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Archiver > HACKETT > 2000-02 > 0950843746


From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <>
Subject: [HACKETT-L] Beginning your Genealogical Research
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 22:15:46 -0500


This post is in response to several people, including Chip with his
problem on a 20th century USA line. So those of you who have heard me on
Ye Olde Census, just delete this.

>>thanks Elizabeth, I live in Atlanta, GA and would love it if you could
point
me in the right direction.
Chip Hackett

Subject: [HACKETT-L] Richard Ross Hackett
>I am looking for information on my great grandfather and his predecessors.
His name was Richard Ross Hackett. I am very sketchy with respect to his
life. His son Richard Raymond Hackett was my great grandfather and was a
VP with General Motors. He and his family (Frances Edwards was his wife)
lived in Maryland, Texas, and settled in Atlanta where he passed in the
early
60's. <<

Chip You are all set for a wonderful time as you live near a Natl
Records and Archives branch. At the Southeast branch in East Point you
will find the entire census for the whole United States on film, from 1920
back to 1790.
Even if you knew more than you do, I would still advise you to
begin with the 1920 census and work back because there is valuable
information on each one. The census is unique in providing snapshots of
people, their families, and their neighbors in a particular year. Even
when some names are listed incorrectly and some ages are wrong, it is the
general picture with its details about occupation, birthplaces, parents'
birthplaces, unknown siblings and other family members, etc., that make it
so valuable
The two records to begin with are the census and the vital records.
While you are finding the forms on the web that you need to order vital
records from the states that issued them you can also search for the
National Archives site and find out details about your NARA branch and
descriptions of how to use each census plus what is on it. If you have any
trouble doing this, let me know, or perhaps someone will chime in with the
URLS right now. I need to note them for the large number of times I answer
this question of how to begin.
For others who do not live near a NARA branch (and they are all
over the country), check with any major genealogical library in your area.
I have found that people have access to large portions of the census almost
every where. And, if you do live far from such places, each part of the
census and its indexes can be ordered through the LDS family history
centers. Finally, I have even known people to order the census at their
libraries on interlibrary loan. However, even if you have to drive a
couple of hours and stay overnight somewhere, you are best off with the
whole census to use at one time as each clue leads to new directions, and
you will need years and states that you had not anticipated.
Regardless of whether your name is Hackett or Johnson or
Schildemeyer, all beginning USA research begins the same way, with the
census and with vital records. Figure out in what state the family lived
in 1920, and begin with that. Let me know how it goes. I live in Atlanta
too so can answer any particular questions about the NARA in East Point.

Elizabeth

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