DUE DATE:
The United States is often described as "a nation of immigrants".
Many people came to our country willingly and others arrived
against their will. Regardless of their origin, these were the
individuals who traveled thousands of miles to a foreign
land. They abandoned their friends, language and culture in
the struggle just to get through the "golden door". Millions
lived, worked and prospered in America under adverse
conditions. Their children, grandchildren, and great grand
children are the reason you live in the most wonderful country
in existence and have lived/will live a life beyond the
imagination of hundreds of millions of people throughout the
world. As discussed in class, it is often difficult to track
both sides of the family equally, due to limited data or
access to relatives. Also changing family structures may
dictate that you might not be tracing biological ancestors.
Remember, our goal is the acquisition of personal historical
data, familial knowledge and appreciation of our immigrant
roots.
(Scroll to the end of the assignment for helpful suggestions).
As noted in the assignment, the following site is a good place
to start for extra help and to access any charts you may
need—especially if you find your family tree interesting and
want to continue this project in the future:
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/
1.
Complete the Pedigree Chart
to the Best of your Ability (you many need many pages)
Next to each name list nationalities known or projected
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/charts/pdf/pedigree.pdf
If you are interviewing some family members, these items may
help:
Research Questions and Recording Form
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/charts/pdf/researchquestions.pdf
Family Group Records
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/charts/pdf/familygroup1.pdf
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/charts/pdf/familygroup2.pdf
2.
Record Interesting or Significant Information About Your
Ancestors on the Family Observations AND General
Observations Pages Provided (or use your own notes).
Discuss your knowledge of your family tree:
-
How much do you know; what difficulties did you encounter
-
To whom do you owe your existence in the United States
-
Tell stories of the people in your past, your varied ethnic
heritage, the tragedies, interesting events and
accomplishments.
3.
Select Three Names from your Family Tree
(immigrants between 1892-1924 or persons living in the United
States in 1880). If you do not get back this far--simply
chose names of the oldest person recorded and determine where
people with the same name have originated. If the person is
an immigrant, conduct a search at the Ellis Island and Family
Search (sites below).
If the ancestors selected were living at the
time of the 1880 Census, you will find information at the
Family Search Site.
Print your results— the specific data about your ancestor or
one page only if generic data.
Ellis Island
www.ellisislandrecords.org
If you find the possible link to your ancestor, some
information requires that your register with the Ellis Island
Foundation—this is FREE and SAFE—just fill out the required
data and select user name and password. This will enable you
to access ship manifests, related data and a picture of the
ship.
Family Search
HOME IS
www.familysearch.org
BUT DIRECT YOUR FIRST INQUIRY TO
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=search_all1.asp&clear_form=true
*MOST IMPORTANT--for anyone in your family alive during the 1880
Census,
Click on:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/main_census.asp?indid=&spouse_id=&color=blue
Fill in
the required data and submit. The first results shown are
often from the 1880 Census, followed by a wide range of other
sources. (Links also shown on the right side of the page are
accessible with a click).
Print Your Results
-
For a person who was born in the late 19th Century and
lived through the Social Security time period—scroll to the
Social Security index listings usually at the bottom of the
page or the Social Security link listed on the right side of
the page.
-
The listing of Ancestral Files (when available) is often very
interesting and we will discuss it in class
4. Locate and Print three current event articles related to
immigration. Briefly summarize each and explain why it
reflects or rejects:
Give me your tired,
your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breath free.
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Emma Lazurus, 1883
PRESENTATION NOT REQUIRED FOR SPRING 2008--Presentations: Everyone will have up to ten minutes to take center
stage and tell about their family. BRING IN SOME SIGNIFICANT
OR INTERESTING DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTICFACTS RELATED TO
YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY
GENERAL STORIES
SPECIFIC FAMILY OBSERVATIONS
Name
Relationship
Time Period
Event/Story
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
____________________________________________________________
10.______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Information kindly provided by
Debi Pfahl for student use
1.
Prendergast Library in
Jamestown-Remote Access to genealogy databases.
http://www.prendergastlibrary.org/databases.html
They have Ancestry Library Edition which has quite a
number of databases available to search. Although not a full
subscription, an excellent source of information. Ancestry
Library Edition includes records from United States Census;
military court, land and probate records; vital and church
records; directories; passenger lists etc. You do not need a
library card to access this.
Heritage Quest Online.
A collection of research materials for tracing family history
and American culture. Over 25,000 books, the entire U.S.
Federal Census, PERSI™ (Periodical Source Index),
and other expanding collections. PERSI is a subject index
covering more than 6,500 genealogy and local history
periodicals written in English and French (Canada) since 1800.
PERSI™ provides the researcher the ability to search on
surnames, locations, and methodologies as well as the ability
to browse the journals by title and keyword. You need a
Prendergast Library Card to access this database.
If you do not have a Prendergast
Library Card you can access the databases by visiting the
Prendergast Library or any local library in Chautauqua or
Cattaraugus County. Most libraries have access codes and can
sign you in. Prendergast also has some genealogy records pertaining to
Chautauqua County as well as local history.
-
2. Darwin R. Barker Library in Fredonia
-
http://www.cclslib.org/fredonia/fredonia.html
-
Barker Library has a large collection of genealogy records
especially pertaining to ancestors living in Chautauqua
County. The Chautauqua
County Genealogy Society and Library is housed here.
-
-
3. Rootsweb
-
http://www.rootsweb.com/
-
A
free genealogy site offering how to's, search engines,
databases and message boards . The USGenWeb Project is one
of my favorites. It has State listings with clickable
county maps that take you to your county of choice full of
user-submitted data.
-
4. Genealogy and History Links Library
-
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genealogylinks/index.html
-
A
great site promoting genealogy and history. Lots of tools
to enhance your research as well as surname data with links
to others researching common surnames. Many resource links
to other sites.
-
-
5. Ancestry.com
-
http://www.ancestry.com/
-
A
subscription based site, however does have some information
available for free such as SSDI and 1880 Federal Census..
At the very least, searches produce lists of available
records which in most cases can be accessed down another
level to provide location of record, for example. A
jumping off point for research elsewhere.
-
-
6.
LDS Family
History Center
-
Our closest FHC is located at 851 Forest Ave., Jamestown,
NY. 716-487-0830.
Hours: Tues., Wed. 7-9pm
-
Ancestry Daily News:
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=9666