Sue Mackay
21-11-2007, 11:25 AM
This was compiled a while back by a lister on the South African Rootsweb list and I couldn't resist sharing it. I was reminded of it this morning when a friend's daughter decided to get married on a beach in Florida and my husband remarked "That will cause a headache for future genealogists!" (You can see I'm gradually training him :D)
Advice for Future Genealogists- Researching the 21st Century
1. BMDD Records:
This stands for Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death records.
a) Birth certificates: Due to surrogacy, private adoptions and sperm and egg donations the parents listed on the birth certificate may not be the biological parents.
b) Marriage certificates: There were many who preferred to marry in exotic locations. If you cannot find a local marriage certificate extend your search to places such as Barbados, Carribean, Maldives, Ireland and Scotland. Remember marriage was optional so many couples merely co-habited or married long after their children were born.
c) Divorce papers: These frequently followed marriages during this period.
However not everything recorded in these papers is true.
d) Death certificates: Usually the most accurate of all the BMDD records.
Though be aware the sex listed may not be the same sex as on the birth certificate (see sex changes for more details.)
2) Medical databases: These are very useful as all surgical implants including surgical screws were prenumbered and kept on databases. If researching females (and on occasion males) in Britain or the USA the databases for breast implants are very useful.
3) Identity fraud - a common occurence over the period. Please check details very carefully as the record may be of an imposter and not an ancestor.
4) Driving records - All drivers of motor vehicles were required to register for a driving license. These may be include details of traffice violations.
Traffic violations may be more difficult to trace depending on the country, however you may be fortunate to find a photograph of your ancestor driving through a red traffic light.
5) Newspapers: Useful if your ancestor was a celeb, sports person or met a violent death. However if your ancestor died violently in South Africa this is unlikely to be reported.
6) Marketing databases: These databases were sold for large sums of money over this period, but can be highly inaccurate.
7) Website and email addresses: Very valuable records, however many did not use their official names so it is difficult to trace these records.
8) Professional databases: As professional organisations depended on member subcriptions these databases are highly accurate and may enable you to trace your ancestors for many years.
9) Money laundering databases: From the early 2000s these records were required by law to be kept by banks, lawyers and accountants in many parts of the world. Details of your ancestors identity, residential address and electricity and water consumption may be recorded here.
10) Letters: Due to the advent of email - this source is very rare.
11) Photographs - With the advent of digital cameras very few photographs were printed and many digital records were destroyed or lost on death. With changes in technology many of the digital photos kept can no longer be accessed.
Advice for Future Genealogists- Researching the 21st Century
1. BMDD Records:
This stands for Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death records.
a) Birth certificates: Due to surrogacy, private adoptions and sperm and egg donations the parents listed on the birth certificate may not be the biological parents.
b) Marriage certificates: There were many who preferred to marry in exotic locations. If you cannot find a local marriage certificate extend your search to places such as Barbados, Carribean, Maldives, Ireland and Scotland. Remember marriage was optional so many couples merely co-habited or married long after their children were born.
c) Divorce papers: These frequently followed marriages during this period.
However not everything recorded in these papers is true.
d) Death certificates: Usually the most accurate of all the BMDD records.
Though be aware the sex listed may not be the same sex as on the birth certificate (see sex changes for more details.)
2) Medical databases: These are very useful as all surgical implants including surgical screws were prenumbered and kept on databases. If researching females (and on occasion males) in Britain or the USA the databases for breast implants are very useful.
3) Identity fraud - a common occurence over the period. Please check details very carefully as the record may be of an imposter and not an ancestor.
4) Driving records - All drivers of motor vehicles were required to register for a driving license. These may be include details of traffice violations.
Traffic violations may be more difficult to trace depending on the country, however you may be fortunate to find a photograph of your ancestor driving through a red traffic light.
5) Newspapers: Useful if your ancestor was a celeb, sports person or met a violent death. However if your ancestor died violently in South Africa this is unlikely to be reported.
6) Marketing databases: These databases were sold for large sums of money over this period, but can be highly inaccurate.
7) Website and email addresses: Very valuable records, however many did not use their official names so it is difficult to trace these records.
8) Professional databases: As professional organisations depended on member subcriptions these databases are highly accurate and may enable you to trace your ancestors for many years.
9) Money laundering databases: From the early 2000s these records were required by law to be kept by banks, lawyers and accountants in many parts of the world. Details of your ancestors identity, residential address and electricity and water consumption may be recorded here.
10) Letters: Due to the advent of email - this source is very rare.
11) Photographs - With the advent of digital cameras very few photographs were printed and many digital records were destroyed or lost on death. With changes in technology many of the digital photos kept can no longer be accessed.