TIGR 2019 Course Description
Course 2: Advanced Southern Research Techniques
Hone your skills in southern research with a focus on methodology, records, and migration patterns. Many southern states did not capture vital records in the 19th century, so researchers need to examine other records for those critical facts. Join us as we examine the records of the South, learning how, when and where to employ these tools to expand the profile and details of our ancestors and their neighbors. A sample set of records from each Southern state will be provided and used for study and comparison. Changes in boundaries, laws, and attitudes will show migration choices and explain many reasons for the push and pull that motivated our ancestors to move. Learn how records can take stories beyond “Once upon a time…”
Agriculture, Records & Land Use, Part 1 & Part 2
J. Mark Lowe
Farming is more than tilling the soil or raising cattle. The records created about these farming ancestors can help us paint a clearer picture of the agricultural efforts of this ancestor, his neighbors, and the larger community. With the accumulated collections of resources, we can begin to understand why they farmed a particular way, and predict origins and migrations.
Cluster Research
Ari Wilkins
Many researchers encounter mysterious persons living in the household of a relative; or a letter signed by an unknown ‘cousin.’ As a researcher, it is important to investigate and understand the relationship between these strangers and your person of interest. This lecture will discuss cluster research methodology.
Early Southern Settlement & Migration
J. Mark Lowe
We must consider the decisions our ancestors made in their travel to a new home or possible home location. Many factors contributed to the decision regarding the route an individual traveled to reach the western frontier. In our daily lives, we often know more than one way to reach a given destination. How do we choose which route we will take? Sometimes we may change our final destination based on the way we must travel. Looking at early travelers, we might learn more than we expected.
Federal Records of the South
J. Mark Lowe
Knowing how a person interacted with the government may be the key to a successful search. Since records were created within every branch of the Federal government, most researchers can find records related to themselves, their ancestors, and their community in the Federal collection or National Archives.
Field Trip to the Texas State Library and Archives (limit 30)
Box lunch available for purchase with registration.
Land Claims, Deeds & Surveys, Part 1 & Part 2
J. Mark Lowe
All land in state-land jurisdictions should follow a pedigree back to a governmental grant from a state government. This process is called land patenting. Land was granted after the King’s Proclamation of 1763 stating that real property would be granted in lieu of cash to the veterans of the French & Indian War. The Land Law of 1779 expanded the granting of land to Revolutionary War veterans. Federal Land Surveys added to that process. Discover these records and follow the line of property through owners across time.
Manuscripts of the South
Ari Wilkins
Manuscripts of the South can offer a multifaceted view of life before and after the Civil War. This lecture will discuss where to find manuscript collections, how they are organized, and the variety of documents that can be found within the collections.
Resolving Land & Estate Settlements
Kelvin Meyers
Make those settlements tell the whole story – Per Stirpes, Per Capita, Moiety, Intestate, Insolvent, and more. Understanding the terminology, the law, and the probate process will help you glean more from estate settlements and probate packets.
Southern Church Records, Parts 1 & 2
J. Mark Lowe
Participation in church and related religious organizations by individuals should help us understand the community where they lived, and how they functioned within that neighborhood. Understand the religious fervor after the Great Awakening and discover additional periodicals and historical resources that can supply details.
Southern Courts & Legal Resources, Parts 1 & 2
J. Mark Lowe
Our ancestors often utilized the judicial systems to resolve conflicts and make estate judgments. Finding court records for your family and neighbors can provide a wealth of information for your research. Understanding the arrangements of court records can help you find the right documents. Discover additional resources to help you understand what they all mean, and where to find the answers you need.
Southern Historical Collection: Finding Aids & Access (Part 1) and Analysis & Problem-Solving (Part 2)
Ari Wilkins
This extensive collection encompasses business and personal papers from numerous slaveholding families of the South. For white southern families, the collection can uncover decades of genealogical history along with details such as the dynamics of personal relationships, communication, and the entanglements of associated families. For African American research, these records can potentially list enslaved persons by name and include other significant information such as family relationships, dates of birth and death, and bills of sale.
Strategies for Southern Research
J. Mark Lowe
A research plan consists of two general areas: the research concepts (identification of the research problem and possible solutions) and research logistics (collection of data, analysis, and process). A well-planned research project will have clearly defined steps that integrate into the goals and purpose. Consider the experience of southern researchers as you discover issues that will help you resolve your research dilemmas.
Tracking Migration & Movement with Military Records
Teri Flack
Ancestors seemingly vanish from one place and mysteriously appear in another. Records such as pensions, land warrants, and even military unit returns can provide clues and evidence of migration.
Treasure Hunting in Texas: The Robert Bruce Blake Research Collection
Theresa Howell, MLIS
The Robert Bruce Blake collection constitutes what historian Charles A. Bacarisse called “the bed-rock for a history of East Texas.” Blake spent more than thirty years studying, classifying, and translating documents from the original source collections known as the Nacogdoches Archives and the Bexar Archives. His work is organized in seventy-five printed volumes containing thirty thousand pages of transcripts. Genealogists with early Texas ancestors should not consider their work complete if they have not consulted this collection. In this session, you’ll learn how to access the multiple forms of the collection available today and how to locate the original source documents.
Uniquely Southern Military Records
J. Mark Lowe
We can use collections of regional military records in our research efforts. These records reveal for whom our ancestor fought, when they fought, where they lived when they fought, and occasionally more about their family and where they lived after their service.
Wills, Estates, & Guardianship
J. Mark Lowe
Estate records include wills, administrations, settlements, divisions and guardian reports. Most estate records include information about the heirs of the deceased. They may include names of siblings, children, parents, other wives, in-laws and other family connections. References to the real and personal property of the deceased are included. Understand the different arrangements and how to resolve family relationships.