Using Maps for Genealogy Research

By: Danuin Mumm

If you’re trying to complete your family tree, you may find genealogy maps to be helpful.  Maps are great tools to use for genealogy research.  They can provide details and clues about where your ancestors lived.

Historic maps can show how every bit of land has changed over centuries.  If you have gathered enough facts about your family history from researching census records, birth certificates, death certificates, etc., it’s time to turn to the maps!  Old, historic maps can come in handy, since they show how the world has changed over the years.  All types of land, ranging from entire countries to small towns, have changed over the centuries.  Historic maps show these changes.

If you know the name(s) of the town(s) your ancestors lived, you can look the places up on historic maps.  Even if those towns have new names name, you can pinpoint their exact location on the maps.  You can find copies of these maps at your local library, or you could even look them up on the Internet!

Using the Internet to help with genealogic work is great.  Some genealogy sites will allow you to download software so you can view historic maps, and others will actually sell you real copies of the maps!  If you want to do genealogy research the old fashioned way, you should consider ordering vintage maps!

Wouldn’t it be nice to see how the world has changed through the centuries?  You can compare the world you now see with your own eyes to how all of your ancestors saw it.  Towns and cities that you’re now familiar with may have changed a great deal through the ages.  Historic maps allow you to see these changes in full detail.  What was the name of your town 200 years ago?  What about 500 years ago?  Was your town even really a town then?  Historic maps will show you the answer!

About the Author

Written by Danuin Mumm. Find the very best info on Genealogy Maps as well as Historic Maps

(ArticlesBase SC #591409)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Using Maps for Genealogy Research

3 High-tech and Low-tech Tools for Genealogy Research

By: Shari Hearn

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been interested in my past. My way past, that is. That past that was even before I was born. Well, of course I’m talking about my ancestors. Those very people who had a part in making me who I am today.

It used to be the search for my heritage took me to the library where I had to spend countless hours combing through books seeking information about my ancestors. But, today, there are so many more resources available for genealogy research. Let’s take a look at three such resources you should consider, both high tech and low tech.

The Internet

The internet has certainly simplified genealogy research. You no longer have to take a trek to the library and sit next to someone with strong perfume or cologne to find information about your ancestors.

What kind of information can you find on the internet?

Surname Search

Birth Records

Death Records

Marriage Records

Census Records

Cemetery Records

Military Records

While searching on the internet you have the choice of using a paid service, or numerous free services, many specific to states or counties. For example, if you’re interest in Birth, Death and Marriage records for ancestors from West Virginia, you can go to http://www.wvculture.org/vrr and do a free search of their records. Many other states, counties and historical societies have similar websites.

Another way to utilize the internet is to visit genealogy communities or forums. Perhaps someone else is researching the same people, or knows someone who is. One such site is http://www.geocities.com/ohgenealogy/Index.html, where people have links to their personal genealogy pages, as well as a link to a genealogy forum. This site deals with ancestors from Ohio, but you can find similar pages for other states and countries by doing a basic internet search.

DNA Testing

Want to go even more high tech? Many people have turned to DNA tests to determine where their ancestors are from. A simple swab of the inside of one’s cheek (yep, just like they do on CSI) can yield DNA which will be compared with other’s DNA. Two types of DNA testing are Y chromosome testing (Y-DNA) and mitochondrial DNA testing. The Y –DNA tests look at paternal lineage while the mitochondrial DNA looks at maternal lineage.

Such tests can be used to determine such things as: which present-day African country you share your ancestry; which European maternal clan you share ancestry; percentage of Native American ancestry.

Oral History

From the extreme high tech to the extreme low tech. While it’s true some stories get distorted over many tellings, you still should talk to as many relatives as possible to get clues to your genealogy. Oral histories can give you information that no DNA test or records search will offer.

Oral histories, along with giving you information to then research through the internet, can also give you the family “color.” Oral histories make your heritage come alive and become more colorful. Maybe you have a horse thief in your family’s past. Now, nobody would want a car thief in their family now. But a horse thief in your family past who lived before the Civil War? Well, that’s just interesting.

Remember to organize all your information so that someday you can pass it down to future generations as well. You might want to purchase some genealogy software which can help organize and publish your information.

Remember, your past is a part of who you are today. Of course, your future is up to you.

About the Author

Shari Hearn is a writer and creator of DNA Paternity Tests where you can learn more about Genetic Genealogy

(ArticlesBase SC #128173)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – 3 High-tech and Low-tech Tools for Genealogy Research