Locating Hard to Find Genealogy Records!
Grab your mug! This Elevenses with Lisa LIVE show is exclusively for Premium Members. In this Premium episode we’ll be discussing how to find hard-to-find genealogical records. Our case study will be on divorce records, but you use these strategies with all types of records.
Show Notes – A Case Study: Divorce Records
Are you having trouble finding a particular genealogical record you need? It happens to all of us, so in this episode we will take one Premium Member’s question and follow the process of how to find those elusive records.
Resource
Georgiann’s Question:
“I have found my great-grandma’s sister in 1910 census in Boulder, Colorado. In 1911 her husband had moved to Arkansas and married his second wife there. In a 1912 city directory of Boulder, Colorado, this sister is listed as a widow. Also listed as a widow in 1920 census. I have looked in Arkansas and Colorado for a divorce and have found nothing so far. I’m not sure what my next step would be.”
This is a great example of what we’re talking about. Everything you know so far indicates there’s a record out there, but it’s not in the usual places.
The process we will cover can apply to any type of record, though certainly not every situation. But I think it’s a great exercise for us all. And if you’re like Georgiann and specifically looking for a divorce record, well then you’re definitely going to be able to use these strategies in a very specific way.
State the Research Question
Great research plans begin with great research questions. The question should be specific. If it feels a little broad, try to break it down into a number of more specific questions. In this case our research question is: Did Clara and John Byerly divorce?
Create a research plan
Not every genealogical search requires a plan. However, when a record is hard to locate, that’s the perfect time to use this more structured process. A research plan doesn’t have to be formal, but it does help you search in a more strategic way.
Create a Timeline:
A timeline can help you tease apart the events and determine your target. Here’s a brief timeline for Clara B. Byerly:
1910 – Boulder, CO, listed as married in the census
1911 – her husband remarries in Arkansas
1912 – Boulder CO, listed as widowed in the city directory
1920 – Boulder CO, listed widowed census
Target identified: Divorce record between 1910 and 1911.
Identify the states where the divorce likely occurred
Google maps is an easy way to find your best geographic targets based on what we know. Here are our top two for Clara based on the current records:
- Colorado
- Arkansas
It’s worth making note of the bordering states on the way to Arkansas where her ex-husband John remarried just in case he filed for divorce: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico.
Target update: Divorce record between 1910 and 1911, in Colorado or Arkansas.
Identify the Types of Records to Look for
Next, make a list of the types of records that might be able to tell us what happened. In Clara’s case, divorce records are our first choice, but other types of records may help. Here’s our list of targets in priority order:
- Divorce
- Newspapers – Is there an article or notice about the divorce?
- Marriage – What does John say his marital status is at the time of the second marriage?
List where each record might be found
The next step in creating your research plan is to brainstorm a list of potential locations for each record target. Here’s our starting list for this case:
Divorce records:
- org (free)
- Ancestry ($)
- MyHeritage ($)
- Google search (state libraries, courts, other niche genealogy sites)
Note: the search feature at the genealogy websites listed don’t search all collections. Check the Card Catalog as well.
Newspapers:
- Chronicling America (free) Check the Newspaper directory as well for offline papers.
- Check the top newspaper websites ($) to see if they have papers that match the target time and place (Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank)
- Google Search for repositories
As Georgiann discovered, in this case, the genealogy websites do not have a divorce record for Clara and John Byerly.
Online Searching for Online or Offline Records
If you can’t find the record you need at one of the big genealogy websites, it’s time to search online for records that may be on another website online, or listed in the catalog of a repository and online available offline.
When googling, we focus on finding the record collection rather the ancestors. Try both broad search and narrow searches so you catch everything. Your query will include targeted information such as type of record, geographic location and timeframe.
Example of a broad search query:
Colorado Divorce Records
Example of a narrow search query:
“divorce records” “boulder county” 1910..1912
In this query we place quotes around the record type to tell Google we want websites that include these exact phrases. Dates can be presented in a numrage search where we put the first date, two periods, and the second date. This tells Google to return only website that include a date (4-digit number year) that falls within this range. Learn more about Google search strategies in my book The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox.
Book by Lisa Louise Cooke – Available in the Genealogy Gems Store
Search results:
Colorado Genealogy on the Internet – includes links to the following:
- Colorado Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry ($) (note: already searched)
- Colorado Statewide Divorce Index, 1900-1939 at FamilySearch (note: already searched)
- Colorado Divorce Records Index, 1880-1939: see the Colorado State Archives Historical Records Index Search (note: previous search result – check this site.)
Colorado State Archives – Divorce Records
This website remind us that although they provide an online search it is incomplete: “You can search for historical divorce records at the Colorado State Archives website here. This is not a complete database. If you don’t find the records, contact the State Archives directly.” This is the case with many libraries and archives.
Thankfully, we hit the jackpot at the Colorado State Archives. A search of the historical index for Clara Byerly retrieved the details of the record. Georgiann can use this information to order a copy (for a fee) from the archives. It’s always advantageous to see the original record as there could be an error in the transcription, and it may include additional information.
Our timeline for this case now looks more complete:
1910 – “married” in the census Boulder, CO
1910 – July 2 Divorced in Boulder, CO
1911 – husband remarries in Arkansas
1912 – “widowed” Boulder CO city directory
1920 – “widowed” Boulder CO census
More Online Strategies: Websites to Check for Links to Records
FamilySearch Wiki
Filter down to United States > Colorado > Boulder County
Result: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Colorado_Court_Records
USGenWeb
Google it: boulder county colorado usgenweb
https://www.cogenweb.com/boulder/
Filter at USGenWeb by Country > State > County
Question the Assumptions
Sometimes we’re looking for a record that doesn’t exist because things didn’t happen the way other records lead us to believe they did. In this case the question is “Did Clara and John Byerly really divorce?” It’s very possible that he left her and they didn’t formalize their divorce in Colorado. Also, a woman stating that she is a widow could be for the purpose of covering that up, or if they did actually divorce, to avoid the social stigma of being divorced.
If we exhaust all resources for divorce records and come up empty handed, we can then move on to the other record types. Getting the marriage record for the second marriage may answer the question if he disclosed the first marriage.
More Records to Look for Marriage Status and Divorce
In addition to actual historical divorce records check:
- newspapers
- obituaries
- city directories
- Census – Sometimes “M2” is listed indicating a second marriage. Did the husband in this case get listed that way?
How to Get Relatives Interested in Family History – Episode 11 (Elevenses with Lisa)
Live show air date: June 4, 2020
Episode 11 Video and Show Notes
Join me for Elevenses with Lisa, the online video series where we take a break, visit and learn.
Today’s Teacup
Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. The movie Pride and Prejudice (2005) was filmed there. In my cup: Blueberry Merlot by Tea Forte Herbal Retreat. You can get it here at Amazon (This is an affiliate link, so if you make a purchase we will be compensated at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this free show!)
How to Get Relatives Interested in Family History
For me Family and faith have always been the answer for life’s challenges and turmoil. In this hour together we will recharge and look at ways to positively influence our family, now and in the future.
Preparing Your Relatives Now
Focus on ways to make the results of your research understandable by non-genealogists and create those items now. Make it a priority to share your findings in creative and simple ways as you go to help relatives understand the value of your research to you and them. You will have much more success down the road if you help build understanding today.
Sharing Ideas
Christmas Wreath and Crazy Quilt Christmas Stocking
Click here for the Genealogy Gems playlist that includes the 4 part instructional series on making these family history wreaths.
Crazy quilt a stocking and add transferred photos of your ancestors using T-shirt transfer paper.
Crazy quilt a stocking and add transferred photos of your ancestors.
Repurpose or upcycle items you already have
I turned an unfinished crocheted heirloom tablecloth into a vest for my daughter.
I upcycled an old unfinished crocheted tablecloth into a vest
Genealogy Wall Charts
You can order genealogy wall charts through websites such as MyHeritage or Ancestry.
Here’s a free fan chart from FamilySearch.
See all your options by Googling genealogy wall charts.
Embellished Picture Frames
Decorate an old picture frame with items reflecting the life of your ancestor featured in the photo.
Embellish an old photo frame with vintage items that help tell the story of your ancestor.
Family History Wall Art
Make wall art like the matte canvas photo I made in episode 6 of Elevenses with Lisa. The show notes for that episode includes details.
Posters from Family Photos
Get posters made of significant photos from the past. I ordered mine from Vista Print. If you sign up for a service’s newsletter you’ll likely get notification of sales and discount coupons. Poster frames can be ordered online through Amazon and stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
Celebrate the history of your family members!
Tabletop Family Story Displays
I took an old locker and filled it with items reflecting my husband’s story. You could also use a small cabinet, crate, basket, etc.
Coffee Table Books that Tell Your Family’s Story
- www.shutterfly.com (where I made my books)
- Lulu Press
- MyCanvas (Ancestry)
In episode 206 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast I talk about how I made the book about my grandmother’s 50-year nursing career.
Genealogy Gems Premium Members can listen to the Premium Podcast Episodes 52-54 which feature a 3-part series on publishing your family history.
Create short books that tell a single family history story.
Google Earth “Family History Tour”
Back in 2009 I pioneered a use for the free Google Earth program called “Family History Tours”. These tours take a little time but are fairly easy to create, and they make a big impact. You can download Google Earth Pro for free here. Then, watch my video below for a closer look at family history tours in Google Earth.
Resources for learning how to create family history tours:
- Google Earth for Genealogy step-by-step tutorial video series by Lisa Louise Cooke.
- The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox (book)
Both available at the Genealogy Gems Store here.
Over 2 1/2 hours of easy-to-follow instructions by Lisa Louise Cooke.
Get More Ideas at Pinterest
Check out my genealogy Pinterest boards here.
Follow me on Pinterest.
Family History Blog
Sharing your family history information on a blog gives you an easy way to cross-post on social media as well as be found by others how are Googling to find information on the same family lines.
Start a free blog at www.blogger.com. Watch my free instructional video series on how to set up your free blog at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel.
Turn Family History Photos into Eye-Catching Memes
I use the Retype app. (About $2.99)
Other free alternatives include apps like Adobe Spark Post or Over.
Add text to photos, customize the font and text color, and save. An easy way to access old family photos on your smartphone or tablet is to save copies of the photos to a free cloud service on your computer. Then open that app on your phone. Select a photo and save it to your device. Once the photo is in your Photos app, you can then open Retype and import that photo. Add text, font, color and more.
Get more complete instructions and other mobile computing ideas like this from the book Mobile Genealogy: How to Use Your Smartphone or Tablet for Family History.
Apps can turn family history photos into social media image that generate conversation.
Create a Video that Tells a Story
It’s easier than ever to create videos, and no special skills are required. Video is the #1 type of content on the Web and with the next generation. Get instructions and ideas here at Genealogy Gems.
I trust all of my old home movies (8mm, VHS, mini DV, High-8, etc.) conversion and digitization to Larsen Digital. They do spectacular work! Click here for exclusive special discounts for Elevenses with Lisa fans!
The video below features one of my grandmother’s old home movies that Larsen Digital converted for me. And boy oh boy was I excited by what I discovered!
From You
Elevenses with Lisa viewer Jillian T. shared how she is bringing family history into her home office:
“I have tried to tune in each week to your Genealogy Gems ‘Elevenses’ (which is 5 pm here in Ireland and therefore a perfect end to my workday). A few weeks ago, you shared how you found the photo of your husbands ancestors and through newspapers found out more about the musical troupe. You organized to have the photo printed on canvas and the finished project was wonderful.
I have always wishing to do a ‘family tree’ on the wall of my office but was afraid it would end up looking like an arts and crafts project. You gave me the kick I needed and decided, if not now, when?
So, I measured up the wall, researched and trawled through my vast collection of photos. I was very conscious that I have better historic photos on my ‘dads’ side with thanks to a wonderful elderly cousin who shares my passion. But as a genealogist, I wished to ensure I had balance and so decided only three photos from each ‘side’. I found a decal that was a good price (about $20) and the perfect size for my wall. I organised for the photos to be printed and mounted on canvas (more expensive but knew if the project didn’t work, I could find another use for the mounted photos).
It took a few weeks for everything to arrive, as you will see in the attached, I did the base of the tree first – we called it the haunted tree as we had to wait another week for the photos to arrive. Then we took time deciding on the placing of the photos and then added the leaves.
I am writing to say a huge thank you. I will have this lovely project to remind me of this time, and as I sit here and type, it is lovely to know my family ‘has my back’.
Thank you for your initiative of the weekly meet up. Your energy and enthusiasm are infectious. I met you at RootsTech in 2016 and have continued to follow you since. Thank you for all you do and to you and your family, let me share an old Irish blessing “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.
Warmest wishes, Stay smart, Jillian”
Jillian’s ancestors “have her bacK” in her office!
Gayle P. shares some of the ways she protects her family history from destruction.
“I have organized many things into books. My living room is my grandma’s family history room and some of my grandchildren love to look through things. However, when I ask if they would be interested in having certain books, they ask me, “Grama, why don’t you scan it and give me a flash drive or CD.” I decided to give memory flash drives for Christmas presents. I feel relieved that I have several backups.
For example, while my son was serving a two-year mission in Germany, 1990-1992, he wrote faithfully every week. 30 years later, he is now working for the Air Force in Germany close to where he served his mission.
I scanned his letters and pictures he sent to me, organized them in books and sent them to him. His children enjoy the scanned version of his memoirs. He plans on revisiting many of the areas where he served 30 years ago. He wrote four simple words that brought many tears: “Mom, thank you forever.”
Another example is I have scanned and organized my pictures by years and share many of these years with my family. Over Memorial Day, my daughter-in-law was in a panic because she could not retrieve her 2012 pictures. She called and asked if I could share my 2012 pictures. Within a short time, I was able to scan about 5000 pictures I had for that year and share with her. I had many, many pictures of her daughter and her family. Another “thank you forever” brought tears to my eyes.
I currently have over 500,000 pictures/documents scanned and have three personal backups. I am still have a lot to scan and probably will not get everything scanned before I die, but I am sharing what I have now so I know that some of my family will have a copy of my most treasured work and memories.
Scanning and sharing a ton in Idaho, Gayle”
Now there’s a woman who doesn’t need a “round tuit”, and who is definitely a positive influence on her family!
Cathy G wrote a comment to ask about the templates I use for my notebook covers and spines.
“Wonderful shows – really enjoying the elevenses. Such good information always. Especially enjoyed the ones on organizing paper and hard drive database. More please. One quick question: you mentioned printing your own binder covers and spines – can’t find a template in my Word program. Can you direct us to the one you use? Thanks.”
I’m happy to share my simple yet effective templates for the covers and spines on my notebooks. Genealogy Gems Premium members can now download these from the Resources section of the Elevenses with Lisa episode 6 show notes.
Gayle has been hard at work creating family history notebooks.
Watch My Free Presentation
Watch my free Facebook Live presentation of Fabulous Photo Discoveries at MyHeritage.
It’s all about finding and colorizing your old family photos. The video replay is available here at the MyHeritage Facebook page.
Final Thoughts on Passing on Our Genealogy
I hope you enjoyed the ideas presented in this episode, and that you take action on at least one of them. It may be just what your relatives need to see the family history clearer.
That being said, even if no one else in your family cares right now or wants your genealogy, It’s ok. We’ve done all we can and the rest is out of our control.
If genealogy has brought You joy, sharpened your mind, given you countless hours of amusement, connection, and satisfaction, then it’s all been worth it! No one can take that away from you.
And the way I look at it, when we get to heaven we’ll know a lot more people!
Next Episode of Elevenses with Lisa
Episode 12 will air Live on June 18, 2020 at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel. After the live show, the episode will be available as a video. Show notes will be published on June 19.
Click the video above to Set your reminder for episode 12, or click here. Please be sure to click our channel’s Subscribe button while you’re there. Then click the Notifications bell to so you’ll know when we post new videos and episodes.
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Stay smart and stay brave! Thanks so much for watching friend. I’ll talk to you soon.
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Resources (Premium Members):
Click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode. (Log in required.)
Provenance: The Story Behind Your Genealogy Records
Elevenses with Lisa Episode 37 Show Notes
There’s a very important story behind each one of your genealogy records. In this video and article we discuss why it’s critically important to understand the provenance of each record. We also talk about specific things to look for as you analyze their meaning. Great genealogy research requires a great understanding of the story behind your genealogy records! Keep reading for the show notes that accompany this video.
The story behind your records includes many important areas to be considered:
- Provenance / History
- The reason for the record
- Information source (primary vs. secondary)
- Motivating factors of the informants
Let’s take a look at each of these.
Provenance
In the art world, knowing the provenance of a piece is crucial to understanding its value.
Provenance looks at an object’s origins, history, and ownership. Investigating and analyzing the provenance of a piece can shed light on:
- whether the piece is authentic,
- whether it truly was created by the attributed artist in the stated timeframe,
- What the value of the item might be.
Elevenses with Lisa Episode 37
The principle of provenance is true for genealogical sources, too.
The Story Behind the Records
Provenance is important because it helps us determine how much weight to give the information provided by the genealogical record.
We need to ask When and where was the record created? We are looking for:
- Records created closest to the time of an event
- Documents created in places associated with your relatives
- Documents created by people who knew them or were authorities
Review the Record’s Source Information
It’s important to take the time to review the available source citation information for each record we use. Fortunately, many genealogy websites that provide access to the records of our ancestors also provide critical background information about that record. This can help us find the answers to our questions and help us evaluate how much credence to give the information.
Scroll down and click through to get the rest of the record’s story.
Sometimes it just takes a little digging to uncover the backstory on a record. For example, the census enumerators received detailed written instructions before being sent out into our ancestors’ neighborhoods to collect data. You can review digitized copies (or transcriptions) of those instructions at the United States Census Bureau website for all years of the decennial census except 1800 through 1840.
1860 Census Enumerator Instructions
Finding Aids
Whether you’re researching at home or in an archive, look for or ask for the finding aid or reference guide for the collection you are using.
A finding aid may include the following sections:
- provenance
- how the materials were used
- contents / physical characteristics
- restrictions on use
- scope and contents note, summary and evaluation
- box or file list
Learn more about Finding Aids in Elevenses with Lisa episode 31 featuring the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. It includes a discussion of finding aids.
Genealogy Gems Premium subscribers: Learn more from a professional archivist about using finding aids in Premium Podcast episode #149. (Membership required. Learn more here.)
The same holds true for objects that are passed down through the family, whether it be a family Bible or a transcript of a reminiscence you find online.
Resource: Elevenses with Lisa episode 29.
Records as a Whole
Whenever possible, consider a source as a whole. It’s tempting to want to zero in on the paragraphs or photos that interest you most, but you may miss out on important information that changes what this source has to tell you. For example, the specific placement of a photo in an album can be as significant as the printed photographic image. A photo’s position can indicate the relationship of the people in the photo to others on the same page, or the timeline of events.
Does the record appear complete?
Take note if any part of the source appears to be missing or illegible, especially if it appears that some of it has been deliberately removed, erased, or crossed out.
You may be able to make more sense of the partial information—or take a guess at why it was removed—as you learn more about the family. There may be a perfectly innocent reason for the change. But you may also be seeing evidence that someone who wanted to erase unpleasant memories or conceal a scandal.
Where has the item been over the years?
Where the source has been kept over time and who possessed it is an important part of provenance. Try as best you can to reconstruct and document the chain of custody of the item.
Resource: Heirloom Tracking Template
My Heirloom tracking page helps you document the complete story behind your precious family heirlooms. Premium Members can download the template from Elevenses with Lisa episode 6.
Is the record the original?
Whenever possible, consult the original version of a genealogical record. Indexes, typed-up copies, or abstracts may not be as complete or accurate. Remember, handwritten or typed copies of older originals may have been made in the days before photocopying technology.
The Story Behind the Document: Motivating Factors
Another important question to ask about a record is Why was the record created? Understanding the motivation of the person, organization or governmental agency creating the document can help you anticipate their possible bias. It can also provide clues regarding information that you would expect or hope to find, but don’t. While the information may seem important, it may not have fallen within the scope of the original intent. Therefore, you may need to look for additional records that can help fill in the gaps.
Tax lists provide an excellent example of why we need to understand the motives and scope of the records we use. When reviewing a tax list, we need to determine if the government was taxing real or personal property and if it was including every head of household or just adult males.
Why was the information provided?
The original purpose of a source is highly relevant to how much faith you put in its contents. Here are a few examples of why the information provided might not be totally accurate:
- A woman might have altered her testimony in divorce proceedings in an effort to minimize damage to her own reputation and future.
- Newspaper articles may be filled with a variety of biases by the author, publisher, or those being interviewed.
- A man may have lied about his age or citizenship on a draft card, either to avoid military service or in order to be included despite being underage.
Comparing the record with similar records can help reveal where the truth lies.
Who was the informant?
The information on a record is the person who supplied the information. Sometimes this is the same person who created the record, such as the writer of a diary. In the case of a U.S. census, the informant is the person in a household who told the census enumerator about the people who lived there. In many cases, it’s impossible to know who the informant was. Thankfully in 1940, census enumerators were instructed to mark the informant with a circled “X,” as shown in these two households. This is just another example of the value of doing
Reliability of Informants
A source may have multiple informants. Each may have had unique knowledge of the situation. For example, on a death certificate a relative may provide the personal information while a physician provides the death-related information.
If the informant shares the deceased’s last name they:
- likely are a relative
- likely had first-hand knowledge of the deceased’s marital status, spouse’s name, and occupation.
- (if father or brother) likely have provided primary information relating to the deceased’s birth, and parents’ names.
Even when a relative is close, we need to stop and think about whether they knew the information because they experienced it first-hand or were told about it. For example, if the informant was the deceased’s father, the information about the deceased’s mother (his wife) such as birthplace would actually be secondary since he presumably wasn’t present when she was born! And that leads us to understanding the difference between primary and secondary sources and information.
Primary & Secondary Information
Historical evidence can either be considered primary or secondary information. Genealogical scholar Thomas W. Jones defines these terms in his book, Mastering Genealogical Proof:
- “Primary information is that reported by an eyewitness. Primary information often was recorded soon after the event, but it may be reported or recorded years or decades later.
- Secondary information is reported by someone who obtained it from someone else. It is hearsay.”
Interestingly, the same document can include both primary and secondary information. It helps to think in terms of primary and secondary information instead of striving to designate the source document as primary and secondary.
How do all these clues add up?
It’s clear that as genealogists our goal is not only to evaluate each family history source, but also each piece of information it provides. Asking the right questions helps us ultimately answer the all-important question: how much do you trust what this record is telling you?
Answers to Live Chat Questions
One of the advantages of tuning into the live broadcast of each Elevenses with Lisa show is participating in the Live Chat and asking your questions.
From Debra L.: Is the book (A Cup of Christmas Tea) good to give to 12 year old tea lover?
From Lisa: It has a wonderful message for any age of caring for others in the family, especially older relatives. (It’s not really about the tea 😊)
From Mary P.: As custodian of my parents’ life memorabilia I need help with the 5ish address books. Can you suggest an attack plan to glean information, what to store/record\research online etc. ? I’m overwhelmed.
From Lisa: It’s really a matter of how much time you have. I would lean toward transcribing them into Excel spreadsheets that can then be searched and sorted, including a column to indicate the relationship (friend, co-worker, relative, etc.) Store the books in an archival-safe box like this one.
From Mary P.: I’m back, can you help with this project? My grandfather built two houses in Garwood, NJ about 1920. I’d like to find information on their construction and owners/renters over time.
From Lisa: Elevenses with Lisa episode 20 & episode 28 have everything you need!
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