Sailor Database Review: Heritage Quest

The availability of online tools, like the HeritageQuest database from ProQuest, has made genealogy, doing family history research, much easier than it was in the past. Here’s why.

Library customers working on their genealogy rely heavily on documents, the paper trail we all leave as we go through life, to discover important facts about their families, and this is especially true when they are searching for their more distant ancestors. Genealogists look for mention of their relatives in different kinds of documents, like birth, marriage, death, cemetery, and military records, plus directories, census reports, land records, wills, and many others. To locate all the records they need to get a complete picture of their ancestors, they would have to visit lots of different libraries, archives, courthouses, and cemeteries. This is where a genealogy database like HeritageQuest becomes a big time (and gas) saver for them, because it provides access to so many different documents, all in one place.

HeritageQuest offers images of actual documents that will be of interest to beginning family historians, to skilled amateurs, and even to professional genealogists. Using HeritageQuest they can access the U.S. Federal Census (1790-1930), one of the most widely used sets of documents among all genealogists, and an invaluable starting point in family history research. HeritageQuest also makes it possible to search for the names of ancestors in published family history books, in periodicals on genealogy and local history subjects, in Revolutionary War service records, and in records of the Freedman’s Bank (an institution set up by the U. S. government to serve former slaves following the Civil War).

There are a few things to remember about HeritageQuest:

• It’s an alternative resource to Ancestry.com, another genealogy database that is commonly used in libraries for searching the U.S. Federal Census. Most family history researchers will use the census often.
• HeritageQuest also provides access to records of the Freedman’s Bank, an important resource for African American genealogy researchers.
• HeritageQuest is offered to customers of all Maryland public library systems via the Sailor project.
• It is available for use from home, for free, with a library card. That’s another way it differs from Ancestry.com, which must be used from a library facility in order to avoid a fee.

HeritageQuest is easy to use, and you might want to try it out for yourself by searching for some of your own ancestors. Who knows? You could get hooked by the genealogy bug, too!

A customer at the library is interested in researching her family history. Where is a good place to get started researching Maryland genealogy?

There are some basic sources and databases that will help point a customer in the right direction in researching their Maryland family history. But before you jump in, you need to ask three basic questions. They are:

1. What time period are you interested in?
If the customer wants to know if their ancestor arrived with the first Maryland settlers on the Ark and Dove in 1634, then there is no reason to look at the U.S. Census which began in 1790. You first need to establish the time period before you can direct them to an appropriate source.

2. Which county or region of Maryland are you searching?
The volume of information varies greatly by county. Some have quite a bit, others very little. Establishing the county or area they’re focusing on can help identify where you need to refer. At the very least you can recommend a genealogical or historical society in the county of interest.

3. Where have you already searched?
This is important in establishing whether you have a novice in front of you or someone who is well beyond your expertise. In addition, you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, that is, show them sources that they have already searched.

If the customer is beginning or looking for a place to start your best bet are census records. U.S. Census enumerations are easily available to anyone in the state on HeritageQuest. HeritageQuest can be accessed through most county library systems or via Sailor. You may also be able to find census records online through Ancestry Library Edition. Ancestry is usually only available within the library, so check your system’s database list.

However, the latest census enumerations are from 1930. What if you need something later?

At SLRC, we have done a lot of work with finding aids and how-to and subject guides for genealogy. The best starting point for Maryland genealogy is Starting Your Own Genealogical Research, which is part of the Genealogy subject guide produced by the Maryland Department at SLRC. Don’t forget to search the catalog at SLRC for the type of record. You only need type in the keyword (e.g., death, for death notices), county (e.g., Frederick) and limit the library to Maryland Department. If you find something, contact the department to have them check the source and get you the information if appropriate.

If the customer, or you, still needs assistance contact the Maryland Department at SLRC.

How do you help someone get started in researching their family history in Maryland?

Finding information on a person’s family history, or genealogy, can be easy if they’re related to a prominent family whose history goes way back- but that frequently is not the case.  When a customer approaches and asks if you have files on family names, indexes of death notices or obituaries, or census records that should send a clear message to you that they are looking for genealogical information.

You need to determine what the customer needs as they may already have tons of information already and are looking for a specific fact that has eluded them or, they may be just beginning and do not even know where to start.  Likely they are somewhere in-between.

Begin by asking these three questions:

• Where have you already looked?  This is important not only so that you do not duplicate where they have already searched, but it will give you some idea of how far along they are with their work.
  
  
• How far back have you traced your family?  That is, chronologically.  If someone has traced their ancestors back to the Revolutionary War you don’t want to give them something that only goes back to World War II.
  
  
• What part of the state does the family come from?  Really what you are getting at here is what County or area did they live?  Many resources for family history in Maryland are specific to a town or county.  Some counties have tons written about their families (e.g., Frederick), other very little (Cecil).  Frequently local sources will not only have information on the family they are seeking, but can also identify other relatives living nearby.

Need to provide some good Web sites?  The genealogy subject guide on the homepage of the Maryland Department at SLRC can get you started.  There you will find a list of basic genealogy sites like Cyndi’s List and the GenWeb Project that are useful in finding family history information for Marylanders and are great jumping off points.  The Maryland Department’s genealogy page also has a link to a useful how-to guide called Starting Your Own Genealogical Research that describes the resources and access to material in the State Library Resource Center.

If you want to direct a customer to a database, remember everyone with a valid Maryland library card can access HeritageQuest through Sailor.  You may also subscribe to Ancestry Library Edition in your library.  These two databases form a foundation for relevant genealogy information like census records, city directories and passenger arrivals.

Essential Resources and Other Sources: Maryland

The Maryland Department of the State Library Resource Center focuses on all things Maryland.  From historical records to legal information to genealogical sources, the Maryland Department is the best source for all things Maryland.

Essential Resources

The Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland (the Code, not annotated, is also available online) is necessary in a public library for customers to check up-to-date laws in force.

Maryland, a Middle Temperament, 1634-1980 is the most comprehensive and best history of Maryland written in the past half century.

File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  A plain language reference for complicated family law questions that includes copies of the forms that customers need.

Directory of Maryland Church Records identifies where records from churches around the state are held, including records that pre-date official genealogical records.

The Place Names of Maryland, Their Origin and Meaning is one of the few books that identifies where Maryland locations got their name.

Maryland Business Directory (online as Reference USA) has basic information on every individual establishment and is arranged geographically and by type of business.

An Index of the Source Records of Maryland, Genealogical, Biographical, Historical.
Originally printed in 1940, this book contains citations to identify where information on people and surnames can be found.  An indispensible resource and a last resort when other genealogical information cannot be located.

History of Maryland, From the Earliest Period to the Present Day is a 3 volume set, published in 1879 and simply the most comprehensive history of the state written up to the late nineteenth century.

The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy is the one book to turn to when you need to learn about any type of genealogical record or method.

Maryland Practice Forms is the most useful book of legal forms containing blank copies of subjects like power of attorney, adoption, name change and various motions.

Other Sources

Maryland Guide to Local, State and Federal Laws Governing Tenant-Landlord Relations: Including Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Housing breaks down renter’s law into terms everyone can understand but also cites the appropriate sections of the Maryland code.

How to Start a Business in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia an all-in-one guide for customers needing information on starting any form of business in the state.

Criss-Cross Directories are reverse telephone directories that are arranged by address rather than name.  They are invaluable for finding people and businesses in past years.

Black’s Law Dictionary is the most authoritative source when looking for definitions or synonyms for legal terms.  If you have law in your library, you must have Black’s. 

Motion Picture Exhibition in Baltimore: An Illustrated History and Directory of Theaters, 1895-2004 is an encyclopedic work on movie and stage theaters in the Baltimore area that provides historical information and photos.  There is a volume for the Washington area too.

International Building Code is a necessary reference as the state, counties and local jurisdictions are adopting these national standardized codes.

Maryland Operating Budget.  Aside from the obvious financial information the budget has information on personnel detail, salaries, departmental objectives and statistics.

West’s Maryland Law Encyclopedia: Based on Maryland Statutes, Case law, State and Federal; Attorney General Opinions and Law Reviews.  The savior for those who are not versed in the law, this encyclopedia has explanatory chapters for each area of the law and cites statutes in the Code as well as court precedents

What to Do About Personnel Problems in Maryland is an up-to-date digest of federal and state laws that relate to work and employment in Maryland. 

Maryland, a Guide to the Old Line State.  Published as part of the WPA state guide series in 1940, this is the definitive guide to places and historical locations in Maryland