Quick GenTip 4

Genealogy tip 4—Build an ancestor identity profile for ancestry research.

Being a history researcher comes with the need to learn and understand how to research records, find the key information and develop a plan that will take you to all available information.  Through the years, I have had the pleasure of conducting historical and genealogy research throughout the United States and Europe. Every time I conduct research in a new location, I feel like I have to learn/relearn how to conduct historical research.  Why? I need to learn where the records are kept, what is available, develop a plan of how to research this location and so much more. I have written a series of Genealogy Tips to introduce you to what I consider to be the most foundational skills I use over and over. In this article, I want to share Genealogy Tip 4: Build An Identity Profile About Ancestors.

Genealogy Tip Series

Click on an of the following Genealogy Tips to be taken to the article.

Genealogy Tip  Series for History and Genealogy Research
1. Focus on One Ancestor at A Time 15. Obtain and Search the Record
2. Prayer is an Essential Tool 16. Use Multiple Sources to Correlate Information
3. Nine Ways to Stay Focused in History and Genealogy 17. Every Record Has Value
4. Build An Identity Profile About Ancestors 18. Use and Record What You Learn
5. Set Realistic Goals for History and Genealogy 19. Detailed and Exhaustive Research
6. Follow Every Clue in History And Genealogy 20. Cite and Verify Ancestry Research
7. Remember the Power of One 21. US Census, Vital Records, and Other Records
8. Five-step Process to Discover Your Ancestors 22. Events Create Records
9. Research with Fresh Eyes 23. Search in County and Date Records
10. Genealogy Requires Preparation 24. Start Ancestry Research at Home
11. Expect the Unexpected in Genealogy Research 25. Start Organized and Stay Organized
12. Learning Begins with A Research Question 26. Strategy for Searching Societies and Libraries
13. Learn and Use the Genealogical Proof Standard 27. Genealogy and Social Networking Sites
14. Conduct Evidence Analysis 28. 16 Forms to Gather, Manage and Guide Your Research

Genealogy Tip 4: Build An Identity Profile About Ancestors

The identity of the ancestor is more than a name; and it is every known detail of human life, including information about the individual, their relationships and their origin.

Begin by targeting your research location. Search for any document created during the time your ancestor lived. Make sure you understand the circumstances under which every document was created, continually comparing, contrasting and questioning details.

From this analysis, you will be able to do the following:

Build a profile about the individual

This is not just about collecting birth, marriage and death data. Consider all aspects of their life that make them unique such as their name, education, occupation, religious and civic associations, social and financial status, precise locations of residences, personality traits and signature. Next, place the individual in their family, neighborhood and cultural context. Search for and identify individuals from the same place and time with the same name and sort out their identities.

Learn about their relationships

Relationships are proven by linking people through known interaction, the proximity of where they lived, shared ownership and patterns of migration, naming, etc. Knowing these things will give you a fuller picture of your ancestor’s life and provide ideas for sources to find additional records.

Determine their origin

Origin can be established from statements and documents associated with the person and by identifying migration patterns of associates and family.

Learn to Analyze the Documents You Find

The first time I searched my mother’s vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records), I copied names and dates and put the records aside. Several years later, when I re-examined her vital records, I found more than 50 data points that were instrumental in learning about my ancestral lines. I’ve learned a series of questions that helps me analyze and extract available source information. The questions include the following:

  • What is the source citation of this document?
  • Is this an original document or a derivative?
  • Where did the document originate?
  • When was the document written?
  • Who is the primary individual listed in the document?
  • Who are the other individuals named in the document? What are their roles?
  • What relationships are stated?
  • What is the purpose of the document?
  • What is information directly stated within the document (such as dates or places)?
  • What information is implied (indirect) by this document?
  • What information is not stated (name of wife, children, and so on)?
  • When was the document recorded?
  • Who had jurisdiction over the document then? Who has current jurisdiction over the document?
  • What other document(s) partner with this one?
  • What hints are contained within the document

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