Description
Tracing your family's history is a fascinating journey. Who will you discover? Genealogy Basics will help you understand the genealogy research process and the way we interpret the information we find. This course guides you through the search process for family names using several subscription-based Web sites, which you can access while you're enrolled in the class. Along the way, you'll learn through hands-on examples that help you dig deeper into your family's past. You'll develop a strategy to accomplish your objectives, evaluate the results, and share that information with others. You'll discover, in simple terms, where to look, who to contact, and how to make your family history come alive. Was it truth or goof? Where’s the proof? Find out why close counts not only in horseshoes, but also in hunting your heritage.
Outline
A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
In our first lesson, you'll learn how to gather family information and organize your collection of materials. You will discover which sources provide the best information and explore standard collection methods and interview techniques. Your instructor will provide you with a PDF toolkit that includes all the forms you'll need to get started. Each lesson ends with a small crossword puzzle to help you remember important genealogy terms.
Friday - Lesson 02
Today you'll answer the question, What’s missing in my family tree? You'll organize your findings using research timelines, then determine which records will be the most helpful. You will also use different Internet search techniques including an online search of the Social Security Death Index.
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
In this lesson, you'll explore and analyze vital records such as Birth, Death, and Marriage. You will also learn how to request copies for your research and what to look for in those records. This lesson uses several easy-to-follow examples for finding vital records in databases on the Internet.
Friday - Lesson 04
This is perhaps the most important of all our lessons. Today, you will learn the value of census records and discover that spelling really doesn't count! You will learn which census records are available, where to find them, and how to analyze them. This lesson uses three hands-on examples you can try for searching the complete 1880 US Census and the 1881 Census for Canada and Great Britain, without leaving your house or renting microfilm.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
In this lesson, you'll hear some of the reasons why you may not be able to find an elusive ancestor. Contrary to what you may think, they're not in a witness protection program! You'll explore the Soundex system and learn its value in solving some mysteries. You'll also learn how to analyze old handwriting.
Friday - Lesson 06
Today, you'll learn how computers search, both on and off the Internet. Local and distant searches—when done properly—can answer many of your questions. You’ll also learn how to use the LDS Library Web site to find published information, saving you hours or days of research time.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
In this lesson, you'll explore writing styles, unusual resources, and the value of e-mail. You'll discover the value of mailing lists and learn how to subscribe, unsubscribe, and post messages. You’ll also learn how to search past archives for messages that might help fill in missing branches on your family tree.
Friday - Lesson 08
Today you'll learn what resources are available for researching military records and where to find them. The example in this lesson walks you through a search of the US Civil War database and explains how valuable pension records can be in learning more about your ancestors.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
Today, you’ll learn to research maps, deeds, and grants for genealogy. You will investigate abstracting deeds and do a search of the Bureau of Land Management Web site for Land Grants and Homesteading Patents.
Friday - Lesson 10
This lesson explains how our ancestors immigrated. You will learn the immigration patterns to America and discover how to use naturalization and passport documents. Your class has an account already set up at the Ellis Island Web site for you to use. The assignment will walk you through a real example and eventually show you the actual ships manifest.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
Today, you’ll learn about some of the exciting things that can come from researching newspapers, city directories, periodicals, and wills. You’ll also learn a great way to find collateral lines (cousins), and perhaps fill in some middle names or reveal new locations by sharing your work with others.
Friday - Lesson 12
In our last lesson, we'll explore more genealogy tools, sources, and software. Your instructor has narrowed down the best genealogy software programs and will review each one. By using a software program, you can discover how easy it is to put it all together. The assignments for Genealogy Basics use easy-to follow-examples that walk you through real-time searching on many superb Web sites.
Requirements
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).
Instructor Bio
This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through
your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor
for this course will be
Bob Moyer.
Bob Moyer is a college instructor, graphic designer, and technical writer. Bob has degrees in education, business, and Civil Engineering. He has over 12 years of experience as an instructor and has developed genealogy courses for several colleges. His passion for research and family history has resulted in several genealogy-related books and speaking engagements.
Student Reviews
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I have enjoyed this course very much. It was easy for me to fit into a busy lifestyle. My thanks to the instructor for "infecting me with Genealosis"! This course has helped me in my quest to learn more about my family and it's history! Will be looking for follow up classes.
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I have learned a lot, both about genealogy and about my family, in the weeks we have been in this course. I have a long way to go, but the journey is the part I love. While it is great to document that these are MY ancestors, once I know that, I want to know so much more about them, and this class has shown me ways to find that information.
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I really enjoyed taking this course. I learned a lot about researching my family that I didn't know. Through this course, I discovered ways to research that I hadn't even thought about before or that I hadn't heard of. Thanks for a job well done!!
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I really liked this course. Website info is outstanding. I have been working on my family genealogy since 1971. I wish I had this course back then--and that there was an Internet then!
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I thought the information and supplementary material was very informative. What a rush of adrenalin when I found my first ancestor with your guidance. All my ancestors have passed away without my knowing to ask any questions of their heritage so my task is quite difficult. I work full time now and have made sure to copy everything so the material will be available to me as I have more time to work on our genealogy. Thanks for all your guidance, and I look forward to taking additional internet courses.
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The content and benefits of taking this course exceeded my expectations. I wanted a refresher course with a very great emphasis in online research information and sites to use as I am very weak in the online research area. This course did that, and more. I'm very pleased with this course.
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This course has really hooked me on the task of finding my ancestors. I now have a much clearer idea of how to go about this job, particularly with regard to using the Internet.
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