Building My 2011 Research Template

It's that time of year when people begin to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for improvement in the year to come.  I've decided that in order to make my blog and my genealogy research better, I need to come up with a systematic plan to document my ancestors' lives.

I've decided that I will start by focusing on my great-grandparents, both maternal and paternal, as well as their children.  I will use this blog to document the records as well as gaps that need further research. I will highlight and document the facts and information I have discovered, using the following template:

Documentation of GGF and children:

1. Vital Records (birth, marriage, death)

     1.1. Birth certificate

            1.1.1 Birth notice in newspaper

            1.1.2 Bible record

            1.1.3 Baptismal record

            1.1.4 Adoption record

     1.2 Marriage license

            1.2.1 Marriage notice in newspaper

            1.2.2 Anniversary notice

            1.2.3 Divorce decree

     1.3 Death certificate

            1.3.1 Obituary in newspaper

            1.3.2 Funeral home record

            1.3.3 Tombstone photograph

2. Census Records

     2.1 Federal Census Records

            2.1.1 1930 Federal Census

            2.1.2 1920 Federal Census

            2.1.3 1910 Federal Census

            2.1.4 1900 Federal Census

            2.1.5 1880 Federal Census

            2.1.6 1870 Federal Census

     2.2 State Census Records

     2.3 Agricultural / Mortality Census Records

3. Military Records

     3.1 Draft registration

     3.2 Pension records

     3.3 Service records

4. Land Records

     4.1 Deed records

     4.2 Plat map / county map

5. Supplemental records

     5.1 Social Security records

     5.2 Church membership records

     5.3 City directories

     5.4 Court records

My goal is to start with my great-grandparents, completing this template for them and each of their children (my grandaunts and uncles) and then eventually to continue backwards each successive generation.  If I can progress slowly and methodically, I hope to become a better researcher and create a more thorough documented record of my ancestors lives.

I will also endeavor to document my sources consistently, so that others may see how I arrived at my conclusions.

What are your thoughts?  I would appreciate any comments regarding this plan.

Amanuensis Monday: Future Farmers of America (1937)

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

Source: Alexandria-Monroe High School Spectrum, Alexandria, Indiana, 1937

The Future Farmers of America

First row from left to right: Leroy Waymire, Arthur McMahan, Paul Thurston, William Cranfill.  Second row: Basil Retherford, Eugene Hannah, John Featherston, Elbert Hague, Eugene Derstler, Noel Maddox, David Teague, Frank Tobin.  Third row: Eugene Fields, Robert Hobbs, William Blake, Forest McMahan, Bernard Balser, Fred Johnson, John Nacoff, Ralph Porter, Mr. Disque. Back row: Omer Young, Verne Sullivan, Harold Bess, Keith Sizelove, Harry Ellis, Fred Inglis, Lyle Summers, Charles Sayre, William Wright, Dale Blacklidge.

The Future Farmers of America is a National Organization of farm boys studying vocational agriculture with chapters throughout the United States, Hawaii, and Porto Rico.  Its purpose is to create more interest in farming as an occupation, and to instill and nurture a love of country life.

The thirty-three members of the local chapter participate in judging and corn husking contests, and their basketball team furnishes recreation.  Paul Thurston won the Hoosier Farmer Degree.

President: Herman Brown

Vice-President: Arthur McMahan

Secretary: William Cranfill

Treasurer: Leroy Waymire

Reporter: Robert Inglis

Faculty Adviser: Mr. Disque

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My maternal grandfather, William Lee Wright, is pictured in the back row.

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Christmas Overload

Barnabus D. Beagle, aka "Barney", 25 Dec. 2010

I think my poor beagle was on holiday overload yesterday when I caught him hiding underneath the Christmas tree.

I hope, dear reader, that you and your family had a wonderful holiday season and that your New Year is full of genealogical joy.