Genealogy and Family History: Class #2

[kingrat]

A gave myself a couple of tasks to accomplish yesterday before the second session of my genealogy class. The first was to pick up the class packet from the copy center. The second was to pick up a Husky Card for access to the U.W. libraries. Both went swimmingly, so I got to my class early, hung out and read the text book.

The class was taught by James Rigali today. He’s the instructor for the history portions of the class. Topic was Organizing Historical Research Projects. After an overly long and fairly unimportant discussion of what is history? he delved into a basic method he wanted us to follow:

• Pick a subject. At this point, I’m thinking of doing my project on either or both of my third great grandparents, Patrick Parker and Mary Murphy. (I’ve written about them on the blog before.)
• Create an annotated chronology
• Develop research questions, both historical and genealogical
• Develop a bibliography. His overview included the following types of sources:
  • General books, including textbooks.
  • Scholarly articles (JSTOR)
  • Encyclopedias (he didn’t cover this one too much)
  • Historical books and magazines published at the time
  • Local histories
  • Historical maps
  • Historical photographs.
  • Newspapers of the time
  • History web sites

• 

  Sample Research Journal

  Keep a research journal. He didn’t really cover what to record on this, other than keeping what he called a two-sided journal. In other words, record what you are searching and reading on one side, and notes and thoughts on the other. He didn’t really seem like he’s embraced computer technology like I do.

Originally published at King Rat. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[evillinn.livejournal.com]

This is the kind of stuff I've always thought would be particularly interesting.

How much of this class do you actually think will be new work for you? You've done so much already, it seems like there is a distinct likelihood of the class going over things you've already thoroughly covered on your own. Expect that to be an issue?

[kingrat]

I'm guessing half the information on records will be stuff I already know. Possibly more, but I won't know til I get there. The stuff on history and methods will be mostly new.