Sunday July 18th, 2010 Genealogy Gems

In May of this year I had the opportunity to attend part of the Ontario Genealogical Society’s (http://www.ogs.on.ca/) annual conference in Toronto. I attended a one day workshop that kicked off the weekend activities and focused on genealogical research and programs in libraries. I was amazed to learn how many libraries and communities are invested in the hunt for genealogical gems and local history research.

Now that it is summer and prime time for doing research and filling in the blanks of your family history, visit the Thunder Bay Public Library for its extensive collection (located primarily at the Brodie Resource Library) of materials about Thunder Bay and the surrounding area. Highlights of the collection include: Special Collections (comprised of books, albums and photographs related to the past and present history of Thunder Bay and surrounding area), local newspapers and news indexes dating back to 1875, city directories from 1884-2004 (at which point they ceased publication), photographs dating back to the early 1800s, historical maps of the Thunder Bay region, obituary indexes for Fort William and Port Arthur dating back to 1900, the library of the Thunder Bay branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, Canadian and American phonebooks. The library also provides access to three useful databases for genealogical research: Ancestry Library Edition, Thunder Bay News Index, and the Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History (which is run by Knowledge Ontario as part of the OurOntario.ca project to provide access to the digital collections of libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, government agencies, and private collections from across Ontario).

Another tidbit of information I learned at the genealogy conference is that only 5 per cent of all genealogical information is available online. Not to say that the online resources aren’t thorough; I’m sure many of us have seen the television commercials for the Ancestry database, which is an excellent tool and really fun to use. Another online site that can be useful is the Family History and Genealogy Records (www.familysearch.org), which provides free genealogy records and resources at an international level. To supplement this database there are Family History Centres across North America for accessing microfilm and other materials. The Thunder Bay centre can be found at 2255 Ponderosa Drive.

If you’re just getting started with your family history, here are some helpful tips to get you going in the right direction:

1. Start with yourself and work back, don’t try and skip over generations to a distant relative. Gather the information you need to draw a line from person to person over the years.
2. Talk with relatives and family members to gather stories and information from those who are still around.
3. Consult genealogy guidebooks (of which there are many at the library) such as GENEALOGY IN ONTARIO: SEARCHING THE RECORDS by Brenda Dougall Merriman or FAMILY HISTORY 101: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR ANCESTORS by Marcia Melnyk
4. Keep an open mind when it comes to dates and the spelling of names or places. Older records can be hard to decipher and the proper spelling of names was not always a priority.
5. Always refer to the original document of primary source of information whenever possible. Relying on someone else’s interpretation of a document is not always accurate and the original will often provide more detail than is accessible in a summary.
6. Join a genealogical society to talk to like-minded individuals and researchers.
7. Visit your local library to ask questions and learn more about how to use the material.
   

And most importantly, be organized! Keep records of where you have looked, interviews completed and make sure to choose a recording system that works well for you. There are so many options for recording and developing a family tree that you are bound to find one that suits your needs.

Happy hunting!

Jesse Roberts, Head of Reference Services