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Find your family story.

3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections

7/22/2013

2 Comments

 
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.© Copyright 2013 by 4YourFamilyStory.com
When searching a database collection online, don't just jump right in and start searching or browsing. You need to know exactly what you are looking at before searching a record collection.

For example, is it complete? 'Cause, hello?!?

If it's not complete and you start searching in it and you don't find what you are looking for even though you're pretty sure it should be there, then you might incorrectly conclude something you should not. Something erroneous. Like such-n-such database doesn't have it or maybe it doesn't even exist. A good example of this is when looking at a particular state's county marriages. If they aren't complete and don't include the county you need but others, that's not going to be real helpful to you and might even make you think, "Well, I've already looked for it in such-n-such database and I guess it doesn't exist." And that would not be true. It -- for whatever reason -- isn't in that database at the time you looked. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist and/or that it won't be there later.

Online databases usually {Read: They should.} include information about a particular collection that they have. And? They also tend to give you tips about how to look at the particular collection. 

Remember: Stop and read about the collection before searching it for your genealogy. You need to know what you are looking at before you look. Click. Scroll. Read.

The below screenshot thumbnails show you how to find information about a collection on Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org, and findmypast.com. Just click on the thumbnails to view a larger image. {Like magic.}

Ancestry.com 
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for larger image.
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for a larger image.
Familysearch.org
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for a larger image.
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for a larger image.
findmypast.com
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for a larger image.
3 Simple Things to Remember When Researching Online Collections via 4YourFamilyStory.com.
Click on thumbnail for a larger image.
~Caroline
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2 Comments
Mariann Regan link
7/26/2013 12:26:27 pm

You are absolutely right. I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to read where databases get their information from!

Reply
Caroline
11/21/2013 06:34:19 am

Mariann, it happens to the best of us. Every day is a part of the journey of learning.

Thanks for stopping by! =)

~C

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