The first step in genealogy is to learn everything you can from family members and learn how to document what you have found.
Another very important step is to understand records; what is available and where to find it. At one time, all records were either on paper or microfilm, but the advent of the Internet and aggressive digitizing has made family history research accessible to millions more people than ever before. Records were not created for family history purposes, but thinking about why a record was created will help us determine if it may contain the information we are seeking and where to begin looking for those records.
Every state, and the federal government, has an archive to store its important records such as vital records, immigration paperwork, and military records. Federal records are stored at the National Archive and Records Administration, NARA. Maine began collecting vital records in 1892, the vital records from 1892–1922 are available at The Maine State Archives in Augusta (in the State Library building), but the Archives are currently being catalogued and re-organized so the research room is closed afternoons unless you make an appointment a week in advance by calling 207-287-5795. The records from 1923–on are private, but can be purchased through the State Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics in Augusta, which has recently moved to 220 Capitol Street (to the right of the Maine State Credit Union building). Their new mailing address is 11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0011. This is also where you can apply for a records researcher card.
One of the best resources for federal records, such as military records, is through NARA, which hosts a genealogy page that can help you understand and access their holdings. http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/index.html. NARA is sponsoring training in Boston on April 1 and you can learn more about this and other NARA events on the website. As with many records repositories, there was a fire in 1973 at the St. Louis Personnel Records Center, which caused the loss of many 20th century military records. NARA has compiled records from other sources to recreate as much information as possible.
Civil War records in particular can be a bounty of family history information. While not cheap, the full Civil War Pension File from NARA may contain affidavits proving marriages, information on children, and medical information.
Even an online index, which rarely contains much helpful family information, can lead you to a great resource. You can access Ancestry.com and other websites free through Maine libraries. Ancestry has Civil War Pension index cards. If there is a card for your ancestor, it will provide a certificate number and a link to use Form 85 through NARA to send (online) for the file.
Other records on Ancestry may provide you with an LDS (Church of the Latter Day Saints) microfilm number so you can order the film through the Bangor Family History Center or whichever one is nearest you.
So make it a point, when you find a record, to examine the source for it. This may lead you to either more information, or give you ideas about where else you can search.
Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft is a longtime genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader emails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com. Her semimonthly column is sponsored by the Aroostook County Genealogical Society which meets the fourth Monday of the month except in July and December at Cary Medical Center’s Chan Education Center at 6:30 p.m. Guests are always welcome. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501.
