Wells 101: First Year Writing Seminar

Genealogy: Your Branch to the Past

Fall 2010


Course Description: How have the experiences of your ancestors affected the life you lead today? You will attempt to explore your own family histories through an investigation of family lore and governmental and other primary and secondary records (census, probate, land, military, naturalization, church, etc.). You will write a number of short papers, and also complete a research paper on your own family history, with the goal of exploring how your family's saga affects lives today. Genealogical research strategies and records collection and organization will be covered. Critical analysis of sources will be emphasized. 

Professor Bailey

Office: Stratton 219

Phone: x3286

Email: cbailey@wells.edu

 

Office Hours: M-F, 8-9:20 A.M., or by appointment, or whenever I’m in my office.

 

Required Texts:

Unpuzzling Your Past by Emily Anne Croom

Writing the Family Narrative by Lawrence Goldrup

The Transition to College Writing, 2nd Ed., by Keith Hjortshoi

 

Books on Two-Hour Reserve:

The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, 3rd Ed., by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking

The Researchers Guide to American Genealogy by Val Greenwood

For All Time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History by Charles Kempthorne

Producing a Quality Family History by Patricia Hatcher

Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian by Elizabeth Mills

 

Additional readings will also be assigned.

 


Course materials:

 

The Missing Links:

            Ancestry.com

            Cyndi’s Lists

            Ellis Island

            Family History Library Catalog

FamilySearch

GENWRITERS

Immigrant Ship Transcribers Guild

National Archives

National Archives Archival Databases

National Archives Research Room

New England Historic Genealogical Society

New York State Archives

Repository of Primary Sources

RootsWeb

USGenWeb

US Newspaper Program

WorldGenWeb

 


Christopher T. Bailey
Professor of Chemistry
Biological & Chemical Sciences Major Program
Wells College, Aurora, New York 13026

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