization sources such as passenger arrival lists. Other sources and strategies for documenting immigrants are explored. Historical background of immigration to the United States as relevant to genealogy is covered.
MODULE 1
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND & GENERAL RESOURCES
Introduction
Historical Background Timeline
MODULE 2
STRATEGIES FOR RESEARCHING IMMIGRANTS & THEIR ORIGINS
Type 1: Only the Country of Origin is Known
Type 2: You Know a County, District, or Region of Origin
Type 3: Specific Place of Origin (Place Name) is Known
MODULE 3
DOCUMENTING AN ANCESTOR’S IMMIGRATION
Passenger Arrival Lists
Colonial Arrival Lists
What is the immigrant’s most likely port of entry?
Canadian Passenger Lists
MODULE 4
BORDER CROSSING, PASSPORT, FOREIGN DEPARTURE & EMIGRATION RECORDS
Canadian Border Crossing Records
Mexican Border Crossing Records
United States Passport Records
Regular Passport Applications
Foreign Departure & Emigration Records
MODULE 5
NATURALIZATION RECORDS
British Colonial Naturalization Records
Colonial Naturalization Law
United States Naturalization, 1777-1789
U.S. Naturalization Law 1790-1906
Post-1906 Immigration Procedure
Types of Naturalization Records
How do you know if your ancestor was naturalized?
Alien Registrations
MODULE 6
ETHNIC SOURCES, SOCIETIES & NEWSPAPERS
Ethnic Immigration Reference Works
Societies
Ethnic Newspapers
“Information Wanted” Ads
Immigrant Banks in America
Optional Print Course Material: American: Migration Patterns
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
The purpose of this course is to discuss and illustrate the history of migration across the United States. This includes particular routes individual ancestors would have followed in the migration westward. the time period of settlement of areas of the United States, and specifics about the common patterns of movement of people between areas and states through the decades.
MODULE 1
WHY STUDY MIGRATION PATTERNS?
Why Migrate?
Successful Migration
Waves of American Migration
Was There a ‘Typical’ Migrant?
History & Geography—Keys to Understanding Migration Patterns
MODULE 2
COLONIAL AMERICA, 1607-1783
Coastal Settlement
Settlements in the Early Western Frontier
The Appalachian Barrier
American Revolutionary War
Transportation Demands in the New Nation
MODULE 3
BEYOND THE EASTERN SHORES 1784-1839
Post-Revolution Migrations
Federal & State Military Bounty Lands
Securing the West for the New Nation
Areas of Largest Growth by 1840
Growth in Other Parts of the Northwest Territory
Early Southwest
River Traffic, Canals & Railroads
MODULE 4
OPENING OF THE WEST, 1840-1865
A Rapidly Growing Nation
The Far West
Land Sales—The Homestead Act of 1862
Popular Overland Routes, 1840-1865
Ocean Routes to California
Railroads
The Civil War, an Interruption & a Stimulus for Postwar Migration
MODULE 5
COMING OF AGE, 1866-1919
Homestead Acts Brought Settlers to the Great Plains
Immigrant Migrations
World War I
MODULE 6
MODERN ERA, 1920-PRESENT
Post-World War I Era
Depression Years
World War II & Its Effect on the Postwar Era
Interstate Highways
CHRONOLOGY OF AMERICA
Optional Print Course Material: American: Probate Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course discusses legal records created by the courts when an ancestor died. Some individuals had wills written before death, and in other cases “administration” records were kept of people who died without a will. Many other records could have been created depending on the time period, place, and prominence of the ancestor.
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
History & Terminology
Terms of Probate Law
MODULE 2
INTESTACY
General History of Intestacy
Law of Distribution
Intestate Process
MODULE 3
TESTACY, INSOLVENCY & GUARDIANSHIP
Testate Process
Insolvency Cases
Guardianship
MODULE 4
STATE INFORMATION
Alabama to Louisiana
MODULE 5
STATE INFORMATION
Maine to Wyoming
MODULE 6
GENERAL INFORMATION
General Online Resources
Optional Course Print Material: American Institutional Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Focusing on vital records and the census can yield a rather incomplete picture of our ancestors’ lives. Many researchers may avoid examining institutional records because they believe it is demeaning to the ancestor, or they believe the records will not shed any new information. Institutional records often contain a wealth of information. This course will introduce the student to records of institutions such as orphanages, prisons, poor houses, asylums, and schools. Students will learn how to determine the correct institution, how to find the records, and how to use the records to lead to new sources. The course also covers possible difficulties in records access.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
INSTITUTIONAL RECORDS
Types of Institutions We Will Focus Upon
Access to the Records
Terminology
MODULE 2
CLUES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION
Introduction
Records at Home
Clues in the Census
State and Local Censuses
MODULE 3
THE SICK, THE POOR, AND ORPHANS
Brief History of Almshouses and Poor Farms
Records of County Homes, Asylums, and Other Institutions for the
Poor and Sick
MODULE 4
SCHOOLS
Brief History of Education in America
Teacher’s Records
School Censuses
MODULE 5
PRISONS AND JAILS
Brief History of Prisons and Jails
Jail Registers
State and Federal State Penitentiaries
Military Prisons and Prisoner of War Camps
Roster of Prisoners
MODULE 6
FINDING THE RECORDS
Determining the Correct Institution
City and County Directories
Finding the Records
County USGenWeb Website
County Histories
State Manuals
Optional Print Course Material: American: Newspaper Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course will introduce you to newspapers as a genealogical resource; from an introductory overview of newspapers, and a look at the history of American newspapers to accessing newspapers online. A look at how you may already be using newspapers will be examined. The different kinds of information, from basic vital record details to local news and historical or biographical items will be discussed with emphasis on how to get the most genealogical information by knowing what types of news items will have what kinds of facts and what may require additional research. Finally, you will be introduced to the different ways to find and access newspapers including interlibrary loan, newspaper morgues, microfilm, and online.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Introduction to US Newspapers
What Can You Find in Newspapers?
A Look at the History of American Newspapers
Understanding What You Are Reading
Using Indexes, Transcripts, and Abstracts
Citing Newspapers
Transcripts and Abstracts
MODULE 2
VITAL STATISTICS IN NEWSPAPERS
Overview of “Vital Statistics
MODULE 3
MISCELLANEOUS BUT VALUABLE NEWS STORIES
Local News
Family News
Legal Notices
Land Sales to Pay Taxes or Creditors
Court Notices
Public Announcements
Shipping and Business News
MODULE 4
FINDING NEWSPAPERS
Websites
Strategies for Finding Newspaper Titles & Collections
History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820
American Newspapers 1821-1936, A Union List of Files Available in
the United States and Canada
Library of Congress
Chronicling America
Early American Newspapers Project
Finding Aids
CASE STUDY
MODULE 5
SPECIALTY NEWSPAPERS
Ethnic & Religious Newspapers
Military Newspapers
Labor Papers
Finding Aids
MODULE 6
NEWSPAPERS ON THE INTERNET
Newspaper Research Online
Types of Available Resources
Digital Images
What is OCR?
How to Conduct an Effective Search
Chronicling America
GenealogyBank
NewspaperArchive
Citing Online Newspaper Resources
Resources for Finding Online Newspaper Collections
CASE STUDY
Optional Course Print Material: American: Military Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Within this course, there is a discussion of the various types of records created by military service, such as service records, muster rolls, pension records, and draft registration. The content of the records and their usefulness for genealogy and immigration research are described. Records of conflicts of the United States and colonial America from the early colonial wars of the seventeenth century to the Second World War are included. The Army, Navy, and other branches of service are detailed. History of military action in America as it relates to records is also included.
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
GETTING PREPARED
The Family Stories
Timelines
Other Sources for Identification of Military Service
MODULE 2
REPOSITORIES & INTERNET TOOLS
The Resources
Repositories
National Archives and Records Administration
Online Public Access Catalog
Military Records at the National Archives
National Archives Research Facilities
MODULE 3
MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS
Revolutionary War through the Mexican War
Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
National Archives & Records Administration
Volunteer Soldiers Who Served From 1784 to 1811
War of 1812 (June 1812-January 1815)
Mexican War (1846-48)
MODULE 4
CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Spanish American War (1898)
Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902)
MODULE 5
PENSION & BOUNTY LAND RECORDS
Bounty Land Warrants
Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Mexican War
Indian Wars
Old War Series
Pensions for Civil War & More
MODULE 6
MILITARY & LINEAGE SOCIETIES
American Revolution
War of 1812
Mexican War
Civil War
World War I Draft Registration
World War II Draft Registration
Old Man’s Draft
Optional Print Course Material: American: Court Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course provides an overview of United States court records, selected finding aids to United States court records and strategies for gleaning the records of the courts. It introduces additional resources and strategies for documenting the interaction of your ancestors and the United States courts; and provides a brief historical background as is relevant to various court records.
Students will be encouraged to share their findings (including additional sources and strategies) while studying the interaction of their families and the courthouse.
Students enrolling in this course will have successfully completed the International Institute of Genealogical Studies’ courses United States: Land Records, United States: Probate Records, and United States: Immigration & Naturalization Records, or have a great deal of experience researching land, probate, and immigration & naturalization records.
At the end of this course, an exam will be provided to evaluate your understanding of the course materials.
Course Length: 8 weeksMODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Introduction to Court Records
Brief Overview of the United States Judicial System
Types of Law
Levels of Courts
Appellate Court - Intermediate and Last Resort (Supreme Court)
MODULE 2
STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURTS
State Statutes & Legislative Acts
Municipal Ordinances/Laws
LOCAL AND STATEWIDE COURTS
Supreme Court
MODULE 3
COURT RECORDS
Local and Statewide Courts - Record Keeping
Published Records
Digests - Summaries of Cases
Additional Court Records
MODULE 4
FEDERAL COURTS
U.S. Constitution
Records of District Courts of the United States
Records Related to Federal District Courts
Records of the U.S. Court of International Trade (RG 321)
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Published Records
House and Senate Journals
MODULE 5
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL JUDICIAL JURISDICTIONS
U.S. Court of Claims (RG 123)
American State Papers
U.S. Territorial Courts and Records (RG 21)
Records of the Adjutant General’s Office (RG 94), 1780s-1917
Federal Courts-Martial (RG 153)
Confederate Courts
U.S. Admiralty Courts
MODULE 6
STRATEGIES & FINDING AIDS FOR SUCCESSFUL USE OF COURTHOUSE RECORDS
Interpreting the Records
National Archives Resources
CASE STUDY
MODULE 7
COURT RECORDS ONLINE
FamilySearch
Ancestry
National Archives
Courthouse Websites
State Archives, Libraries, and Historical Societies
Optional Course Print Material: American: Occupational Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Genealogy and the study of family history are more than just the gathering of names and dates. To understand our ancestor, we must look at all aspects of their life, including what they did for a living. This course will focus on occupational records and what they can reveal about our ancestor’s lives.
To learn more about an individual’s occupation the researcher must utilize more than one record. Once the researcher has searched familiar records like the census, city directories, and newspapers, they must continue on with archival records that may document the ancestor’s specific occupation and activities surrounding that occupation. This requires the researcher to access data from many different sources and then analyzes the data to gain the most complete picture of an individual and their occupation or life’s work.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Resources and Repositories
FamilySearch and the Family History Library
National Archives and Records Administration & their Regional
Branches
Library of Congress
Terminology
MODULE 2
CENSUS SCHEDULES
United States Federal Census Schedules
Census Schedules 1790-1840
Census Schedule 1850 -1930
Agriculture Schedule 1850-1880
Industry or Manufacturer Schedule 1850-1880
Social Statistics Schedule 1850-1870
Slave Schedules 1850-1860
Schedules by Year: Population and Non-Population Schedules
MODULE 3
RECORDS TYPES
Directories
Business Directories
MODULE 4
BUSINESS RECORDS - EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE, OWNERS
Corporation and Business Records
Labor Unions
MODULE 5
RAILROADS, PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Railroads
Lawyers and Judges
Physicians
Federal Employees
MODULE 6
BUILDING A PROFILE OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S “WORKING LIFE”
Building a Profile with a Focus on Occupation
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Births, Deaths and Marriages
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course will concentrate on the birth, death, and marriage information gathered by the various churches as parish records, as well as the civil records gathered by colonial, state, and territory governments. An understanding of the historical context is included to explain which authority collected the information and how the records varied over time. Births, deaths, and marriages records from various periods and jurisdictions will be examined to determine how much information is actually available and helpful for the genealogist, as well as how and where the records may be found.
The course also looks at why the information in such records may not always be accurate, as well as what to do when records are not available in the expected place.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Historical Background to Settlement
Map of Australia with Settlement Dates
Parish Records
Civil Registration
Australasia BDM Exchange
NEW SOUTH WALES RECORDS
History of Recording BDMs in New South Wales
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Other Indexes of New South Wales BDM
NSW State Records
MODULE 2
QUEENSLAND RECORDS
History of Recording BDM in Queensland
Other Indexes of Queensland BDM
MODULE 3
SOUTH AUSTRALIA RECORDS
History of Recording BDM in South Australia
South Australian Registry of BDM
Other Indexes of South Australian BDM
MODULE 4
TASMANIA RECORDS
History of Recording BDM in Tasmania
Tasmanian Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Other Indexes of Tasmanian BDM
MODULE 5
VICTORIAN RECORDS
Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Other Indexes of Victorian BDM
MODULE 6
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RECORDS
Western Australian Registry of BDM
Other Indexes of Western Australia BDM
TERRITORY RECORDS & OTHER BDM POSSIBILITIES
Northern Territory Records
Australian Capital Territory
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Other Sources for Births, Deaths and Marriages
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
While the course Australia: Births, Deaths and Marriages concentrates on the various sources of church parish records and government civil certificates of births, deaths and marriages, this course focuses on other sources to obtain birth, death, and marriage information. Birth, death, and marriage information may be found in newspaper notices, naturalization documents, and military service records. Divorce records provide information about births and marriages, as well as details about the ending of marriages. In addition, there are many other records associated with deaths, including wills, probate, deceased estate files, intestacies, letters of administration, cemeteries, undertakers, and inquest records.
Military records and biographical dictionaries will be mentioned briefly as a source of information about births, deaths, and marriages but these topics are covered in more detail in other courses.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
DEATHS & DIVORCES
FamilySearch Centers
Access Restrictions for Archives
Ancestry.com.au
Historical Background
Wills, Probate, Deceased Estate & Intestacy Files
MODULE 2
DEATHS (CONTINUED) & PUBLIC NOTICES
Cemeteries
Undertaker Records
Newspaper Births, Deaths & Marriages Notices
Government and Police Gazettes
MODULE 3
IMMIGRATION, CONVICTS & CENSUS RECORDS
Naturalisations
Free Settlers - Assisted or Unassisted?
Colonial or Commonwealth Records
National Archives of Australia
Convicts
Prison Records Post-Convict Era
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence
MODULE 4
HEALTH, EDUCATION, OCCUPATION & LAND RECORDS
Health & Education Records
Land Records
MODULE 5
MILITARY RECORDS
Australian Service Records
Conflicts
Roll of Honour
Commemorative Roll
Remembrance Book
British Soldiers in Australia
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
MODULE 6
BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES
Biographical Databases & Dictionaries
Australian Biographical and Genealogical Record
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Founders & Survivors
Genealogy Search Australia
Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography
South Australian Deaths and Burials
National and State Libraries
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Immigration Records - Free Settlers
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
The study of immigration includes more than finding dates and shipping records. An understanding of some Australian history (as well as major events in other places of the world) is necessary to comprehend why large numbers of people chose to leave the places they were living and take the arduous and often dangerous journey to the other side of the world.
The course will discuss the migration of free settlers, and consider significant emigrant groups, government policies, sponsored and assisted passages, voyage conditions, and ships’ passenger lists as well as denization, naturalization and citizenship.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
IMMIGRATION RECORDS - FREE SETTLERS
INTRODUCTION
Where to Start?
FamilySearch Centers
Australian Joint Copying Project
Ancestry.com.au
Historical Background
1901 to 1945
After World War II
Categories of Arrivals
Free Settlers - Assisted or Unassisted?
Other Categories of Arrivals
Naturalisations
MODULE 2
NEW SOUTH WALES
Introduction
NSW State Records
Departures from New South Wales
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence
UK Incoming Passenger Lists
Military
Other Sources
MODULE 3
VICTORIA
Introduction
Public Record Office Victoria
Correspondence and Other Records held by PROV
MODULE 4
QUEENSLAND & TASMANIA
Introduction
Queensland State Archives
Other Queensland Sources
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence
Other Tasmanian Sources
MODULE 5
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, NORTHERN TERRITORY & WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
Introduction
South Australia
Northern Territory
Western Australia
State Records of South Australia
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence
Other South Australian Sources
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Biographical Index of Western Australians
MODULE 6
MIGRATION & NATURALISATION
National Archives of Australia
Other Sources
NSW State Records
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Convict Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
A study of convict records includes some discussion of the British legal system and the conditions that led to convicts being transported to the colonies of Australia. Governments kept copious records at all stages of their control of the convicts and these provide more information about the convicts in Australia than for free settlers of the same period.
The passage of convicts through the legal system may be traced from their trials and imprisonment, transportation, the convict administration in the colonies, as well as their various assignments until the eventual end of their imprisonment (by death or freedom).
In addition, the course includes some records of the changing attitudes toconvict heritage and the impact that has on the records that are available.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Where to Start?
Historical Background
British Penal Colony in Australia
Legal Terms
MODULE 2
TRIAL AND TRANSPORTATION
Introduction
Trial Records
Petitions and Pardons
Transportation
MODULE 3
LIFE IN AN AUSTRALIAN PENAL COLONY
Introduction
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence
Indents and Assignments
Musters and Censuses
Female Convicts
Children
Bank Accounts
MODULE 4
REOFFENDING IN THE PENAL COLONIES
Colonial Offences
Castle Hill Rebellion 1804
Gazettes and Newspapers
MODULE 5
LEAVING THE CONVICT SYSTEM
Tickets of Leave
Certificate of Freedom
Pardons
Deaths
Escapes
Convict-Aboriginal Relationships
Exiles
Departing Passengers
MODULE 6
CONVICT IMPACT
Introduction
Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters
Military
Changing Attitude to Convicts
Other Sources of Convict Information
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Newspapers and Biographies
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Newspapers are a wonderful research tool as they can provide background information on our ancestors that may not be found in official documents. As well as the expected notices of births, engagements, marriages, deaths, burials and obituaries we may also find reference to their sporting activities or involvement in community events. References to insolvencies, bankruptcies, other misdemeanours or more serious crimes can lead to court and criminal records at the archives. This course focuses on using both historical and current newspapers to flesh out our knowledge of our ancestors and the communities in which they lived.
A useful companion to newspapers are biographical resources and these can be for an individual or a defined group and based on a local, state or national level. Often referred to as biographical dictionaries or pioneer registers these resources can provide a quick background on an individual which can then be followed up in newspapers and official records.
By using these two types of resources, you will be able to add substantially to your knowledge of your ancestors. As more and more of these resources are digitised and placed online making them easier to access and to search, there is a constant need to go back and revisit your research to find any new material on your ancestors.
By undertaking this course on Australian newspapers and biographies you will find lots of additional material on your families as we make our way through the modules. In the course of writing this module and undertaking the assignments, I even added to my own family knowledge which was a bonus for me.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPERS AND SPECIALIST NEWSPAPERS
Online guide to Newspapers
Library online guide to newspapers
Brief History of Australian Newspapers
Trove
National (Australian Government)
MODULE 2
CASE STUDIES, SEARCHING AND INDEXES
Why Use Newspapers?
Case Study
Searching Techniques
Optical Character Recognition
Soundex
Boolean
Wildcards
Truncation
Exact, Phrase, Date and Field Searches
Proximity Searching
Online, Published and Unpublished Indexes
MODULE 3
HISTORICAL AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPERS ONLINE
What is Trove?
The Australian Newspaper Plan
Digitised Newspapers and More
Australian Periodical Publications
MODULE 4
E-RESOURCES AND AUSTRALIAN CONNECTIONS IN ONLINE OVERSEAS HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS
National Library of Australia eResources
State and Territory Libraries eResources
PapersPast
Interpreting a Newspaper Article
MODULE 5
CURRENT NEWSPAPERS & NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Locating Current Newspapers
Country Press Australia Inc.
Metropolitan Newspapers
News Corp Australia
Fairfax Media
APN News and Media
OnlineNewspapers.com
Newspaper Archives
MODULE 6
BIOGRAPHIES AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES
National
State/Territory Based
Locality Based
Locating Local and Family Histories
SUGGESTED READING AND RESOURCES
Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Church Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course examines religious resources that are available in Australia. Major emphasis has been placed on Christianity and the various church records available for the main Christian denominations in Australia. Parish records such as baptisms, marriages and burials and other lesser known church records are examined. Religions other than Christianity are also looked at briefly as Australia has been a multicultural country since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Terminology
Brief History of Religion in Australia
Brief Timeline 1788-1859
What are Religious Records?
General Interest in Religious Records
Why Look For Church Records?
MODULE 2
ORIGINAL CHURCH RECORDS
Guides and Indexes
Finding an Archive
Parish and Other Church Records
South Australia
Western Australia
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
MODULE 3
CHURCH PUBLICATIONS
What are church publications?
Church Newspapers, Journals and Magazines
Religious, Denominational and Individual Church Histories
MODULE 4
OTHER RESOURCES
Historical Societies, Museums and Professional Associations
Religious Historical Societies and Museums
Genealogy and Family History Societies
Religious Professional Associations
MODULE 5
RECORDS FOR CHURCH PEOPLE
Church Occupations
General Resources
Specific Resources by Religious Groups
Temperance Movements
MODULE 6
NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
Resources for Non-Christian Ancestors
SUGGESTED READING & RESOURCES