Genealogy Project
for New Mexico 4-H
By Carol Wilson
Who am I?
Everyone is unique and has something
individual about their lives. But we also
study history to see where we came
from. We want to know about the people
who came before us. The tragedies they
overcame can help inspire us. Their
triumphs can fuel our desire to achieve
and excel.
So we study genealogy to find out about
our roots.
Tools in the toolbox
1) Pens and paper
2) D ring notebook
3) Camera
4) Inquiring mind
5) Tape recorder or video
recorder are optional
Tracing out your roots
Start with self. Then go to family. Parents,
grandparents, great-grandparents. Ask
questions. Use 5 Ws and H.
Example page 25A.
Adoptions, Foster and Step families
9 out of 10 families that this program was tested with were
not two-parent families with children from only that marriage.
4-H projects traditionally took the stance that only a biological
genealogy would be accepted.
I wrestled with this issue and finally decided that it was more
important that the child learn the process of documenting
genealogy. They may put “this is not a biological genealogy”
on their forms and trace adopted lines or step lines. They may
also alter forms to read “father” and “mother” instead of
“husband” and “wife”.
• Important documents
Old photographs
Diaries
Birth and death
certificates
Marriage certificates
Newspaper articles
Family bibles
All must be treated with
respect and care
Sources
Primary Sources
Government and church documents
Secondary
sources
Family bible
Family oral history
Traditions and legends
Birth announcements
Letter writing
Family and other sources
Be concise
Be reasonable in
requests
Include
identifying
information
Include SASE
Major sources of information
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Courthouse
Cemeteries
Church records
Genealogical Societies
Newspapers
Census Records
Land Ownership
Military Records
Documenting Procedures
• Instead of saying “US Census” include the year
census was taken and the county and state, as
well as page number if available
• Don’t say “Uncle John told me”, say “John
Smith told Carol Wilson
18 Apr 2011”.
Using the Computer
• The Pros
• Material can be stored, changed, and
retrieved easily.
• Information only has to
be entered once
• NEAT!
Using the Computer
• Cons
• Fee may be charged for use
• A web based program
isn’t private
• Check and double
check the information.
For preservation’s sake
• People are sharing their treasures with you.
Treat them with care. Keep them out of light
and humidity. Photos and important papers
like to live where you live, never in basement
or hot attic.
Family papers
• Never laminate a page
• Remove all staples and paper clips
• Try to keep it flat,
do not fold
• Do not punch
holes in the
original
Family Photos
• Photos jog the memories
of family members. When
you put a photo in the hands =
of an elder family member,
be prepared to write
stories
Family stories
• Help define a story and give more information
about real life, flesh and blood people.
• Told from different
viewpoints, or
perspectives
• Some subjective
• Some objective
• All should be
preserved and
documented.
Exhibit requirements
• Starts with 3 generations
• Can go up to 8 generations
• Designed for junior 4-H
members but can be
completed by younger
kids with parents help
Guide to Data Sheets
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Precise instructions
One sheet already filled out as a guide
Individual Data Sheet
Family Group
Sheet
• Pedigree Chart
Practice
• Turn to page 28 in your project document
• Review the rules for the pedigree chart.
• 1) You are #1
• 2 Last name first and CAPITALIZED
Continue …then do first three generations of the
pedigree chart using the rules on pages 28 and
29. An example is filled out in 29A.
Appendices
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Master copies of worksheets
Courthouse records
Glossary of Public Land Terms
Calendar of American Wars and Campaigns
Bibliography
• Bibliography includes Creative Memories and
thanks to Ohio State University and Purdue
University for generously allowing us to use
some of their material
Readability Survey
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Sentences per paragraph 2.9
Words per sentence 14.1
Characters per word 4.7
Passive Sentences 14 percent
Flesch reading Ease
60.7
FleschKincaid Grade Level 8.2
Note to parents: last page of
document, older 4-H members
More on Readability
• 5,6,7,8th grade classes in Carrizozo Schools
previewed this curriculum. Style, layout and
white space were minimized in this survey and
will be important components of the finished
curriculum. 70 percent of students reported
no problems with
readability. 30
percent did not read.
Hopes and dreams
• Hope this project will help 4-H members discover
their roots
• Children will find pride in their ancestry and find
the strength in
their family stories
• Children will remember
their own stories and find
that everyone is unique,
individual and has their
own story to tell.