Course Ten – Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents


  • Registration is now open through Monday July 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern – register here!
  • Maximum: 30 students
  • Virtual classrooms using Zoom
  • All courses come with a digital syllabus
  • Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion

Course Coordinators

Ben Spratling, JD and Patricia Walls Stamm CG®, CGLSM

Description

This course covers research methods for genealogists in law libraries and government documents. It is designed for the advanced researcher. A solid understanding of genealogy basics is required to make use of the techniques presented. Course Ten is designed to develop advanced skills by concentrating on methods to effectively and efficiently locate relevant material within the two collections.

In the Advanced Library Research Government Documents portion, students delve into the different types of documents within both the federal and state government. The course expands their knowledge and understanding of the branches of the government, the diverse responsibilities and the distinct reports and documents available to help in genealogical search.

Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information

Course prerequisites:

Completion of one of the options below:

    • IGHR course – Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies;
    • IGHR course – Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis;
    • SLIG course – Advanced Genealogical Methods;
    • GRIP course – Advanced Research Methods;
    • Boston University’s genealogy certificate program;
    • BCG’s certification or ICAPGen’s accreditation; or
    • Current or past experience as a Librarian

Course requirements:

Students should have Internet access for exercises.

Required books:                                                                                                     

None

Recommended books:

Genealogy and the Law: A Guide to Legal Sources for the Family Historian by Kay Haviland Freilich, CG®, CGLSM, FNGS and William B. Freilich, Esq. (available for $15.30 in the National Genealogical Society online store [https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/genealogy-law/] in print and as a Kindle e-book on Amazon – Kindle Price: $9.99)

Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)

Monday
10:30 – 11:00 Orientation (Spratling, Stamm)
11:00 – 12:15 Court and Legal Records: An Overview for Genealogists (Spratling)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Introduction to Law Libraries (Spratling)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Law Library Virtual Tour (Spratling)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Courthouse Records and Courthouse Virtual Tour (Koford)
 
Tuesday
10:30 – 11:00 Review, Questions, and Assignments Using the Law Library (Spratling)
11:00 – 12:15 The Law: How It’s Made, How to Find It (Russell)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 The Law Online: Identifying and Evaluating Resources on the Web (Russell)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Computer Legal Research / Review and Questions (Spratling)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Using Caselaw Access Project / Ravel Law for Genealogical Research (E. Powell)
 
Wednesday
10:30 – 11:00 Questions (Spratling); Assignments Using Government Documents (Stamm)
11:00 – 12:15 Answering the Questions of What, Where, Why of Government Documents (Stamm)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 The Records of the Executive Department with computer links (Stamm)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Treasures in the Records of the U.S. Congress with computer links (Stamm)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Tour of Government Documents Department and assignments (McDonald)
 
Thursday
10:30 – 11:00 Review, Questions, and Assignments Using Government Documents (Stamm)
11:00 – 12:15 Mind Maps for Research Analysis and Planning (Leclerc)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 The Legislative Branch with computer links (McDonald)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 State Records for Genealogical Purposes (Garner)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Special Cases in Government Documents (Garner)
 
Friday
10:30 – 11:45 Government Documents: Territorial Papers and Maps with computer links (McDonald)
11:45 –12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:15 Civil Law and Genealogy (Hansen)
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:45 Recap and Certificates (Spratling, Stamm)

Course Faculty