How does the genealogist go about locating historical information?
How do they conduct their research?
The genealogist can, indeed, provide the family with a sense of identity, purpose, and understanding of how their family and ancestors grew shaped their community. Genealogists may wish to record the family’s evolution and record their achievements.
The genealogist will receive both written and unwritten stories and sources. They will necessarily be part historian and part biographer, since they must be able to explain how the family set down roots, developed their character, and chose the roads and trails which they did. The genealogist must explore how the ancestral family earned their livelihood, while at the same time explore how the family played, learned, developed, changed and grew through their art, education, religion, ethnic society, etc. The genealogist needs to embrace the historical aspect of the era, the impact of the rail line on a local community, or the force of the industrial revolution with cars, combines, trucks and roads. Finally the genealogist must also be a sociologist as they reconstruct the life and society in the local community of the ancestral family.
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Exploring these factors will allow available sources to systematically unfold before the genealogist, The family member origins, growth, and decisions all play a vital role during the evolution of a family in the context of the past, and similarly help the genealogist complete a family tree with unique aspects.
As the genealogist compiles a timeline of the ancestral family, various events occur to shape the character of each individual in history. By contemplating this timeline decisions can be made as to whether to pursue a census record for further clarification, or perhaps a military record might show light on another individual. By delving into the personality of the individual it can be ascertained if their achievements may have been recorded in the local newspaper, or archived in municipal or court records.
Thus, genealogical research receives a boost when the researcher supports the birth, marriage and death certificates with a picture of the ancestor and their personal sense of purpose, and desires. The ancestor comes to light when their decision to immigrate shows up in passenger lists. Delving into travel on that particular passenger ship they travelled upon gives further clarification of the kind of trip they experienced. Exploring the weather in various seasons helps to understand how travel may have been enhanced or been a challenge if the trip was taken in a winter or summer month. Use your own imagination and Imagine how they felt, and it may provide a stepping stone to another direction in the genealogical quest. Would it be perhaps fortuitous to explore hospital records if the trip was taken to remediate an illness? When the passenger ship arrived, how did the next leg of the journey begin to arrive at the set destination? How did they cross North America if the passenger ship arrived in New York? Would ancestors arriving Pier 21 Halifax, Nova Scotia have a different journey to arrive at their destination? If they arrived in winter time to the “Last Best West” where did they live? Were there hotels in that era?
Ask questions about the ancestral life apart from when and where your great great uncle was born, and died. Contemplate the role of your great great great grandmother, look up the history of the land, the weather patterns, local events that happened the year she got married. Continue to ask questions which will lead to more answers and more sources of information. What facilities and support did she have to give birth? Describe what you have learned to fellow researchers and explore information in archives, libraries, museums, local history books, and newspapers. By growing the biographical timeline of your ancestral, you will boost your genealogical research capability.
Note The new Saskatchewan Region Gen Web is online at https://saskgenweb.site123.me the original Saskatchewan Region Gen Web site is under maintenance by Ancestry/Rootsweb.com. Check periodically for progress on the historical site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cansk while waiting please check out https://saskgenweb.site123.me/
Saskatchewan Gen Web 
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