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Glossary
abstract(n) — A document which summarized the important parts of a longer document. [ chap 4 ]
abstract(v) — To summarize the important points of a given text. [ chap 1 ]
action event titles — Words used in data entry of citations to focus on particular milestones, life happenings and other things that occur in a person's life. [ chap 3 ]
affidavit — A written declaration made under oath before a notary public or other authorized officer. [ chap 9 ]
ahnentafel charts — Lists of direct-line ancestors, displayed by generation in a basic formula, in which an individual's paternal (father's) lines are two times the number of the child, and the maternal (mother's) lines are two times plus one the number of the child. The word Ahnentafel comes from a German word meaning "Ancestor Table." [ chap 6 ]
allies — One in helpful association with another. [ chap 15 ]
analysis — The separation of an intellectual whole into its constituent parts for individual study. [ chap 4 ]
ancestor — Any person from whom one is descended. [ chap 1 ]
Ancestral File™ — A lineage-linked, surname-indexed data base of pedigrees and family group records submitted since 1980 by researchers all over the world. [ chap 1 ]
ancestry — The people from whom you are descended, e.g., your parents and grandparents. [ chap 6 ]
Animap — A jurisdiction mapping program for the computer. [ chap 7 ]
application — An official written request for something (land, marriage, etc.). [ chap 9 ]
archive — A place or collection containing records, documents, or other materials of historical interest; a repository for stored memories or information. [ chap 6 ]
armchair genealogist — One who does genealogy without having to leave home through correspondence or the Internet. [ chap 9 ]
ASCII — An abbreviation for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standard for defining codes for information exchange between computers produced by different manufactures in different computer languages. [ chap 10 ]
atlas — A collection of maps in book form. [ chap 7 ]
authoritative — Of acknowledged accuracy or reliability. [ chap 4 ]
bann — An official notification of the intention of a man to marry a woman usually given at a church service several weeks before the marriage. [ chap 1 ]
bibliographic notation — A brief note; an annotation of the description and identification of the editions, dates of issue, authorship, and typography of books or other written material. [ chap 13 ]
bond — An official document created by a person, his heirs, administrator, or executer promising a certain sum of money to cover expenses of acts that are completed or not. This is usually in regards to a deceased's property and possessions and the executing or administrating of that estate. [ chap 9 ]
bounty land — Territorial or public property given to an individual as a reward, inducement, or payment by a government for acts deemed beneficial to the state such as enlisting for military service. [ chap 8 ]
browse — While using the Family History Library Catalog, the ability to casually inspect various localities when, for example, when an exact spelling in a locality is unknown. [ chap 10 ]
cadastral maps — Survey maps relating to land boundaries. [ chap 7 ]
census — An official, usually periodic enumeration of a population. [ chap 1 ]
century — A period of one hundred years. [ chap 7 ]
certificate — Official document stating a fact or event, such as a birth certificate which states the birth date and place. [ chap 9 ]
character — A symbol or mark used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet. [ chap 2 ]
chronological order — Placing statements about events in the order of their time of occurrence. [ chap 4 ]
chronology — The determination of dates and the sequence of events. [ chap 1 ]
citation — A reference to a particular authority. [ chap 4 ]
cite — To quote as an authority or example. [ chap 4 ]
city — A town of significant size and importance which may be incorporated municipality in the United States with definite boundaries and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the state. [ chap 1 ]
consistent — In agreement; compatible. [ chap 13 ]
contract — A written or verbal agreement between two parties promising to do or not do something. [ chap 9 ]
contraction — The act of contracting or the state of being contracted; a word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds. [ chap 15 ]
convert(v) — To change (something) into another form, substance, state or product; to change from one religion or belief to another. [ chap 13 ]
custom — A practice followed by people of a particular group or region. [ chap 15 ]
custom setting — A form which has the ability to be adapted or modified to fit the user. [ chap 5 ]
data — Equivalent to information but, in this case, specific information relating to genealogy research. [ chap 1 ]
data entry — The typing of information into a computer database. [ chap 2 ]
data error list — Grouping of mistaken entries put into your particular genealogy program. [ chap 5 ]
data fields — A computer term for places to enter information such as birth, marriage, and death dates and places. [ chap 1 ]
database — Information that is collected, usually on a computer, which fits into a narrowly defined set of definitions. Once collected, this information can be sorted and analyzed to reach conclusions. [ chap 2 ]
date calculator — in a genealogy computer program, this calculator allows you to put in two of three dates and the one date left out will be calculated. For example, you can put in the date of death as well as the person's age so that the calculator can provide you with the date of birth. You could likewise, put in the person's birth date and age, and the calculator would give you the date of death. [ chap 5 ]
decade — A period of ten years. [ chap 7 ]
deficiency — The quality or condition of being incomplete or inadequate. [ chap 15 ]
demographic — The study of the characteristics of human population, size, growth, density, distribution, and vital statistics. [ chap 7 ]
descendancy chart — A list of the offspring and their children for one particular individual. [ chap 6 ]
default preferences — For your computer program, it is the way to set up, in advance, how your computer will react under certain circumstances as you enter and report genealogical data. [ chap 2 ]
descendant — The offspring of a particular individual. [ chap 5 ]
dialect — A regional variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists. [ chap 15 ]
direct line — The ancestral or decendancy line of an individual. [ chap 2 ]
directory — A book containing an alphabetical or classified listing of names, addresses, and other data, such as telephone numbers, of specific persons, groups, or firms. [ chap 1 ]
district — A division of an area, as for administrative purposes such as census taking. [ chap 1 ]
document — A written or printed paper that bears the original, official or legal form of something and can be used to furnish decisive evidence or information. [ chap 4 ]
documentation — The supplying of documents or supporting references or records. [ chap 1 ]
downloading — Receiving information from the Internet or a GEDCOM file, or other external source and placing it in your computer. [ chap 3 ]
draft(v) — To select from a group for compulsory military service and to register them. [ chap 13 ]
edit — To correct or change. [ chap 3 ]
electronic resources — Materials published or maintained in a computer or Internet format. [ chap 10 ]
Ellis Island — An island of Upper New York Bay southwest of Manhattan which was the chief immigration station of the United States from 1892 to 1943. [ chap 13 ]
emigration — The act of leaving a country to live in another. [ chap 4 ]
enlisted man — Male member of the armed forces who ranks below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. [ chap 13 ]
enumerate — To name one by one; to list. [ chap 1 ]
environment — The circumstances and complex social and cultural conditions that surround an individual. [ chap 7 ]
era — A period of time as reckoned from a specific date which serves as the basis of a chronological system. [ chap 7 ]
ethnology — A study of human cultures including nationalities, races and their origins, such as Huguenots, Cherokees, etc. [ chap 10 ]
evaluation — The ascertaining of the value or worth of information. [ chap 1 ]
event title — A brief introductory word to signify important milestones or occurrences in an individual's life. [ chap 4 ]
evidence — Some documentary or oral statements or material objects helpful to forming a conclusion or judgement. [ chap 4 ]
extract(n) — A passage from a document; an excerpt. [ chap 4 ]
extract(v) — To remove (a written passage, for example) for separate consideration or publication. [ chap 1 ]
extract number — A number assigned to an extraction made of a document is listed on research log or planner. [ chap 8 ]
extraction — The process of taking out essential information from an original record. [ chap 11 ]
fact — Something that is real or actual determined by evidence; an event. [ chap 1 ]
family association — An organization of individuals who study and research a particular family or families. They often produce newsletters and published histories, put on "family" reunions, and promote the gathering of information on their particular ancestral lines. [ chap 5 ]
Family History Center — Genealogy centers operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world where individuals can order genealogy materials on microfilm and microfiche through a loan program and use the FamilySearch™ program. [ chap 3 ]
Family History Societies — Genealogical societies in England. [ chap 12 ]
FamilySearch™ — A complex computer program produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which operates and manages several large databases of information, including the Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index, Social Security Death Index, the Military Index, the Scottish Parochial Index and others that are added from time to time. [ chap 3 ]
FHCC — The Family History Center Catalog contains information on the holdings available in the particular Family History Center you are visiting. [ chap 12 ]
FHLC Surname File — The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has a catalog of its holdings available on microfiche or on computer CD disks through the FamilySearch program. The Surname portion of this catalog will lead you to published histories and collateral line histories available through the Family History Center loan system. Thousands of items are accessed by the library each month. As part of the preliminary survey in order to avoid duplication, this surname section should be searched to see if others have produced a book on your family lines. [ chap 12 ]
fiche — One microfiche; a sheet of microfilm capable of preserving a considerable number of printed pages in reduced form. [ chap 4 ]
field — The space where information is written in a form, e.g. given name. [ chap 2 ]
fire insurance maps and bird's-eye views — Sketched drawings from the perspective of a bird, looking down at a town or building, with details of how the area looked and what was around it. [ chap 7 ]
fonts — Various typefaces produced by your computer program. [ chap 5 ]
fraternal — Brotherly, benevolent; as an association, a group of individuals with similar goals. [ chap 5 ]
gazetteer — A geographical dictionary or index; word descriptions of localities including population, distance from large towns, how to get there, what the town is known for, etc. [ chap 7 ]
GEDCOM — Abbreviation for GEnealogical Data COMmunication which is the standard for transferring data from one genealogy program to another. It was originally written to enable the home user to receive data from the databases maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The GEDCOM format is constantly being updated. [ chap 3 ]
genealogical society — An organization of individuals who gather to promote family history research within their locality, among a particular ethnic group, or focused on a particular subject. [ chap 5 ]
genealogy — A record or table of the descent of a person, family or group from an ancestor or ancestors; the study of investigation of ancestry and family histories; a family tree. [ chap 1 ]
generation — A body of people constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor. [ chap 2 ]
geographical — Relating to the topography of a specific region. [ chap 4 ]
hearsay evidence — Evidence: based on the reports of others rather than the personal knowledge of a witness. [ chap 15 ]
hypothesis — A tentative explanation to an event that can be tested by further investigation; a theory. [ chap 1 ]
immigrate — To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native. [ chap 13 ]
immigration — The act of entering a country to which one is not a native. [ chap 4 ]
indefinite loan — Films and microfiche which are kept at a local Family History Center for an indefinite period. They are usually not sent back unless the center does not have storage space
any more to retain them. [ chap 12 ]
independent cities — Cities which are self-governing and free from affiliation or control by a county jurisdiction. [ chap 7 ]
informant — An individual that informs the government information concerning an event recorded, such as a death. This individual could be spouse, son or daughter or next door neighbor. [ chap 9 ]
intention — Giving notice to do something in relationship to marriage agreements. [ chap 9 ]
International Genealogical Index (IGI) — Started in 1969 this index now contains over 300 million names on the computer FamilySearch program. It is arranged by surname and locality. Millions have been "extracted" by volunteers who copy information from original documents (birth, christening, marriage records, etc.) onto computer cards. Using this index can help you locate an elusive ancestor, find others searching your lines, locate primary sources, and pinpoint localities for an unusual surname. [ chap 11 ]
jurisdiction — The right and power to interpret and apply the law. [ chap 1 ]
land survey — A determination of the boundaries, area, or elevations of the earth's surface by means of measuring angles, distances, river ways, and neighbors. [ chap 7 ]
LDS — An abbreviation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [ chap 5 ]
legend — The definition of symbols listed on a map. [ chap 7 ]
level — A position in the ranking of a locality. [ chap 2 ]
license — Permission given by proper authority to perform a legal act. [ chap 9 ]
living — In the Ancestral File used in place of an individual's name if he was born in the last 95 years and no death date was listed. In the IGI it refers to individuals who do not have a known death date or less than 110 years have existed since their date of birth. [ chap 11 ]
locality analysis — Location of a jurisdiction of a particular place, at the time of an event and for the present day. [ chap 8 ]
log — A list of resources usually recorded after they have been searched. [ chap 5 ]
merge — Taking two individuals or files having the same data and blending their information while keeping the most correct data. [ chap 11 ]
maternal — Related through one's mother. [ chap 7 ]
microfilm — A reproduction on which printed materials are photographed at greatly reduced size for ease in storage. [ chap 8 ]
microform — An arrangement of images reduced in size, as on microfilm or microfiche. [ chap 15 ]
migration path — A roadway traveled by a group of people to move from one region and settle in another. [ chap 14 ]
military district — A division of an area administered by the armed forces sent there to protect the area. [ chap 7 ]
Miracode — A computer-produced index system using the Soundex system and used on the 1910 census. [ chap 14 ]
mission statement — The declaring of the business with which such a repository is charged. [ chap 15 ]
mixed codes — Instead of being in numerical order they are inter-filed alphabetically by given names. [ chap 14 ]
mortality schedule — Contains information on people who died within the year prior to the
census. [ chap 14 ]
MRIN — An abbreviation in PAF for Marriage Record Identification Number. [ chap 5 ]
mutiny(n) — Open rebellion against constituted authority, especially rebellion of sailors against superior officers. [ chap 13 ]
naturalization — The act of being granted full citizenship to one of foreign birth. [ chap 4 ]
name sorted lists — Groupings of individuals arranged in various ways, by given name or surname, to accomplish some purpose. [ chap 6 ]
nickname — A descriptive name added to or replacing the actual name of a person, place, or thing; a familiar or shortened form of a proper name. [ chap 15 ]
non somis soli — We are not alone. [ chap 16 ]
obituary — A published notice of a death, sometimes with a brief biography of the deceased. [ chap 1 ]
ordinances — Refers to baptisms, endowments, and sealings as mentioned in Matthew 16:19 performed for deceased relatives by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the purpose of identifying and linking one's entire family. When used in the phrase "LDS ordinance field," it means those computer fields which record the dates of the ordinances. [ chap 5 ]
parish — In Great Britain, a political division of a county for local civil government, usually corresponding to an ecclesiastical parish. [ chap 2 ]
Parish and Vital Records Listings — A microfiche listing of sources by locality which have previously been extracted. This list guides the researcher to another way of obtaining information in unindexed sources. [ chap 10 ]
passenger manifest — A public declaration of those who have arrived on a ship to a country. [ chap 13 ]
perspective — A mental view or outlook; the relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole. [ chap 15 ]
paternal — Related through one's father. [ chap 13 ]
patron — A customer, especially a regular customer.
patron submitted — One non-verified source type from an individual's genealogy files or personal research. [ chap 11 ]
Patron Surname File — A file of Family History Center patrons with surnames they are searching, their names, addresses, and phone number so that patrons may contact each other on collateral lines. You are invited to fill out a form as well. This service is NOT available at every FHC. [ chap 12 ]
pay voucher — The written evidence to substantiate or authenticate money given in return for goods or services rendered. [ chap 13 ]
patronymic — Of, relating to, or derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor. [ chap 11 ]
pedigree — A line of ancestors. [ chap 2 ]
phonetic spelling — Spelling based on the sounds of speech rather than an accepted orthography. [ chap 14 ]
physiographic map — A map that uses colors and symbols to illustrate elevation, population, and rainfall. [ chap 7 ]
piracy — Robbery committed at sea. [ chap 13 ]
plague — A widespread, highly infectious, usually fatal, epidemic disease. [ chap 8 ]
planimetric map — A flat map, showing no physical attributes of the land. [ chap 7 ]
postal directory — A book containing an alphabetical listing of post offices. [ chap 7 ]
pre-Revolutionary period — American history prior to 1776. [ chap 7 ]
preference — The chance to choose. [ chap 13 ]
preliminary survey — A comprehensive search of compiled sources and databases designed to prevent the repetition of previous research performed on a particular family or goal. [ chap 8 ]
preponderance — Superiority in weight, force, importance, or influence. [ chap 14 ]
priority — Precedence by order of importance or urgency. [ chap 15 ]
probate — The process of legally establishing the validity of a will; in broader terms, all of the legal processes carried out at the death of an individual to establish ownership or heirship of the deceased's goods. [ chap 8 ]
range — A quantity or specific order of something; range of MRINs would include only certain MRINs selected by an individual. [ chap 5 ]
record(v) — To put into writing or other permanent forms for preservation. [ chap 1 ]
record type — Information about a group or class of information; e.g., military records, land records, or vital records. [ chap 15 ]
regimental history — The chronological record of events of a military unit of ground troops, consisting of at least two battalions, usually commanded by a colonel. [ chap 13 ]
register — Book kept by official authorities to record vital records or other official records. [ chap 9 ]
relationship chart — A genealogy diagram which describes the connection between individuals of the same family. [ chap 5 ]
relevant — Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand. [ chap 15 ]
repository — A place where things may be put for safekeeping. [ chap 1 ]
repository list — A listing of every repository you have listed in your particular genealogy computer program. [ chap 5 ]
research log — A list of the records searched for a particular goal, the call numbers of sources searched, and the results of that search, including extract numbers for extractions pertaining to that research. [ chap 8 ]
research planner — A list of records to be searched for a particular goal, or those actually searched for a particular goal, the call numbers of sources searched, and the results of that search, including extract numbers for extractions pertaining to that research. [ chap 8 ]
retrieve — To open a file in a computer program that could have been saved out of a different program or the same program. [ chap 5 ]
return — Official document giving proof of an action performed that was ordered by the court or given by license. [ chap 9 ]
RIN — An abbreviation in PAF for Record Identification Number. [ chap 5 ]
screen printing — The ability of a computer program to produce a report on the screen rather than on paper. [ chap 5 ]
sequence — The following of one thing after another; an arrangement that is related or continuous. [ chap 7 ]
server — A computer with enough memory and ability to provide support to several other computers. [ chap 10 ]
session — A meeting of a legislative body for the purpose of transacting business. [ chap 7 ]
sexton — Individual responsible for carrying for maintaining the cemetery (burying the dead, etc.) and the records of burial. [ chap 9 ]
shipping guide — A book containing an alphabetical listing of places where items could be transported by wagon, ship, train, etc. [ chap 7 ]
siblings — One of two or more persons having one or especially both parents in common, e.g., a brother or sister. [ chap 2 ]
Soundex — An indexing system in which the vowels as well as the silent sounding letters w, h, and y are removed so that the name is phonetically "sounded" rather than how it would be
spelled. [ chap 14 ]
soundex calculator — In a genealogy computer program, this part of the program will take a name, remove the vowels as well as the silent sounding letters w, h, and y, and reduce the name to how it would "sound" rather than how it would be spelled. [ chap 5 ]
source — A book, document or other record supplying primary, or first-hand information. [ chap 1 ]
submitter — The individual who provided the genealogy information. [ chap 11 ]
surname field — Where the last name of a person is typed. It is NOT necessary to type the name in all caps such as "SMITH," just to capitalize the first letter: "Smith." When the name is printed, it will be converted to all caps by most genealogy programs (if so indicated in the default preferences). [ chap 2 ]
surname file — A collection of papers or published materials kept or arranged in convenient order of family names. [ chap 13 ]
suspension — A postponement of judgment, opinion, or decision. [ chap 15 ]
Sutro Library — One of the ten largest genealogical libraries in the United States. It is located in San Francisco, California. [ chap 7 ]
synthesize — To study all the facts and combine the information to form a new, more complex idea. [ chap 4 ]
table of contents — The subject matter of a written format, usually appearing at the front of a printed work in list format. [ chap 6 ]
territory — An area of land or water under the jurisdiction of an external government. [ chap 8 ]
text file — The original words of an electronic file with the formatting removed. [ chap 10 ]
thorn — The runic letter þ originally representing either sound of the Modern English th, as in the and thin, used in Old English and Middle English manuscripts. [ chap 15 ]
time line — An interval between which events occur, in order from earliest to latest. [ chap 4 ]
tombstone inscription — A gravestone inscribed message. [ chap 15 ]
topographical map — A map showing physical attributes of the land. [ chap 7 ]
township — 1 A subdivision of a county in most northeast and Midwest U.S. states, having the status of a unit of local government with varying governmental powers; a town. 2 A public land surveying unit of 36 sections, or 36 square miles. 3 An ancient administrative division of a large parish in England. [ chap 2 ]
township maps — Descriptive outline sketches of land boundaries, with the owners' names written on each section, so that neighbors can easily be seen and each family's distance from other places can be calculated. [ chap 7 ]
tradition — The passing down of unwritten family stories from generation to generation, especially by oral communication. [ chap 1 ]
transcribe — To write out or type a document in full. [ chap 1 ]
transcription — A copied document usually done by hand or data-entered. [ chap 9 ]
truncate — To shorten, as if cutting off. [ chap 2 ]
unabridged — Containing the original content; not condensed. [ chap 4 ]
uploading — Sending information from a computer to another computer or database through the Internet. [ chap 3 ]
URL — Universal Record Locator; the address of someone on the Internet. [ chap 9 ]
variant — Something that tends to differ or deviate from a standard usually by only a slight difference. [ chap 14 ]
venerate — To regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference. [ chap 15 ]
vital — Concerning recording data pertinent to lives such as vital records. [ chap 1 ]
vital records — Documents recording information about births, marriages and deaths. [ chap 4 ]
volunteer — A person who performs or offers to serve in an organization (like the military) of his or her own free will. [ chap 13 ]
warrant — A voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money. [ chap 13 ]
World Family Tree™ — A collection of actual family trees submitted by users of the Family Tree Maker genealogy program. Many trees contain documented sources very helpful for continuing research. The contributors may be contacted. [ chap 3 ]
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