(+) Along Those Lines... by George G. Morgan: What Makes Southern Research Different?

The following is a Plus Edition article was written by and copyright by George G. Morgan.

Research into ancestors who lived in every geographical location is the same, and yet it also is unique. The research methodologies you employ will be essentially the same. However, the record types will vary from place to place and from time period to time period. Historical events and political jurisdiction certainly influenced what records were created, how well they have survived, and where they have finally come to be housed. For example, when a county is divided to make one or more additional counties, it is essential to determine the date(s) when boundary changes occurred and where the boundary lines were located. Records created before that date will have been registered in the parent county, and those created after that date will have been registered in the new county. Only by studying the jurisdictional changes can we be sure to search for records in the correct county.

Any study of United States history will encompass the Civil War, 1861 to 1865, and the aftermath of Reconstruction. The Southern states’ history diverged from that of the Union during those years, and consequently there are unique records that were created. Research for the Southern states therefore requires that we pay special attention to that period of history, those distinctive records, and where they may now be stored.

The remainder of this article is for Plus Edition subscribers only.

If you have a Plus Edition user ID and password, you can read the article right now at no additional charge in this web site's Plus Edition at http://eogn.com/wp/?p=4603. This article will remain online for several weeks. 

If you do not remember your Plus Edition user ID or password, you can retrieve them at http://www.eogn.com/wp/ and click on "Forgot password?"

If you decide to subscribe to the Plus Edition right now, you will be able to immediately read this article online.

For more information about subscribing to the Plus Edition of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, visit http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/plusedition.html.