2.7 Assignment 2
Starting the process to identify a research subject. Plan on between one and three hours to complete this assignment.
Step 1: As previously mentioned, FamilySearch Family Tree is free to anyone who creates an account on FamilySearch.org. After logging into the website, click “Family Tree,” then “Tree” to view the family tree.
Step 2: If there is not a tree, use the pedigree to build one. Or, from the homepage, new FamilySearch members can click “Build Your Tree.” If you have a pedigree, with family lines going back in time, skip to step five.
Step 3: A new FamilySearch member will need to add parents, grandparents, and go back to the deceased generation on each line. If the deceased individual is already in FamilySearch Family Tree, the rest of the tree will be populated so ancestors on that line connect to the member’s pedigree.
Step 4: Continue adding known individuals; if the information exists in FamilySearch Family Tree, the family lines will populate. If not, you may be the first person to research that family line.
Step 5: After entering known data of close ancestors, students should examine information, looking for a family that meets the following criteria. Selecting the right individual to focus on throughout this course is crucial to learning genealogical skills and having a positive research experience.
Identify an individual on FamilySearch Family Tree who:
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Was born between 1830 and 1940
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Has two sources or fewer
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Is a member of a family (meaning they have some connections that may include parents, siblings, spouse, children)
Step 6: If many generations of the member’s family have already been entered into FamilySearch Family Tree, the member is joining a group of researchers who work together on their family lines. Sometimes it can be a challenge to find a place in the tree that needs research. For the purpose of this class, do not select the “brick wall” that many people have tried to break through without success. It is better to practice the necessary skills and strategies by working on something else throughout the course and then go back and apply those new skills to the brick wall after completing the class. If all direct lines have been well researched, these students can spend the time others will use for data entry of their close relatives to look on collateral lines and find a family to research. The following chart outlines the steps to identify a research family. Plan on between one and three hours to complete this process. Putting in the time now to find the right research subject will make the whole semester more productive.
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Log into FamilySearch.org, then click "Family Tree," and "Tree."
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There is a menu on the right portion of the screen that allows for changing the way members view the tree. It probably is set at "landscape" or "fan chart" but needs to be changed to "decendancy" view.
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Decendancy view shows the FamilySearch member with their spouse and descendants. Imagine this as the trunk of the family tree. To climb up the tree, press "expand."
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A chart will pop up with the member at the bottom and the grandparents of the member at the top. Select a grandparent to start exploring that part of the family.
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Continue to expand until the top person (below the word "expand") is born in the early 1800's. Now it's time to branch out from the trunk and come back down the limbs of the family tree.
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Remember, the goal is to find people born between 1830 and 1940 who would be a good focus for the course research project. Look at the top person, go right and down looking for closed arrows. In order, from top to bottom, click on closed arrows to open them. Follow the path until the people are being born after 1940. When you find a prospective focus person, right-click on their name and "open in the new tab" to view their details. If this person looks like a good canidate for research, click the star next to "follow" before going on to look at more of the extended branches.
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When that branch of the tree extends to people born after 1940, look left, following the lines, to find the next branch and start opening the arrows for the next line of ancestors, always seeking for people who meet the research project criteria.
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It would be beneficial to explore more than one line of the family. To start back at the trunk of the family tree, click "person" in the sub-menu and the member's details page should come up. Click "view tree" and start the process again. This time select a different grandparent's branch to explore.
Step 7: As you come across someone who is a candidate for being the research focus, click the star on their details page. This will add them to your “Following” list so you can easily find them for the next assignment.
Step 8: Whether you started your tree from scratch or had a an existing tree to work with, this assignment will be complete when you have 3-5 good research candidates on your “Following” list. You can view your “Following” list by clicking “Family Tree” and then “Following.”
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Looking Ahead
Assignment 3 will be to finalize the selection of the research family that will be the focus of the course project.