Foundations of Genealogy: Getting Started and Doing it Right the First Time

September 21 - November 16, 2016

Course Syllabus

Class 1

Introduction to the Four Elements of Genealogy

• Discovery
• Proof and Documentation
• Organization
• Reporting and Sharing

Introduction to the Genealogical Proof Standard

• Conduct a reasonably exhaustive search
• Compile a complete and accurate citation for all sources of information
• Analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence
• Resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other
• Arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion

Introduction to the Types of Genealogical Documents

Introduction to Ancestry.com

• Searching
• Tree Building
• Collaboration
• Learning Center/Wiki
• Records: Census Records

Class 2

Preparing for Research and Organization

• Research Goals - What is your Genealogical Question?
• Research Plans - Developing research strategies
• Research Implementation – Understanding documents, transcriptions, abstracts, and
• extracts
• Research Logs and Notes - Tracking where you have been

Mastering Ancestry.com

• Advanced search strategies
• Importing media
• Collaboration tools

Records: Vital Records and Their Substitutes

Class 3

Understanding and Citing Your Sources

• Who, What, When, Where (in), Where (is)
• Types of Citations

FamilySearch.org/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Searching – Records/Microfilms, Catalogue, One World Tree
• Family History Wiki
• Family History Centers

Records: Church Records

Class 4

Evidence Analysis

• Types of Evidence
• Evidence Process Map

Tree Building and Timelines

• Putting your evidence into historical context

Records: Immigration and Naturalization Records

Class 5

Correlation of Evidence

• Organizing evidence to reveal patterns and conflicts
• Just Google It!

Records: Maps, City Directories

Class 6

Resolving Conflicts in Evidence

• Weighing and balancing conflicts
• Developing explanations for conflicts
• Unresolved conflicts

Types of Repositories

• Libraries
• Archives
• Manuscript Collections

Records: Newspapers and Periodicals

Class 7

Reporting, Sharing and Written Conclusions

• Creating a piece of history
• Creating Genealogical Data Communications - Gedcoms
• Types of written conclusions

Records: Land Records and Probate Records

Class 8

Reporting, Sharing and Written Conclusions

• Proof Statements
• Proof Summaries
• Proof Arguments

Records: Military Records