Courses – Page 74 – International Institute of Genealogical Studies

The History Behind Migration

By Shannon Combs-Bennett, Student The first module of US: Migration Patterns was packed full of useful information. Facts and tid-bits that I had not heard before, or at least not stopped to consider when looking at the bigger picture of US migration patterns. I actually read this module several times through. Each time I did I made a note in the margins about statements that related to my personal research, and I am sure you will too. Of particular interest was the long list of records presented that might be left behind as our ancestors moved westward. Some I am sure you can guess. Of course there could be bible records, censuses, personal manuscripts, or vital records. Some of the more unusual ones (that I will be checking on) were emigrant aid companies, fort records, occupation records, voting registers, plus many others. Once again reminding me that our ancestors did not live in a vacuum. They were people who lived full lives and left a paper trail if you know where, or how, to look. If you have read any of my blog posts in the past you may remember me harping on how important it is to know all types of history and geography. Which is why I was literally yelling “YES” as I read Module 1 and came to the section on history and geography. Our instructor, Beverly Whitaker, does an excellent job driving home the point that you need to understand the history of the US, from colonial to current times, to understand the motivations our ancestors had to migrate. Plus, the routes they took were dependent on geography. Being able to look at a map and understand why settlements began where they did or why certain routes were taken will aid you in your searches. In fact, the two influenced each other in ways that casual observers may not realize. For example, in my family one of my lines migrated from Maryland to Kentucky and then onto Indiana. Why? Well, they were Catholic first off and after the Revolution there were Catholic settlements springing up in Washington County, Kentucky. Single men moved first then later the larger family groups moved to join them. In my family the main moves happened after the War of 1812. They moved to Kentucky, stayed for a few years, and then when bounty lands opened in Indiana they moved up there…

My Next Course: US Migration Patterns

By Shannon Combs-Bennett, Student Through my research I have learned that my ancestors never stayed in one place too long. Some of you may be among the small few that had ancestors arrive on these shores and stay put, but for the majority of people, that didn’t happen. There was always new places, new adventures, new land, and new opportunity just waiting over the horizon. Understanding why people moved once they arrived in America can be critical to unlocking a few of those pesky brick walls. I have studied a lot about why people immigrated to the US but not as much time on why they then kept moving west. For those of you who have read my blog posts before you know that my family is mainly from the state of Indiana. They came there from Europe and from eastern United States. While my direct line stayed in Indiana (for over 100 years until my parents left) many of their extended family kept moving west. Some landed along the Mississippi. Others made it all the way to California. In this course I hope to learn more about why they moved, how they got there, and any other motivations that may have gone into that decision. By looking at the introduction for the course US: Migration Patterns I see that we will cover everything from Colonial American migration through the 20th century. Then there are the mention of maps. I love maps! They really drive home what was physically done when combined with text and I think that will help me learn more about the routes and migration patterns we are learning. It is never an easy decision to uproot your family. Even today moving long distances is an arduous task that most people only do it if there is a job or family motivation. We have trucks and pavement after all and if we think it is a massive undertaking imagine what our ancestors thought! So wish me luck on my migration adventure and I will see you online!

What’s New?: Manitoba Ancestors Course Updated

What’s new at The National Institute? An update to the course Research: Manitoba Ancestors. Have Manitoba ancestors? This course will help you learn more about the specifics of researching in this area. The course description states: “Permanent settlement in Manitoba began in the early 1800s. This course will demonstrate how the records the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Dominion, provincial and municipal governments created help the genealogical researcher trace ancestors in Manitoba. Emphasis will be placed on how to access the records and how to use them effectively. Although the focus will be on the major government and religious records, the course will demonstrate how to supplement these records by using local newspapers, cemetery records, community, school and church histories. Other important resources to be discussed are the collections and programs of genealogical, historical and ethnic societies in Manitoba.” Check out the Course page to learn more.

Planning a Cemetery Trip

by Tami K. Pelling, PLCGS. Staff, The National Institute for Genealogical Studies Just as many of our ancestors frequently visited cemeteries on Sunday afternoon to enjoy a picnic, tend to the care of a gravesite, or pay respect to their loved ones—we follow in their footsteps. A picnic in the cemetery as a child with my great aunt, Lucille, is a memory that I will always treasure. Another childhood memory that I hold just as dear is traveling from cemetery to cemetery with my mother and Lucille to place flowers on graves of family members—every holiday, birthday, and anniversary—of course, during the warmer months. So now that it’s summer, you might be ready to plan your own cemetery trips. But first, a bit of caution. Safety first! It doesn’t matter whether you are visiting a big city cemetery or a pioneer cemetery surrounded by cornfields and woods. Safety cannot be emphasized enough–take someone with you and bring a fully charged cell phone! In planning a cemetery trip, the first item on the agenda is to learn the location of the cemetery or cemeteries you wish to visit and determine if they are located on private property, governed by a trustee, association, organization, or corporation. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you may wish to contact one of the local funeral homes, genealogical or historical society, library, or government office to determine ownership. At the same time, inquire whether the cemetery has an office along with contact information. It is important to remember if the cemetery is located on private property and the landowner does not allow access to the cemetery, you can be charged with trespassing. The landowner should be contacted prior to the visit to gain permission to access the cemetery and discuss any restrictions. Second, consider what your purpose in going to the cemetery. Do you wish to locate the gravesite of your ancestors? Are you looking to survey, transcribe, and photograph the cemetery? If your visit to the cemetery is to locate the gravesite of your ancestors, a cemetery map should be obtained. If a cemetery map is not available, print a satellite view of the cemetery from Google Maps. The satellite image of the cemetery will allow you to study the surrounding area. If children will visit the cemetery with you, remind them of proper cemetery etiquette. Children can be an asset—prepare index cards with…

Course Tip: Chronicling America

Earlier, we spotlighted the US: Newspaper Records course as part of the My Favorite Course blog series. Are newspapers your favorite genealogy source? Here’s a tip from the course. The website Chronicling America is a repository of select digitized newspapers covering the years 1836-1922. But Chronicling America offers more than digitized newspapers. Chronicling America is an online resource that can be used to identify newspapers in a particular area and time period. Each listing provides details about the newspaper, such as dates of publication, frequency, and language, as well as what repositories hold either original or microform versions of the newspaper. Chronicling America is based on records created during the US Newspaper Program that ran from 1982 to 2009. To use this resource, visit Chronicling America and click on the button that says “US Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present.” You can browse by newspaper title using the letters at the top (e.g., clicking on the letter “C” will list all the newspapers that begin with the letter “c”). Alternatively, you can search for newspapers in a particular state, county, or city, using the corresponding drop-down menus, and further limit the time period by selecting a year range. There are other search options such as keyword and language. You can also search by ethnicity or occupation to find specialty newspapers. When you find a newspaper of interest, you can view the record for more details, such as frequency of publication, dates of publication, and alternate titles. To see a list of repositories that have the newspaper, click on the link “Libraries That Have It” at the top of the record. To learn more about newspapers and where they can be found, register for the US: Newspaper Records course.