Genealogy Questions

What is genealogy research?

Genealogy research, also known as family history, is the systematic process of tracing an individual's ancestry and family lineage using historical records, oral traditions, and genetic analysis.

The goal is to document familial relationships and construct an accurate family tree or narrative. Genealogy research involves tracing family lineage and discovering ancestral connections through historical records.

Why conduct genealogical research?

People undertake genealogy research for many common reasons, including:

• Personal curiosity: A desire to understand one's heritage, origin, and family background.

• Medical history: To identify hereditary diseases in the family line.

• Family connections: To reconnect with lost relatives or biological families.

• Sense of identity: To understand one's place within a broader historical context.

• Honoring ancestors: To validate and preserve family stories and traditions for future generations.

What resources are available?

Numerous online platforms, libraries, and local archives provide access to vital records, census data, and family trees for research.

Genealogists use a variety of sources to gather and verify information about ancestors. These can include:

• Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates.

• Census Records: Federal and state records that provide a snapshot of a household at a specific time, including names, ages, and occupations.

• Church and Religious Records: Records of baptisms, marriages, and burials.

• Immigration Records: Ship passenger lists and naturalization documents.

• Military Records: Service records and pension files.

• Property and Land Records: Deeds and wills can provide information about an ancestor's place of residence.

• Newspapers: Birth, marriage, and death notices, as well as obituaries.

• Oral Histories and Family Documents: Interviews with relatives, family Bibles, diaries, and personal letters.

• Genetic Genealogy: Using DNA testing to confirm relationships or connect with distant relatives.

How can I start?

The process of genealogical research involves:

• Working backward in time from yourself to previous generations, using what is known to find new information.

• Searching and evaluating records to find evidence about ancestors, their relatives, and the significant events in their lives.

• Documenting findings to prove kinship and compile a cohesive family history.

Begin by gathering family information, such as names, dates, and places, then explore online databases and archives.

Is genealogy research time-consuming?

Yes, genealogy research is a time-consuming process that can take many years, and in-depth research can be a lifelong pursuit. While initial steps are relatively quick, the process becomes exponentially more complex and requires a great deal of patience the further back in time you go.

Factors that make genealogy time-consuming:

• Verifying sources: Quality genealogy requires confirming information from multiple sources instead of accepting online family trees at face value. A single error can send you down the wrong path and waste countless hours of research.

• Locating and analyzing records: Not all historical records are available online. Many are only found in physical archives, libraries, or churches and are often unindexed, requiring page-by-page searches. Furthermore, these records may be written in an unfamiliar language or script, which requires additional time to decipher.

• The exponential growth of your family tree: The number of ancestors you must research doubles with every generation you go back. This means that expanding your tree from 4 to 8 generations of ancestors involves researching dozens of additional individuals.

• Hitting a "brick wall": It is common to get stuck on an ancestor for whom records are scarce or non-existent, especially before government records were standardized. Finding a way around a brick wall often requires extensive, creative detective work and a lot of patience.

• Following the evidence: A single record or clue often creates more questions than it answers. Proper research requires you to document every new detail and follow all potential new leads, which can take up a significant amount of time.

How should I manage the time commitment?

• Take it in smaller chunks. You can set a timer for smaller research sessions of 20 to 25 minutes to stay focused and make steady progress without getting overwhelmed.

• Set specific goals. Instead of trying to build a complete family tree at once, focus on one specific research question or ancestor at a time.

• Prioritize. Start with what is most interesting to you. Focusing on one or two family lines will help you avoid feeling frustrated or burned out by the size of the project.

• Outsource complex issues. If you have a stubborn brick wall or lack the skills for a specific type of research (like DNA analysis or foreign records), you can save time by hiring a professional genealogist to help.

What are the ethical considerations?

Key ethical considerations in genealogy research involve balancing the pursuit of knowledge with respect for the privacy of both the living and the deceased. Modern tools, especially genetic testing, have amplified these concerns, creating new ethical challenges. Major genealogical and lineage societies, such as the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), have adopted codes of ethics to guide researchers.

PRIVACY AND CONSENT

• Respecting the living: The most significant ethical obligation is to protect the privacy of living people. This includes obtaining consent before publishing identifying information like names, birthdates, addresses, and other personal details. Genealogical websites and databases typically follow this principle by default.

• DNA testing and sharing: The rise of consumer DNA testing has created complex privacy issues. Genetic information is inherently shared with family, meaning one person's consent to testing can reveal information about relatives who never consented. Test takers must understand the risks of unexpected discoveries, such as misattributed parentage, before taking a test. Researchers must get a test taker's consent before using or sharing their DNA results.

• Forensic genealogy: The use of genetic genealogy databases by law enforcement to solve cold cases is another privacy concern. While some users may "opt-in" to this, others may not realize their genetic information could be used for forensic purposes.

• Protecting sensitive information: Information that could cause harm or embarrassment to living relatives should be handled with extreme care and sensitivity. This includes documenting criminal behavior, adoption, mental health issues, or "skeletons in the closet".

ACCURACY AND HONESTY

• Truthfulness in conclusions: Genealogists have a responsibility to present findings truthfully and accurately, with full citation of sources. They should not intentionally misrepresent data or withhold evidence.

• Avoiding assumptions: Conclusions should be based on a "preponderance of the evidence," not assumption. If doubt exists regarding the accuracy of a family line, it should be noted. In the age of AI-assisted research, it is crucial to use AI as a hypothesis-generating tool and not as a replacement for traditional methods.

• Citing all sources: Proper and complete citation gives credit to original authors and helps other researchers verify information. Failing to credit others work is unethical.

CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS

• The emotional impact of discoveries: Researchers must be sensitive to the potential emotional fallout of their discoveries, particularly unexpected ones like adoption or misattributed parentage. Many genealogists are not trained counselors, and they should be prepared to handle these situations with discretion and empathy.

• Respecting intellectual property: Researchers must respect the copyrights of other genealogists and original record holders. They should not reproduce or publish the work of others without permission.

• Respecting facilities and fellow researchers: Genealogists should treat research facilities and their staff with courtesy and respect. This includes handling fragile records with care and adhering to all repository rules.

Can I hire a professional?

Yes, you can hire a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research. They can be particularly helpful if you've hit a "brick wall," need expertise in a specific geographical area, or lack the time to conduct the research yourself. You can hire an individual genealogist or work with a larger genealogy firm.

Where to find a professional genealogist:

• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG): The APG offers a directory of its members, which you can search by specialty, location, and name. Members are bound by a code of ethics.

• Certified and Accredited Directories:

  • The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) lists Certified Genealogists (CGs) who have passed a peer-reviewed process to demonstrate their skills.

  • The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) provides a directory of Accredited Genealogists (AGs) who have proven expertise in a specific geographic region.

• Genealogy Companies: Firms like AncestryProGenealogists employ teams of experts to conduct research on your behalf. These larger companies may charge higher fees but offer access to a wider range of specialists.

• Forensic Genealogists: For specialized research, such as locating missing heirs for probate cases, you can use the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) directory.

What to expect when hiring:

1. Define your goals: Before contacting a professional, decide what you want to achieve. Examples include tracing a specific family line, finding a biological parent, or joining a lineage society.

2. Request a consultation: Most genealogists or firms offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and provide a cost estimate.

3. Review the contract: Reputable professionals will require a written contract that outlines the project goals, fees, and deliverables. A contract protects both you and the genealogist.

4. Pay fees and expenses: Genealogists typically charge an hourly rate, which can range from $30 to over $200 per hour depending on their experience, demand, and specialty. For larger projects, some may charge a flat rate or require a retainer. You may also be charged for expenses like document copies or travel.

5. Provide your information: To avoid duplicate work, provide the genealogist with a summary of the research you have already completed and all relevant family information.

6. Manage expectations: Be aware that results are not guaranteed. The genealogist is paid for their research time, and some family mysteries cannot be solved. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive report of their findings, including the sources they consulted.