HIST 506 Genealogical Research

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

This course enables the student to master the skills necessary for tracing and documenting lineage, a foundational aspect of historical study that connects individuals and communities to their past. This course is essential for the student to learn how to access and interpret genealogical records, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of historical identity and heritage.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to complete 2 Discussions in this course. For each Discussion, the student will post one thread of 500-600 words and 2 replies of 250-300 words. For the thread, at least 3 scholarly sources must be listed in current Turabian format.

Video Discussions (2)

Video Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to complete 2 Video Discussions in this course. For each Video Discussion Thread, the student will post one 3-4.5-minute video responding to the provided prompt. The student must then post 2 written replies of at least 250 words. Any sources used must be cited in current Turabian format.

Interview Planning Assignment

In this assignment, the student will set up an Ancestry.com account and begin construction of his/her family tree. The student will also set up interviews with family members to gain a better understanding of his/her family history and lineage. The student will also submit a link to his/her family tree that shows the lineage of at least his/her grandparents. A brief description of 50-75 words for at least 2 family members must be submitted, giving basic details of the interviewees. At least 1 family document or photograph must be submitted for this assignment.

Interview Assignment

In this assignment, the student will conduct interviews with a minimum of 2 family members and produce a written summary of the findings. The written summary must be compiled into a paper of 8-10 pages in current Turabian format, and at least 5 sources must be cited.

Family Tree Assignment

In this assignment, the student will complete construction of his/her family tree to at least the sixth generation, and compile family documents and photographs, If no information can be found to at least the sixth generation, the student will provide documentation and a brief summary showing why this is the case. In addition, the student must submit at least 10 documents or photographs that directly pertain to his/her family history.

Family Narrative Assignment

In this assignment, the student will complete a scholarly research paper that is a family narrative. The student will complete a 10–12-page family narrative paper that brings together all of the family research that has been completed in this course. In addition to the paper, the student will submit the completed family tree and all of the historical documents or photographs that were used. At least 10 sources must be cited, and current Turabian formatting must be used.