April's Fools--Myths of Genealogy


Census Record Myths:
1.      Ages listed on census records are accurate
2.      Spellings in census records are correct
3.      Census takers knew how to spell
4.      Information was given by the person in the household who knew the information
5.      Families had to prove the information given to the census taker
6.      If you cannot locate a family in the census, the census taker just missed their home
7.      Census takers had to have beautiful and clear handwriting
8.      Census forms are accurate
9.      You only need to look at the page your ancestor is listed on
10.   Immigrant families were freely willing to give information to the census taker


Computer Myths:
1.      Computers don’t help very much in research
2.      I only need to back up my genealogy once a year
3.      Search engines are all the same
4.      Databases use the same search engines
5.      You can do family history work without using a computer
6.      Computers are more trouble than they are worth
7.      There are no shortcuts that help computer users
8.      Computers are too difficult to use
9.      Technology is always changing, so why bother keeping up
10.    Computers make research easy; just copy and paste

Database Myths:
1.      All databases have the same information
2.      All information in each database is comprehensive and complete
3.      Information in databases never changes
4.      Only search databases using the correct spelling
5.      You only need  to search the whole database, not individual record sets
6.      Databases don’t include indexes
7.      Databases have all the information transcribed
8.      Databases are accurate
9.      Databases are less valuable than books or films
10.   Databases are limited in their search abilities


Document Myths:
1.      Spelling on all documents is correct
2.      Information on all documents is correct
3.      Indexes are available for all documents
4.      All documents are free
5.      All government records are available to the public
6.      For every birth, marriage or death there is a record
7.      Documents are stored in the county, city or state where the event took place
8.      An application, certificate and index contain all the same information
9.      A transcription is as good as the original
10.   If you find a transcription of a record, you don’t need to view the original




Family History Library Myths:
1.      The Family History Library has copies of everything
2.      The Family History Library has original records for all indexes in the Library
3.      Everything on film is also in book form
4.      Staff and missionaries know where to find the book you used when you visited last year
5.      Each film only contains one type of record from a certain location
6.      The Library is open everyday
7.      The Library has a book written about every family
8.      You don’t need to use the catalog at the Library
9.      All of your family is on Family Tree
10.   All films at the Library are transcribed and on Family Search



Family Record Myths:
1.      Family records are more accurate than original records
2.      Family stories are true
3.      Family stories never change from one generation to the next
4.      Family bibles are accurate
5.      Every family has a family  bible
6.      Family records prove family member’s birth, marriage, and death dates
7.      Family records are not valuable
8.      Family members won’t share family records
9.      No one in the family has a copy of that record
10.   Neighbors, friends, or others may have copies of family records


Graveyard Myths:
1.      If there is a headstone that is where they are buried
2.      If there is no headstone they are not buried there
3.      All cemetery records are complete
4.      All dates on the headstone are accurate
5.      If people with the same surname are buried by each other they are related
6.      It is easy to find someone’s grave  in a cemetery
7.      All graves are recorded in findagrave.com and billiongraves.com
8.      All cemeteries have a directory
9.      All cemeteries allow the public to view their burial records
10.   Cemeteries give out information

Obituary Myths:
1.      Everything you find in an obituary is accurate
2.      Everyone who died has an obituary
3.      Obituaries are not a source
4.      Obituaries are usually printed all together as a group on the same page in the newspaper
5.     Obituaries are never humorous
6.      Obituaries are only printed in newspapers where the person died
7.      All newspapers are online; so all obituaries are online
8.      Obituaries are never printed on the date of death
9.   All obituaries are online
10.  Obituaries are always free


Online Trees, Myths:
1.      Online trees are sourced and documented
2.      Online trees are original research
3.      Online trees are accurate
4.      Online trees are not helpful
5.      If you contact someone who has an online tree, they will respond
6.  Online trees will help you bust through that brick wall
7.  Online trees won't help you bust through that brick wall
8.  Online trees are never used to make money
9.  Online trees are owned by the creator of the tree not the web company
10.  Companies will copy and charge fees for others to see your "free" tree

Location Myths:
1.      People attended church in their own neighborhood
2.      Location boundaries never changed
3.      Researchers don’t really need to know the history of a town
4.      Town, state and country history did not affect family
5.  Everyone traveled all the time
6.  No one ever traveled
7.  Neighbors don't count
8.  Local newspapers don't carry relevant information
9.  History books are for history buffs; not genealogists
10.  There is only one name per place


Research Myths:
1.      All records are free
2.      If you can’t find it online, it doesn’t exist
3.      Everyone who came through Ellis Island changed their name or the spelling of their name
4.      All people with the same surname in the same location are related
5.      It is it’s published it is true
6.      If it’s on the computer it is true
7.      If it’s on the Internet it is true
8.      If it’s passed from one generation to another, it’s true
9.      There is a beginning and an end to family history work
10.   Someone else in my family is doing it
11.   I only need to search a database once



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