Orphanage Records

Here is an interesting article by D. Joshua Taylor about the history of orphanages in the United States and how to trace orphans in your ancestry. As with doing any research, it's important to understand the history of the area where your ancestor lived and what records would have existed during that time period. When researching orphans (or adoptions), you will first need to do your historical research!

Korean Genealogy

The most important record for Korean genealogy research is the JokBo or Chokbo (족보). These are
family genealogies and histories generally passed down to eldest sons. Families and genealogy organizations are beginning to publish JokBo online.

Inje University Genealogy Library has a guide on how to read Korean genealogies. You can also search their collection of genealogies.

A great resource for learning more about Korean genealogy and records is Korean Genealogy Online. The author discusses civil and family records, family names, and the Korean language and culture. The site also offers a free genealogy eBook with research tips for English speakers.

Some Korean records are available through FamilySearch. Search for ancestors on the Korea Research Page or browse through the collection of Civil Service Examination records.  FamilySearch has also digitized Korean genealogies going back to 1500. You can browse the collection by family name, location and year.

Search the FamilySearch Catalog to find Korean genealogies as well as civil and military records on microfilm or as published books. Microfilm may be ordered from FamilySearch and viewed at the Glenview Public Library.

You can also search for records at the National Archives of Korea (in Korean) or explore their website in English.

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

County boundaries have changed a lot during this nation's history. When searching for county-level records (birth, marriage, and death records) or when browsing census data, it's important to know which county your ancestor lived in. The Newberry has a great site that can help pinpoint what county your ancestor was living in during a specific period of time. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries contains interactive maps and county histories and is a great resource for US genealogy research.

Dr. Kennicott & the National Agricultural Hall of Fame

Dr. John Kennicott was inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame last month. Read about the induction here. If you want to learn more about Dr. Kennicott's life and agricultural achievements, check out this biography written by Elizabeth Kopp of the Grove. We also have the Kennicott family papers available on microfilm.