Project 4: United States Status: 0=Not Started; 1=Started;

Tracker –

2=Good; 3=Proficient; 4=Can Teach)

(Resources: A=Article read; V=Video watched)

Goals / ChoicesNotes StatusResources Date
PART A: U.S. Records and Searches
Goal 1: Learn about U.S. records.
A: Understand U.S. records and their uses.
B: Learn basic types of index records.
C: Use the Record Selection Table.
D: Try other types of records for research.
Goal 2: Learn about location and geography.
A: Devise a strategy for locating your ancestors, based on where they lived.
B: Use maps effectively.
C: Use gazetteers effectively.
D: Use city and town directories effectively.
E: Use histories and timelines effectively.
Goal 3: Learn about U.S. research by region and state.
A: Do effective research in individual states.
B: Find resources for research in the Midwest.
C: Find resources for research in the Northeast U.S.
D: Find resources for research in the Southern U.S.
E: Find resources for research in the Western U.S.
PART B: U.S. Vital Records
Goal 1: Understand vital records.
A: Learn about vital records in the U.S.
Goal 2: Explore birth records in the U.S.
A: Learn about practical sources for finding birth records.
B: Do birth record searches on FamilySearch.
C: Do birth record searches on Ancestry.
Goal 3: Explore adoption records and alternatives to birth records.
A: Learn about adoption records and how to find them.
B: Explore adoption records in more depth.
C: Find alternatives to birth records.
Goal 4: Explore marriage records.
A: Learn about marriage records.
B: Find marriage records and marriage indexes.
C: Use marriage record searches on FamilySearch
D: Do marriage record searches on Ancestry.
E: Learn about marriage record alternatives and divorce records.
Goal 5: Explore death records and obituaries.
A: Learn more about death records.
B: Explore death record resources.
C: Use the U.S. Social Security Death Index to provide ancestor information.
D: Find death record alternatives.
E: Explore online obituaries.
F: Make use of funeral home records.
Goal 6: Explore cemetery records and tombstones.
A: Use cemetery records to provide clues about ancestors.
B: Learn about tombstones and how they can be used in research.
C: Explore FindAGrave.com and BillionGraves.com.
PART C: U.S. Census Records
Goal 1: Get to know U.S. Census records.
A: Learn about the U.S. census and how it can be used for research.
B: Learn how to find your ancestors in various census records.
C: Explore state census records to find clues for your ancestors.
Goal 2: Explore U.S. Census records by decades.
A: Explore the 1940 census.
B: Explore the 1930 census.
C: Explore the 1920 census.
D: Explore the 1910 and 1900 censuses.
E: Explore the 1890 and 1880 censuses.
F: Explore censuses from 1870-1850.
G: Explore censuses from 1840-1790.
PART D: U.S. Immigration
Goal 1: Explore various types of U.S. immigration records.
A: Learn about immigration and emigration records.
B: Learn about tracing immigrant ancestors.
C: Explore immigration resources.
Goal 2: Explore U.S. naturalization and passenger lists.
A: Learn about naturalization records.
B: Explore U.S. passenger lists.
Goal 3: Explore other U.S. immigration records.
A: Explore early American and colonial immigration.
B: Learn about other immigration records.
C: Explore the RootsMapper web site to visually trace immigration paths.
D: Explore the BYU Immigrant Ancestors project.
PART E: U.S. Military Records
Goal 1: Learn about U.S. military records.
A: Understand U.S. military records and how they can be used in family history.
B: Learn to trace your military ancestors.
C: Explore the Fold3 website.
Goal 2: Explore U.S. military records by conflict.
A: Explore Revolutionary War records.
B: Explore Civil War records for ancestors.
C: Explore records for servicemen in World War I.
D: Explore records for servicemen in World War II.
E: Locate your Korean War veteran.
F: Explore records for other U.S. conflicts.
PART F: Other U.S. Records
Goal 1: Explore religious, church, and travel records.
A: Learn about religious and church records.
B: Explore religious records of various faiths.
C: Explore travel and migration records within the U.S.
Goal 2: Explore property records - Land, Probate, and Wills.
A: Explore land records.
B: Explore probate records.
C: Explore wills and deeds.
Goal 3: Explore court records online.
A: Learn about U.S. courts and records.
B: Use court records for research.
Goal 4: Explore newspapers online.
A: Search for ancestor clues in newspapers.
B: Explore online newspaper websites.
Goal 5: Access U.S. libraries and archives.
A: Learn about U.S. libraries and archives.
A: Visit the Family History Library in SLC.
C: Access free genealogical books online.
Goal 6: Get help with your U.S. research.
A: Access Facebook pages for help.
B: Explore genealogy societies.