Learn From My Mistakes - Source Everything

Nearly a year ago, I made the decision that I was going to completely redo my genealogy because I was so frustrated with not having sources on 95% of my work. I was so angry and fed up with my poor work that I just decided to start all over.



So that is exactly what I did. I began with myself and worked my way back. I sourced every single document I had - and I did it correctly. Now, almost a year later, I have 158 people in my tree.



I've come to learn that genealogy isn't a race. It's not about how many people you have in your tree or how far back it dates - which is exactly what I thought when I began this hobby. Its about the detail, the sources, the evidence, the hunt! It's about breathing a life into your ancestors and honoring the lives that they lived.



My old, unsourced tree had 918 people in it. My new, completely sourced tree, has 158 people in it. Give me the small sourced tree over the big unsourced tree any day!



But What Does "Cite Your Sources" Mean?

I suggest that you refer to this Source Citation Quick Reference sheet over at Geneabloggers.com - it is a great reference tool to have. In fact, I suggest you print it out and keep it close whenever you are doing research.


But remember, this isn't enough. I suggest you buy Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian (Which you can find in my Genealogy Store)

When you cite your sources, think of it as a way for another person to find that source. So "1930 Census" is not enough. Why? Because it isn't specific enough. You want to give enough information that it serves as almost a "link" to the record itself.

So please....learn from my mistakes and cite your sources! You don't want to have to completely redo all of your hardwork.

A California Port Town - COG

I live in Lomita, California (which, doesn't have very interesting history) so I decided to instead research the town over, where my boyfriend lives: San Pedro, California.

For those of you who don't know where San Pedro is, it is located right across from Long Beach and borders the Los Angeles Harbor.  (For you locals, one end of the 110 freeway ends in San Pedro).

This area of California has a very rich history.  Sailors were known for being in this area in the late 1600s and early 1700s and often docked in the area.  It quickly became a small port town, with sailors trading goods with the Mexicans that lived in the area (This area was part of Mexico at the time).

More recently however, San Pedro has served as a small port town, bringing goods to Los Angeles.  Most of the people that lived here were sailors or fisherman.

During World War II, there was a Japanese population in San Pedro.  Some owned stores and property - and unfortunately, the government placed these people in internment camps.  When the Japanese were released, many left the area.

From then on, San Pedro has spent it's time being a charming little town.  With the Spanish architecture and an appreciation for the sea, San Pedro has charm.  In fact, you can get some of the best breakfast at a little place called Pacific Diner.  This place is almost almost packed - but definitely worth it.

We also some some of the best tide pools ever, which my mom used to walk me along when I was a kid.  There are some beautiful beaches along the coastline too.

U.S. Naturalization Laws - Oh How They Change!

Every one has that immigrant ancestor who came to America looking for a new life full of freedom and opportunity. It's thrilling to find this ancestor, because they give you a new appreciation for the struggle that they endured just to come to this country.

But figuring out the U.S. Naturalization laws for the time period your ancestor lived - not much fun at all. But it is critical that we know these laws so that we can find the records that go with our ancestor becoming a U.S. citizen.

With my great-great-grandfather, I was fortunate enough to find an index on the Missouri Digital Heritage Website, which gave me all the information I needed to order the record. And the great part? It only cost me $1. But without knowing the naturalization laws, I would have been much more lost.

I found a great reference article about the U.S. naturalization laws that can be found here. I highly recommend that you print it and keep it in an easy to reach place (You can also download the document).

Using these laws, you can figure out if there is a naturalization record to be found and exactly what kind of records you are looking for.

Harney or O'Harney? That is the Question...

So a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to my Auntie Shirley about genealogy.  We began talking about her dad's line of genealogy, which I always thought was a German line.  However, Auntie Shirley gave me a new insight.

According to Auntie Shirley, her father's line is actually Irish.  During the potato famine, the family moved to Germany and tried to assimilate with their new country.  They began speaking German and living the German lifestyle.  By the time they immigrated to America, they considered themselves German.

I've never heard of the Irish moving to Germany during the Potato Famine, but it could certainly be a possibility.  I haven't done much research on this line once they are in Germany, so I don't know if this story is true or not.

Now I have an entirely new angle to persue - and I am certainly excited at the possibilities.

The Controversy Over Sources In Blogs

I tried to resist jumping on the bandwagon - but I couldn't.

99% of the time, I will probably not cite my sources. Why? Because it is a blog, and I don't believe a blog is a source: It is a starting place, a place to pick up tips and helpful websites and a place for a general discussion to happen (or at least it is for my blog!)

And I'm not offended by the idea of my blog not being a good source. I would hope that if anyone found information that was helpful on my blog or that might relate to their genealogy, that they would contact me in some way (easiest way is through email: GenealogistElyse@gmail.com). If not, then I can't stop them. Some people will make mistakes and choose not to do what you want - you can't spend your time stressing.

So once again - if anyone wants a source for one of my posts, simply email me and I'd be happy to provide it.