Syllabus - LIS61095 Genealogy and Local History Reference

Reference & Research Methods for Genealogy and Local History (16 weeks) LIS 61095
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13	Week 14	Week 15	Week 16
Syllabus
Required Text: Greenwood, Val Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co © 2000.
Various reading as assigned – on reserve or on the Internet optional texts: Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives 3^rd Edition Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration 1983, 2001 (on reserve) Meyerink, Kory L. editor Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records. Salt Lake City UT: Ancestry 1998 (on reserve)
Week 1 - Introduction to the topic, Assignments and course requirements Basic Genealogy Books – learning the basics Arrangement of collections Review of terminology and forms, family trees and ancestor charts, family group sheets and more Introduction to census records and Soundex
Week 2 - Reviewing Soundex Understanding and Interpreting the Census Create a list of genealogical and historical centers in your county – due week 3 Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 1 (Understanding Genealogical Research) and Chapter 4 (Evaluation of Evidence) Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 13 (Census Returns) and Chapter -14 (Using Census Records) Prechtel-Kluskens, Claire “The WPA Census Soundexing Projects” Prologue Spring 2002, Vol. 34, No. 1 http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/spring/soundex-projects.html Hedy Bookin-Weiner, Ph.D., CGA “Handwriting Analysis for Genealogists” Ancestry Magazine 16:4(July/Aug 1998) http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=1595 “Census Facts and Figures”, “Often Overlooked Clues” and “Reading Between the Lines” Heritage Quest Issue #76 (July/August 1998) p9-16, 107-110; 24-26; 27-29
Week 3 - Report on genealogical and historical centers in your county Accessing the Census Geographically Handwriting Non Population Census Records International Genealogical Index (IGI) Vital Records Read Sperry, Kip Chapter 1: Reading Early American Handwriting and Chapter 2: Guidelines for Reading Old Documents in Reading Early American Handwriting Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co 2001 – Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 12 (Vital Records) Saxbe, William B Jr. “Nineteenth-Century Death Records: How Dependable Are They?” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 87 No. 1 (March 1999): 43-54 [E-Reserve] Conn, Peter. “The Politics of International Adoption.” Origins 1 No. 4. (January 2008) http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/origins/
Week 4 - Paper Proposal and brochure topics due Developing Mission Statements and Collection Development Establishing cooperative working Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Newspapers Genetics or research your family’s medical history Written Assignment to create mission statement and collection development policy for your collection or local library (due Week 6) Read Greenwood, Val. Research’s Guide to American Genealogy and Chapter 23 (Church Records) Chapter 27 (Cemetery and Burial Records) pages 611-12, 618-620 only Phillips, Faye Intro and Chapter 2, Chapter 6: Users of Local History Collections and Chapter 7: Public Relations and Outreach in Local History Collections in Libraries Englewood Colorado: Libraries Unlimited 1995 [Z688.L8.P49 1994] – on reserve “Creating a Collection Development Policy for Local Historical Records in Public Libraries” Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board and Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians (April 1998) www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/whrab/wapl.pdf Redmann, Gail R. “Archivists and Genealogists: The Trend toward Peaceful Coexistence” Archival Issues V18 no2 (1993) p121-32
Week 5 - Reference Questions & Interviews Sample Questions Copyright Fair Use & Digitization / Reformatting older materials Preservation Review of Sample Questions Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 8 (Successful Correspondence) Maher, William J “Between Authors and Users: Archivists in the Copyright Vise” Archival Issues V26 no1 (2001) p62-75 Review the information in the chart and look at the articles referenced on pages 3 & 4. http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/copyrightterm.pdf Ogden, Sherelyn “Storage Methods and Handling Practices” Technical Leaflet – Storage and Handling Section 4 Leaflet 1 in Preservation of Library & Archival Materials: a Manual. Third Edition Revised and Expanded Edited by Sherelyn Ogden 1999 http://www.nedcc.org Kyvig, David E and Myron A Marty chapter 1 in Nearby History: Exploring the Past around You Nashville, TN: AASLH 1982
Week 6 -Report on Mission Statements & Collection Policies Due Primary & Secondary Sources Corporate Histoires Place Histories Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 11 (Compiled Sources and Newspapers) Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 6 (Introduction to Research Tools: Reference Materials) Ferris, John “Discovering the Past in the Papers of First Ladies” OAH Magazine of History V15 no3 (Spring 2001) p26-28 Prechtel-Kluskens, Claire “Resesarching the Career of a Nineteenth-Century Physician” Prologue (Summer 2004) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/genea-doctor.html
Week 7 Public Records including Local / County Records; Court records How their indexes work and how to retrieve information Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 15 (Understanding Probate Records) pages 309-318 only, Chapter 16 (What About Wills?) pages 331-342 only Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives 3^rd Edition –Chapter 3 “Naturalization Records. Ellis, Robert. “Looking for an Ancestor in the Panama Canal Zone, 1904–1914.” Prologue 39 No. 3 (Fall 2007) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/fall/panama.html
Week 8 - Mid Term Websites for genealogy and local history
Week 9 FIELD TRIP to Auditor and Recorder – Kent Class FIELD TRIP to Archives / Public Library Genealogy Collection – Columbus Class Read Cox, Richard J “The Importance of the Locality in American History and American Archives” Chapter 1 in Documenting Localities: A Practical Model for American Archivists and Manuscript Curators Chicago: SAA 2001 pgs 1-34 Read two articles at http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features . What government resources and public records does the National Archives use for their research? Where else could you look for information in ‘your’ library? Write a short description of the difference in these genealogical collections to that of ‘your’ library 2 pages maximum – due next week.
Spring Break
Week 10 -Non-Text and Non-Bound Records – photographs, recordings, paintings Look at the Multimedia History units created at OSU http://ehistory.osu.edu/ What types of materials did researchers use to create their multimedia programs? Read the articles about maps, oral history, and photographs. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/browse/makesense/ Select a medium to analyze. Topics to be selected in class. Apply the analysis technique to your record – Be prepared to discuss your medium in class. ALTER, ALEXANDRA. The Photo Detective: Does the shoebox in the attic hold family secrets? Alexandra Alter on how one expert unlocks the past.“ Wall Street Journal. October 12, 2007; Page W1. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119214969916756801.html
Week 11 - FIELD TRIP to Auditor and Recorder – Columbus Class FIELD TRIP to Archives / Public Library Genealogy Collection – Kent Class Read Bockman, Jeffrey A. “Search High, Low, Above, and Below: Cemetery Records.” Heritage Quest 19 No. 5 Issue 107 (Sept/Oct 2003): 36-41. Smolenyak, Megan. “Answers in the Cemetery: James Reynolds of Jersey City, NJ.” Heritage Quest 19 No. 5 Issue 107 (Sept/Oct 2003): 56-64. Write a short description of the difference in these genealogical collections to that of ‘your’ library 2 pages maximum – due next week
Week 12 Presentations Military Records Military Pension Records Land Bounty Records Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 25 (Military Records: Colonial Wars and the American Revolution) and Chapter 26 (Military Records: After the Revolution Hull, Theodore J. “The World War II Army Enlistment Records File and Access to Archival Databases” Prologue Spring 2006, Vol. 38, No. 1 http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/spring/aad-ww2.html Hamilton, Neil A. “A French Spy in America” American History 34 No. 3 (August 1999): 22-28 [Available through KentLink] United States. War Dept The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies – (or the Official records of the Union and Confederate armies) Washington, D.C.: Govt. Print. Off Series I, 1-53; Series II, 1-8; Series III, 1-5; Series IV, 1-4 (1880 - 1901) http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/browse.monographs/waro.html - and Ohio State University’s version http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources Look at arrangement and indexing method – compare the two sites. Which would you use when? What site has the best access? The best indexing? How would you improve each site?
Week 13- Presentations Land Records Maps for identifying locations and for historical research Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy " Chapter 22 (Property Rights of Women as a Consideration) Sherman, C.E. Original Ohio Land Subdivisions Ohio Cooperative Topographic Survey Vol. III p1-11 [e-reserve] Along the Ohio Trail (Ohio State Auditor Site http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/Publications/General/AlongTheOhioTrail.pdf USGS – “Using Maps in Genealogy” Fact Sheet 099-02 (September 2002) http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs09902.html USGS – “The Public Land Survey System” (PLSS) 2006 http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/boundaries/a_plss.html Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives 3^rd Edition – Introduction and Chapter 15 “Land Records”
Week 14 - Presentations Passenger Lists and shipping records Immigration and Naturalization records Specialized research sources for genealogy and history research for ethnic groups, including Native Americans and African Americans Read Greenwood Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy Chapter 24 (American Aids to Finding the Home of the Immigrant Ancestor) Colletta, John Phillip They Came in Ships 3rd Edition Provo, Utah : Ancestry, 2002 (read chapters 1&2) Everly, Elaine C. “Freedmen's Bureau Records: An Overview Federal Records and African American History” Prologue (Summer 1997, Vol. 29, No. 2) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1997/summer/freedmens-bureau-records.html Carter, Kent “Snakes & Scribes The Dawes Commission and the Enrollment of the Creeks” Prologue Spring 1997, Vol. 29, No. 1 http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1997/spring/dawes-commission-1.html Nickerson, Janice. “Learning About Our Ancestors’ Ships.” Family Chronicle 10 No. 1 (Sept/Oct 2006): 32-35.
Week 15 - Presentations Paper Due Government documents for genealogy and local history research Read A Century of Lawmaking http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html - look at the resources on this website. Which ones will be most useful for genealogists? For local historians? Schamel, Charles E. ”Untapped Resources: Private Claims and Private Legislation in the Records of the U.S. Congress” Prologue Spring 1995, Vol. 27, No. 1 http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1995/spring/private-claims-1.html Cloud, John. “The 200th Anniversary of the Survey of the Coast.” Prologue 39, No. 1(Spring 2007) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/spring/coast-survey.html Genealogical resources in U.S. federal depository libraries [electronic resource] / compiled by Kevin D. Motes; with assistance by Fred Gomeringer and Steve Beleu. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Dept. of Libraries, US Government Information Division, 2002 http://regdocs.okstate.edu/Genealogical%20Resources%20in%20U.doc . Locate 2 items from this publication that are in your Government Documents or Genealogy Department and bring the titles with you or call numbers and descriptions of book if they do not circulate. Be prepared to talk about the books and their importance for historical or genealogical reference
Week 16 - final



Office Hours: 1-2pm on Tuesdays and by appointment at the adjunct office in SLIS – Kent. In Columbus - on Tuesdays when taught in Columbus, & by appointment on Thursdays SLIS Telephone 330-672-2782, home 614-239-8977, cell 614-579-9855. Internet: mkahn1@kent.edu . Students are expected to provide the instructor with a valid e-mail address so extra readings and materials can be distributed outside class.

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