Using Google Effectively

In the Silicon Valley of California was the birthplace in 1996 of the world known Internet search engine called “Google”. Today it is housed in the ‘Googleplex’ in Mountain View, California. So well-known, you may hear someone refer to any search as ‘Googling’ or to ‘Google it’. Its logo containing 4 bright colors is instantly recognizable.

For the genealogist, this ever expanding search engine (a software computer program which scans for keywords in the billions of web sites) can be a magnificent research tool. First of all, it can direct you immediately to any other web sites that carry the same surname you are researching. For example, in the Google search box at http://www.google.com, type in the surname, then a plus sign (+) and next the word ‘genealogy’ -- like this Kershaw + genealogy. You will have a listing of over 70,000 webs site with those two words together. Now only other researchers who had written in their web sites the surname ‘Kershaw’ but also genealogical sites like; Cousin Connect, GenForum, Ancient Faces or Rootsweb where that surname appears will be listed. In the search box you could also use the phrase Kershaw + ancestry which provided over 63,000 listings.

Covering and reviewing all those web sites alone can take quite a while. You should also go back and run a search every few months since new web sites are added all the time. However, Google offers more ways to search. Using the same Kershaw + genealogy format, now click on the top tool bar the word ‘Images’ and nearly 4,000 images related to the surname and genealogy will appear in thumbnail (small version) for you view.

In another location on the top tool bar is the word ‘News’. Click on that with the Kershaw + genealogy phrase and there will be a variety of newspaper articles, some older ones that you can read there and others which require a small fee to read. You still will view a short abstract of the article on the Google listing to better tell if that is an article of interest to you. If the surname you are searching is uncommon, just place the surname in the search box for ‘News’. Some example, the surname ‘Bantz’ produced over 6,000 news articles and the name ‘Frankforter’ had over 800 articles. Of course it doesn’t mean each article will tie-in directly to an ancestor you are researching.

Another interesting aspect of the Google search engine is locating any books written by or about an individual. Along the same top tool bar is the section ‘More’ with a dropdown arrow. On that list is the word ‘books’. Clicking that will provide a listing of books, book cover, author and summary. Using the surname ‘Frankforter’ produced over 880 listings, many the same books by the same author but at least another source previously unknown. Several of the books have been digitalized so the entire book can be read right from your computer.

So far it was just a surname that was searched but Google is excellent for learning more about an ancestor’s hometown. The Google listing will not only exhibit a map, some showing roads and street names, for a town but also available information on that town’s history, people, government and occupations. It is always important to learn more about a town through its historical and genealogical societies. Many of them have an extensive web site with their own databases and site searches (a search engine just for that site). Some databases have information on cemeteries, biographies, churches, vital records, military, land deeds, etc. At the Google search box, type in the hometown and / or county along with the state’s name. Add to the search box, using the plus (+), the word ‘genealogy’ and in another search use the word ‘historical society’. You will have several listings to select from for your research.

To help narrow down a search, especially for a certain time period, type in the name or place then a space, next the beginning date you are searching, next two periods (no spaces) and finally the ending date. For example: Joseph Groff 1860..1903 This will keep you from going through web sites on an individual with a similar name who lived in the 1970s.
There may come the time you need to translate a phrase, word or sentence in an ancestor’s original language of German, French, Italian, Spanish, etc. Google provides a translating service. Next to the Google search box is ’Language tools’. Click that to reveal a translate text box. Type in the word or phrase you need translated. Below that select the language you just typed and then what language you need it translated into. Lastly, click the ’translate’ button and the translation will appear next to the foreign language version.

Was there the possibly your ancestor invented some device and even held an U. S. Patent? Using Google again might provide some answers. On the Google page listed on the top tool bar is ‘More’ with the dropdown arrow. At the bottom of the list is ‘even more’. Click there and scroll down on the left side until you see ‘Patent Search’. Placing the phrase in the main Google search box will also bring up the patent search. Type in the ancestor’s full name, (bind the full name in quotation marks) as they may have placed it on a legal document, like a patent application. If a patent is located, held by your ancestor, it may also have illustrations along with a description of the invention. Who knows what you might find?

Have you come across a listing for an occupation of your ancestor and was not quite sure what that job entailed? For example: Boniface, Farrier, Kempster or Texter. In the Google search box place the occupation name then plus (+) ‘old occupations’ and you will have a selection of web sites that explain each type of job. A Boniface was an innkeeper, a Farrier was one who shoed horses - a blacksmith, a Kempster was a wool comber and Texter wrote out documents in fine lettering.
With so much available on the Internet today and in the future, it is essential as a genealogist you make full use of every aspect offered with Google. It can be a very efficient tool to assist in your research.

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