One oft-repeated idea is that this Digging Deeper course is a perfect early step before taking some very advanced courses. We each judge our own ability and experience level. Digging Deeper is not a beginning level course, it’s more on the immediate level, but parts have some more advanced methodology and record background. We pride ourselves in hands-on exercises to immediately put some of the learning to work. It’s not push-ups, knee bends, or jogging exercises, but it’s research and brain exercises. Here’s the session lineup for Wednesday, June 26th. Remember, you sign up for one course that lasts five days. We stick together, share, analyze, and get to experience a course syllabus that will assist you for many years of research. More on that syllabus and on the extra afternoon sessions in a later post.
Wednesday sessions in Digging Deeper:
The Hidden Web: Digging Deeper (Cyndi Ingle)
Finding undercover sources for genealogists means learning about how to search the hidden web. When Google and traditional search engines don’t return useful information, don’t stop there. We will explore resources that are invisible to Google and hidden deep within web sites and proprietary databases. The “hidden web” lies buried within the collections for commercial web sites, libraries, archives, and museums. We will also talk about the importance of indexes that deep-link into web sites online, thus uncovering hidden gems of information that may not be found easily through a search engine query.
Original Manuscripts: Finding Aids Online and Off (Paula Stuart-Warren)
Manuscripts often hold details not found anywhere else. Often, these one-of-a-kind documents turn up in a repository almost anywhere where a family member resided or where a descendant donated the material. With today’s various free finding aids in print and electronically we can locate family letters, scrapbooks, church records, bibles, business records, and more that may have migrated from Pennsylvania to California, from Indiana to Texas, or anywhere else. The search may also result in an online detailed inventory of a specific collection.
Lunch Break
Finding Treasure in State Archives and Historical Societies (Amy E. K. Arner)
Most US states have a state archives or state historical society (or both). These institutions hold a variety of records useful to genealogists, including records created by businesses, educational institutions, governments at all levels, individuals, religious organizations, and more. During this session we’ll cover what kinds of records state archives and state historical societies hold and the tools available to use the collections.
Legal Savvy for the Genealogist (Debbie Mieszala)
Finding and understanding historic and modern laws, considering their impact on a research question, and recognizing legally influenced records are essential skills for genealogists. The law influenced document and record creation (and sometimes destruction), and it impacted lives. Hands-on exercises provide experience to reinforce foundations in locating historic statutory and case law.
Optional Enhancement Session: Roundtable discussion on student submitted problems. (Debbie)
© 2024, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
