Kentucky Area Paranormal Society

[TheresaHPIR]

Here are my tips for historical research:

There's really no right or wrong first steps in getting started with your research...and this can be achieved through many means...and a LOT of hard work. If possible, I believe preliminary client interviews should be conducted first to see what THEY know of the history, which of course can point you in the right directions, and give you specific instances to try to verify. It'll also provide you with some possible names and other information that you can tailor into EVP sessions, trigger object selection, etc.

The internet is always a good first tool...if a house or location has historical significance, you'll find info online, sometimes from your state archives, and sometimes from private organizations. Many older homes and businesses are listed on the National Register of Historical Places, so that's always a good first step as well.

The courthouse is always a great tool also. You'll need to stop there to get property maps, conduct title searches, and collect vital statisitics. These things sometimes ARE available online, but usually for a cost, and in many places, ARE NOT available. Get the maps and do the title search (chain of who owned the property throughout the years) first. Most courthouses will have clerks on hand to assist you in getting started. Any names taken from the title search can then be taken to the statistics office where you can get marriage, death, birth, and property certificates. This will, of course, give you additional names to add into your search. If the house or property is an older one, also check for personal property census info. Many times, slaves were listed as personal property, and you can get info that way as well.

At the courthouse, you'll generally start with the Assessor's office. You'll need either the homeowner's name or the address of the property. They can give you parcel maps and tell you what deed book you need to start at. The deed books are over...usually across the hall in the County Clerk's room. Vital records are sometimes available in the same room, or slightly down the hall, lol.

Take any of THAT info to your local historical society and/or library. Both will generally have extensive files of genealogy and newspaper clippings...not to mention just basic information about the town. You will shortly become a microfiche EXPERT lol. Search for any of the names you've come up with, as well as the address itself. Look for classic things such as deaths and murders, but also any specific instances that you have collected from the client.

Many newspaper archives are also available online, but that is also a subscription based service, and can get a bit pricey. However, if you live in a rural area, or have limited access to transportation, or are just plain short on time...then a subscription service may be worth it.

When at all possible, talk to older residents, law enforcement, and postal workers...they can be a wealth of information about private properties....And if there is a university nearby, they generally have a lot of resources available as well.

Take all THAT info BACK to the internet and refine your searches. With the popularity of genealogy and history sites, there are tons of great resources. If you DO live near your state capital, your state library and archives will also have extensive resources, including rare and older books and magazines, as well as government documents. It's sort of like a treasure hunt, but very rewarding when you find the missing pieces to the puzzle.

Useful Genealogy Terms Often found in Older Records:
http://www.familyhistory101.com/encyclo ... rms-A.html

Old and Outdated Medical Terms...You'll find some odd stuff on Death Certificates, hehe:
http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/Ar ... lTerms.htm
http://members.aol.com/AdamCo9991/medic ... nolgy.html
http://www.afhs.ab.ca/data/old_diseases.html

18th/19th Century Nicknames...many of which are understandably still in use today, but there are some freaky ones on there, lol. This is a handy bit of info to have when doing research, because some of the nicknames are really odd variants of proper names. You may find a nickname listed on some documentation, and proper names listed on others, and may miss the fact that its the same person!
http://www.genealogyinc.com/enc_nicknames/index.html

[Phantom]

Great info and advice, Theresa. Research is an exhaustive effort, but pays great dividends during an investigation. Also, when private owners are shown things about their home and area previously unknown to them, they realize how professional the ensuing investigation will be. You're a GEM!!

[Emania_Brian]

This is BEAUTIFUL!

- Brian
Emania Paranormal

[stoner]

Here are my tips for historical research:

There's really no right or wrong first steps in getting started with your research...and this can be achieved through many means...and a LOT of hard work. If possible, I believe preliminary client interviews should be conducted first to see what THEY know of the history, which of course can point you in the right directions, and give you specific instances to try to verify. It'll also provide you with some possible names and other information that you can tailor into EVP sessions, trigger object selection, etc.

The internet is always a good first tool...if a house or location has historical significance, you'll find info online, sometimes from your state archives, and sometimes from private organizations. Many older homes and businesses are listed on the National Register of Historical Places, so that's always a good first step as well.

The courthouse is always a great tool also. You'll need to stop there to get property maps, conduct title searches, and collect vital statisitics. These things sometimes ARE available online, but usually for a cost, and in many places, ARE NOT available. Get the maps and do the title search (chain of who owned the property throughout the years) first. Most courthouses will have clerks on hand to assist you in getting started. Any names taken from the title search can then be taken to the statistics office where you can get marriage, death, birth, and property certificates. This will, of course, give you additional names to add into your search. If the house or property is an older one, also check for personal property census info. Many times, slaves were listed as personal property, and you can get info that way as well.

At the courthouse, you'll generally start with the Assessor's office. You'll need either the homeowner's name or the address of the property. They can give you parcel maps and tell you what deed book you need to start at. The deed books are over...usually across the hall in the County Clerk's room. Vital records are sometimes available in the same room, or slightly down the hall, lol.

Take any of THAT info to your local historical society and/or library. Both will generally have extensive files of genealogy and newspaper clippings...not to mention just basic information about the town. You will shortly become a microfiche EXPERT lol. Search for any of the names you've come up with, as well as the address itself. Look for classic things such as deaths and murders, but also any specific instances that you have collected from the client.

Many newspaper archives are also available online, but that is also a subscription based service, and can get a bit pricey. However, if you live in a rural area, or have limited access to transportation, or are just plain short on time...then a subscription service may be worth it.

When at all possible, talk to older residents, law enforcement, and postal workers...they can be a wealth of information about private properties....And if there is a university nearby, they generally have a lot of resources available as well.

Take all THAT info BACK to the internet and refine your searches. With the popularity of genealogy and history sites, there are tons of great resources. If you DO live near your state capital, your state library and archives will also have extensive resources, including rare and older books and magazines, as well as government documents. It's sort of like a treasure hunt, but very rewarding when you find the missing pieces to the puzzle.

Useful Genealogy Terms Often found in Older Records:
http://www.familyhistory101.com/encyclo ... rms-A.html

Old and Outdated Medical Terms...You'll find some odd stuff on Death Certificates, hehe:
http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/Ar ... lTerms.htm
http://members.aol.com/AdamCo9991/medic ... nolgy.html
http://www.afhs.ab.ca/data/old_diseases.html

18th/19th Century Nicknames...many of which are understandably still in use today, but there are some freaky ones on there, lol. This is a handy bit of info to have when doing research, because some of the nicknames are really odd variants of proper names. You may find a nickname listed on some documentation, and proper names listed on others, and may miss the fact that its the same person!
http://www.genealogyinc.com/enc_nicknames/index.html

That's a great post Thresesa, full of interesting information.