Finding Overseas Records When Researching Possible Immigrants - article by Good English Article Sites

Finding Overseas Records When Researching Possible Immigrants

Sooner or later, most genealogists trace their family trees back to an immigrant ancestor - the one who came to America. When this happens, try to find every single piece of information you can here in America before even thinking about researching over there - wherever "there" might be.

Here's why: Records here tend to be in English, whereas records "over there" tend to be in a language you may not read fluently, if at all. Even if you speak that foreign language, the records may be written in an archaic form of handwriting using archaic terminology.

Depending on your ancestor's age upon arrival in the United States, and how long he lived afterward, he may have generated more records here than in his country of origin. Records here are often more accessible than those in a foreign country - unless they were microfilmed and are, therefore, available through Family History Centers. Family sources, both here and overseas, often play a key role in solving your questions about your immigrant ancestor. Start by interviewing as many of your relatives as you can find here to learn about those living overseas.

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