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How
to Start Your Family History Research
Exploring your
family history, or genealogy, is often a fascinating
trip through time. At other times it's a frustrating
experience. The journey to your roots requires a lot of
time and patience.
Here are some tips on how to get
started:
Talk with your
relatives and long-time family friends about your family
history. This may save you some legwork, because these
folks often have valuable information about your family.
And you may find that someone else in your family has
already done some genealogical research.
Start with your
own history and work backwards. For example, record the
names of your spouse, children, or grandchildren, and
any members of their families. Next, record the names of
your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins,
grandparents, and so on, exploring backwards generation
by generation. This is more efficient than picking
someone who shares your last name and working forward.
One way to
begin your research is by looking up an ancestor's
obituary. If you don't know the death date, check the
cemetery records at the State Historical Society of Iowa
library. Once you know the date you can then locate the
newspaper in which an obituary may have appeared. The
State Historical Society of Iowa has a large collection
of newspapers on microfilm.
And remember,
if you find yourself up against a wall or down a
dead-end road, ask a State Historical Society of Iowa
librarian or archivist to help you. They can offer
suggestions on how to get you going again, such as
referring you to our collection of "how-to"
books on genealogical research.
Sources
for Genealogy Research
The State Historical
Society of Iowa has many tools available for you to use
in your search through family history. Many of these records
are available in the State Historical Society's library
and archives.
Census Records
Census records can help
you locate families. Beginning with the 1850 census, all
members of households are listed by name. Other useful information may
include state or county of birth, relation to the head
if household, and age at the last birthday.
County Records
- Vital statistics
(birth,
death, and marriage records) contain valuable
information about your ancestors. Birth and
death records were kept in Iowa beginning July 1,
1880; marriage records began when each county was
organized. The State Historical Society library and
archives has birth and death records for counties
from July 1880 to 1928, and marriage records for
most counties from the date a county organized to1928.
- Land records may give
an individual's former residence and a spouse's name.
- Will and probate
records will indicate heirs of an estate, plus
family relationships.
- Naturalization
records give the country of origin and the date a
person attained citizenship.
- County history books
are helpful. In addition to giving the
history of the county and its towns and townships,
many of them contain biographies of residents. These
biographies often portray residents in the best
light, because residents themselves usually provided
the information.
- Published or
unpublished family histories are another source of
information.
Newspaper Collection
The
State Historical Society has many newspapers from across
Iowa on microfilm. Newspapers are an excellent source
for births, marriages, obituaries, and, anniversaries
-especially 25th and 50th. The national news they
contain is often useful, as are the editorials, church
and school news. You can borrow these newspapers on
microfilm through interlibrary loan.
Examples
of Additional Genealogical Sources
Information Books for
Genealogical Research:
- American Society of
Genealogists. Genealogical
Research. Methods and Sources, 2v.
- The Source: A
Guidebook to American Genealogy
General Indexes
to Many Publications:
- Periodical Source
Index
- Munsell, Joel.
Index to American Genealogies.
- Genealogical
Periodical Annual Index.
1962
Indexes to Specific
Publications:
- DAR Lineage Books
- DAR Patriot Index
- New England
Historical and Genealogical Register
- New York Genealogical
and Biographical Record
- Pennsylvania Archives
- Swem's Index to
Virginia Periodicals
Genealogy
Periodicals for Other States or Families:
(Iowa)
Ohio Records and
Pioneer Families
Genealogical Helper
American Genealogist
National Genealogical
Society Quarterly
Other
Sources of Information
American
Genealogical Research Institute. How To Trace Your
Family Tree.
New
York, New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1975. Paper
$6.95
Baxter,
Angus. In Search Of Your European Roots: A Complete
Guide To
Tracing
Your Ancestors In Every Country In Europe. Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1985.
Paper $12.95
Cerny,
Johni and Arlene Eakle. Ancestry's Guide To Research:
Case Studies in
American
Genealogy. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing
Co., 1985.
Paper
$19.95.
Croom,
Emily Anne. Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide To
Genealogy. 3rd ed.
Cincinnati,
Ohio: Betterway Books, 1995. Paper $14.99
Doane,
Gilbert H. and James B. Bell. Searching for Your
Ancestors: The How
and
Why of Genealogy. 6th ed. Minneapolis, Minnesota:
University of Minnesota
Press,
1995. Paper $17.95
Dollarhide,
William. Managing a Genealogical Project. Rev. ed.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.,1991.
Paper $14.95 Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc.,1991. Paper $14.95
Greenwood,
Val D. The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy.
2nd ed.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1990.
Hardcover $24.95
Helmbold,
F. Wilbur. Tracing Your Ancestry : A Step -By-Step
Guide To
Researching
Your Family History. Rev. ed. Birmingham, Alabama:
Oxmoor House, 1993. Paper $9.95
Meyer
,Mary Keysor and P. William Filby. Who's Who In
Genealogy and
Heraldry.
Savage,
Maryland: William Filby, 8944 Madison Street, 1990.
$39.95
Mott,
David C. Abandoned Towns, Villages and Post Offices of
Iowa.
Reprinted
from The Annals of Iowa, Volumes XVII and XVIII,
1930-1932. OP
Patera,
Alan H. and John S. Gallagher. Iowa Post Offices,
1833-1986. Lake
Oswego,
Oregon: The Depot, 1986. Hardcover $15.00
Willard,
Jim and Terry. Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide To Family
History and
Genealogy.
Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
Paper $16.00
Guides
to Sources
Ancestry's
Red Book: American State, County, & Town Sources.
Edited by
Alice
Eicholz. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Inc.,
1991. Hardcover
$49.95
Bentley,
Elizabeth Petty. The Genealogist's Address Book. 3rd
ed.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1995.
Paper $34.95
Bentley,
Elizabeth Petty. County Courthouse Book. 2nd ed.
Baltimore,
Maryland:
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1995. Paper $34.95
Everton,
George B. The Handy Book For Genealogists: United
States of
America.
8th ed. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, Inc., 1991.
Hardcover $31.95
Kemp,
Thomas Jay. International Vital Records Handbook. 3rd
ed.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994. Paper
$29.95
Szucs,
Loretto Dennis and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, Ed. The
Source: A
Guidebook
of American Genealogy. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City, Utah:
Ancestry, Inc.,
1996.
Hardcover $49.95
Thorndale,
William and William Dollarhide. Map Guide To The U. S.
Federal
Censuses,
1790-1920. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co.,
Inc.,
1997. Paper $39.95
Archives
and Library Collections
Cerny,
Johni and Wendy Elliott. The Library: A Guide to the
LDS Family
History
Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, Inc., 1988.
OP
Filby,
P. William, compiler. Directory of American Libraries
with
Genealogy
or Local History Collections. Wilmington, Delaware:
Scholarly Resources, Inc., 1988. Hardcover $75.00
*Genealogical
and Local History Books in Print, 2 vol. 4th ed.
Compiled
by
Netti
Schreiner-Yantis.
Springfield, Virginia: Genealogical Books in Print,
1984.
Paper $35.00 (Set). Frequent updates and supplements.
National
Archives and Records Administration Staff. Guide to
Genealogical
Research
in the National Archives. Reprint. Washington, D. C.:
National
Archives
and Records, 1985. Hard cover $35.00 Paper $25.00
Neagles,
James C. and Mark C. Neagles. The Library Of Congress:
A Guide To
Genealogical
And Historical Research. Reprint. Salt Lake City,
Utah:
Ancestry,
Inc., 1996. Hardcover $39.95
Parker,
J. Carlyle. Library Services for Genealogists.
Detroit, Michigan:
Gale
Research
Company, 1980
(Volume 15 in the Gale Genealogy and Local History
Series). Hardcover $38.00
Szucs,
Loretto D. and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. The
Archives: A Guide
to
The National Archives Field Branches. Salt Lake City,
Utah: Ancestry, Inc.,
1988.
Hardcover $35.95 Temporarily OP
Wright,
Raymond S., 3rd. The Genealogist's Handbook: Modern
Methods For
Researching
Family History. Chicago, Illinois: American Library
Association,
1995. Hardcover $45.00
Passenger
Lists
Filby,
P. William. Ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists
Bibliography,
1538-1900:
Being
a Guide to Published Lists of Arrivals in the United
States and
Canada.
2nd ed. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, Inc., 1988.
Hardcover $100.00
Filby,
P. William. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. 1st
ed.
Detroit,
Michigan: Gale
Company, 1981.
$440.00; Cumulated Supplements, 1982-1985. 1985
$495.00; Cumulated Supplements, 1986-1990. 1990
$510.00; Annual Supplements, $195.00
Tepper,
Michael. American Passenger Arrival Records: A Guide
to the Records
of
Immigrants Arriving at American Ports by Sail And
Steam. Rev. ed. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc., 1993. Hardcover $19.95
Advanced/Experienced
Genealogical Research
American
Society of Genealogists. Genealogical Research,
Methods and Sources,
Volumes
1 & 2 . New Orleans: Polyanthos, Inc., 1980
Reprint.
Mils,
Elizabeth Shown. Evidence! Citation and Analysis for
the Family
Historian.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997.
$16.95
Stevenson,
Noel C. Genealogical Evidence: A Guide To The Standard
Of Proof
Relating
To Pedigrees, Ancestry, Heirship and Family History.
Rev. ed. Laguna Hills,California: Aegean Park Press,
1989. Paper $18.80 Hardcover $28.80
Stratton,
Eugene Aubrey. Applied Genealogy. Salt Lake City,
Utah: Ancestry,
Inc.,
1988. Paper $12.95
Genealogical
Periodicals
Genealogical
Helper
Ancestry
American
Genealogist
Genealogical
Periodical Annual Index (GPAI)
National
Genealogical Society Newsletter
National
Genealogical Society Quarterly
The
New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
NEXUS
Heritage
Quest
Dictionaries
Hanks,
Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames.
New York, New
York:
Oxford University Press, 1988. Hardcover $75.00
Harris,
Maurine and Glen Harris. Ancestry's Concise
Genealogical
Dictionary.
Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, Inc. 1989. Paper
$10.95
Markwell,
F.C. and Pauline Saul. The A-Z Guide To Tracing Your
Ancestors
in
Britain. 3d Ed. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc., 1989
Paper
$14.95
Ethnic
Sources
Byers,
Paula K. Ed. African American Genealogical Sourcebook.
Detroit,
Michigan:
Gale Research, Inc., 1995. $69.00
Byers,
Paula K. Ed. Hispanic American Genealogical
Sourcebook. Detroit,
Michigan:
Gale Research, Inc., 1994. $69.00
Byers,
Paula K. Ed. Native American Genealogical Sourcebook.
Detroit,
Michigan:
Gale Research, Inc., 1995. $69.00
Computers
and the Internet
Badgett,
Tom and Corey Sandler. Welcome to. Internet: From
Mystery to
Mastery.
2nd ed. New York, New York: MIS Press, 1995. Paper
$19.95
Junior,
Bill and Chris Montravel. 2nd ed. Boston,
Massachusetts: Branden
Publishing
Co., 1996. Paper $16.95
Levine,
John R. Internet for dummies. 4th ed. San Mateo,
California:
IDG
Books, 1996. Paper $19.99
Civil
and Revolutionary Wars
Dyer,
Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
(reprint)
Dayton,
Ohio: The National Historical Society in cooperation
with The Press of
Morningside
Bookshop, 1994. Hardcover $125.00
Dornbusch,
C. E. Military Bibliography of the Civil War. Three
Volumes.
Reprint.
New York, New York: New York Public Library, 1989.
Paper $25.00
Groene,
Bertram Hawthorne. Tracing Your Civil War Ancestor.
2nd rev. ed.
Winston-Salem,
North Carolina: John F. Blair Publisher, 1996. Paper
$14.95
Roster
and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the Civil War of the
Rebellion :
Together
With Historical Sketches of Volunteer
organizations,1861-1866. Six
volumes.
Des Moines, Iowa: E. H. English, State Printer, 1911.
Miscellaneous
Adair
County Historical Society. History of Adair County,
Iowa.
Greenfield,
Iowa: Adair County Historical Society, 1976.
Andreas,
A. T. A. T. Andreas' Illustrated Historical Atlas of
the State of
Iowa,
1875. Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of
Iowa, 1970. OP.
Curtis,
Peter H. Fire Insurance Maps of Iowa Cities and Towns.
Iowa City,
Iowa:
Iowa State Historical Department, Office of the State
Historical Society, 1983. Paper $2.50
The
Iowa Pilot Project, comp. A Bibliography of Iowa
Newspapers, 1836-1976.
Iowa
City, Iowa: Iowa State Historical Department /
Division of the State Historical Society, 1979. OP
Krause,
Carol. How Healthy is Your Family Tree? A Complete
Guide to
Tracing
Your Family's Medical and Behavioral History. New
York: Fireside Books, 1995. Paper $12.00
Morford,
Charles. Biographical Index to the County Histories of
Iowa.
Baltimore,
Maryland: Gateway Press, 1979.
Nelson-Anderson,
Danette L., RN, B.S.N., and Cynthia V. Water. Genetic
Connections:
A Guide to Documenting Your Individual and Family
Health History.
Washington,
MO: Sonters Publishing, 1995. Paper $39.95
Polk,
R. L. Des Moines City Directory: Including: Clive,
Urbandale, West
Des
Moines and Windsor Heights. Kansas City, Missouri: R.L.
Polk & Co., 1997.
Hardcover
$285.00
Works
Progress Administration Project. Iowa Gravestone
Records, Polk
County.
Five Volumes. Des Moines, Iowa: Rachel Redington,
1955. OP
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