Internet Resources

• The Digital Shoebox - Developed by ten public libraries in southeastern Ohio, bringing together historical treasures such as old photos, postcards, maps, letters and other original documents into an online scrapbook. The name “Digital Shoebox” reflects family members keeping treasures in a shoebox in their home.

• The Political Graveyard: Morgan County, Ohio - Site contains information on the political history of Morgan County, cemeteries and memorial sites in the county.

• Cemeteries of Morgan County - Site lists a few cemeteries.

• Morgan County OHGenExchange - Genealogical data exchange where visitors and researchers alike can go to find specific persons, and exchange specific data with one another.

• Morgan County, Ohio USGenWeb - Genealogy and local history information.

• Morgan County historian Alan Wagoner offers a photo-filled, newsy, informative, interactive web-page link about Southeastern Ohio and Morgan County.  http://www.silverheelsriffle.webpaint.com

• Multicultural Genealogical Center - Chesterhill.  Dedicated to the documentation of the contributions of multicultural and multiracial families

• Morgan County Genealogy Society  Click on the link. http://www.morgancountyogs.org/ Internet connection.  Data Base access to Ancestry Library Edition: click on this link when you are researching in the library.  http://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com

• From home or in the library, you can connect to Heritage Quest Online.  http://www.heritagequestonline.com/ipbarcode?aid=7242
• You will need your library card # to gain access to these resources.

• Ask a Question Remember that research requests are handled by volunteers from the Morgan County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  If you have a briefly stated question that will require copies sent to you, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and $.15 per copied page requested.  The address is: Kate Love Simpson Morgan County Library, Attn. Genealogy Volunteers, 358 E. Main Street,  McConnelsville, Ohio 43756.  Thank you.

Starting Right : How to Begin Tracing Your Family History courtesy of the State Library of Ohio

Step 1: Decide upon a family or families you would like to search

Step 2: Use and ancestral chart

--start with you yourself, branch out to your parents and beyond

--seven pieces of information to be filled out on this chart

• Date of birth
• Date of marriage
• Place of marriage
• Date of death
• Place of death

--the ancestral chart is the skeleton of one's family history, comprehensive yet simple

--the patron should be encouraged to bring the ancestral chart with them when visiting libraries or courthouses

--the ancestral chart helps the librarian help the researcher, efficiently and quickly

Step 3: Look at home!

--locate documents, diaries, journals, letters, wills, deeds, military papers, family bibles, photographs, and other potential genealogical gems in your possession

Step 4: Contact known family members

Process of Organizing Your Research:

--"Copy, Document, and File"

--"Copy" : takes notes manually or in a laptop and photocopy

--"Document" : cite and/or verify your information

Mills, Elizabeth Shown. EVIDENCE! CITATION & ANALYSIS FOR THE FAMILY HISTORIAN (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Md., 1997)

--"File" : develop a filing system

• Manual : manila folders or binders
• Computerized : software like Family Tree Maker

BEFORE GOING TO THE LIBRARY:

--use the internet to locate homepages for libraries and archives

--contact the library or archives before visiting!

--identify what you need from the library

--be aware : going to a library or courthouse is not free!

• driving, parking, food, motel costs

• time is perhaps the greatest cost : see it as a "real vacation"

BEFORE GOING TO THE COURTHOUSE :

--use the internet to locate county government websites

--telephone the courthouse before visiting!

--family history centers : you can borrow many county records through these libraries

• location of centers and the "Family History Library Catalog" available at www.familysearch.org