Case
Study:
Thomas Davis and the
Civil War Soldiers and
Sailors System
The following model can assist you as
you use the system to learn
more about the Civil War Soldiers in the system.
Where
to begin?
There are a number of ways to use the system, and some information to
gather before you begin. In order to illustrate what you'll need to know
to get started and the kinds of information you can recover about an ancestor
who fought in the Civil War, take a look at this case study. Along the
way, you will find links to checklists and other helpful information.
The
Story
Curious about the past, Vicky wanted to know if anyone in her family had
fought in the Civil War. She began by asking every family member who might
know. The information she got was disorganized, and sometimes she would
forget things people told her. Her teacher suggested she keep a notebook
of all her information.
Step 1: Prepare a notebook, folder or other container in which to keep all of your information.
Step 2: Write everything down, or make a tape recording.
As Vicky compared her notes, she found that she'd asked different people different questions. She wished she had remembered to ask all of her relatives some of the same questions!
Step 3: Make a list of several questions you want to ask everyone.
Armed with her new checklist, Vicky went back to gether more information. Some of the people she was counting on for the best information did not have enough time to answer her questions.
Step 4: Make appointments to meet with your relatives and family friends. This will assure you that they have time to asnwer your questions, and also give them time to find old photographs and records you may find helpful.