Basic Genealogy

SHSMO's Bill Eddleman presents a multi-part series on genealogy techniques and strategies. Now available free and on demand.

Videos

Basic Genealogy, Part One: Getting Started

Bill Eddleman teaches us how to assemble what we already have—or can easily access—while giving tips on how to stay organized, interview relatives, keep focused, maintain a record of research, and determine research locations.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Two: Online Resources

Bill Eddleman explains how to find and use online records that are free and discover what’s available from subscription services.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Three: Censuses

Bill Eddleman discusses the information found on censuses and how it has changed from 1790 through 1940. Eddleman also talks about special census schedules.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Four: Vital Records

Vital records provide basic information about an individual, including birth, death, marriage, church, and cemetery details. Bill Eddleman discusses where to locate this information, how sources vary from place to place, and the pitfalls of each type of source.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Five: Land Records, Researching First Title

Bill Eddleman discusses the basics of land grants, federal land sales, military bounty land, and numerous other ways to study records on first title.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Six: Land Records, Finding Ancestors in Deeds

Records involving land transfers after the original title holder often require a deeper level of understanding to be used effectively. Watch as Bill Eddleman provides an overview on locating available information in land records and other sources.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Seven: Using Court Records to Reveal Your Family History

Watch as Bill Eddleman discusses the different types of courts and the records that can be of genealogical interest, including details on where to locate court records, where to find laws regulating these courts, and the basis for the legal systems.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Eight: Using Probate Records

Watch as Bill Eddleman discusses using probate records in genealogical research and learn the difference between testate and intestate estates; laws relating to inheritance; documents generated by the probate process and what they mean; and the role of courts and court records in probate.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Nine: Read All About It! Finding Your Ancestors in Newspapers

Watch as Bill Eddleman discusses services available to find newspapers, what records are likely to be found in papers, and how to access records that appeared in these publications.

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Basic Genealogy, Part Ten: Hidden Treasures–Tips & Rewards for Researching in Manuscript Collections

Watch as Bill Eddleman discusses using manuscript collections for family research including an overview of the types of documents you might find in manuscript collections and discusses how information contained in these archival treasures can help you find ancestors and research their lives.

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Featured Events

Apr 18 Apr 18

Military Service/Literary Solace - A Conversation with Veteran Writers

The public is invited to hear four celebrated writers who will discuss the connection between their experiences as veterans and their creative work on April 18. Authors Brian Turner, Dewaine Farria, Jerri Bell, and Matt Gallagher will be in conversation with moderator Andrew Visscher, an MA candidate at the University of Missouri. Visscher is a literary scholar and serves as captain in the U.S. Army Advanced Civil Schooling Program.