The Olson Family information maintained at this web site consists of six record types:
- Individual Records — An
Individual record
exists for each person in the Olson Family History. The record documents the key
attributes and events associated with that individual. Each record contains a minimum
of 53 data fields, and may include biographical text. Go to Individual records by clicking on the
Individuals by Name link in the Sub-Menu at the left.
- Relationship Records — A
Relationship record
documents the interrelationships between the members of one family group. It is similar
to a marriage record, but is also used for relationships other than a formal, legal marriage
— such as common-law and out-of-wedlock situations. The record identifies all
children produced by a set of parents. It contains a minimum of 26 data fields, and may include
historical text about the family. If a person was married five times, one Relationship record
will exist for each of the five marriages. Go to Relationship records by clicking on either of
the two Marriages links in the Sub-Menu at the left.
- Household Records — A
Household record
is similar to a census record. It is used to identify a piece of real estate and to
record the address of the house, farm, business, or other institution located on it — and
the names of the residents living or working there. It contains a minimum of 27 data
fields, and may include a descriptive text about the place. A Household record covers a period
of time (from the day the family moved in until the date that the last resident departed) whereas a
census record reflects only one point in time. Household records are also used to keep track of
family members' residence in homes, boarding houses, prisons, hospitals, and cemeteries. Go to Household
records by clicking on the Places/Households link in the Sub-Menu at the left, or by clicking on the
1st Household No. hyperlink within any Individual and Relationship record.
- Source Records — A
Source record exists for every document
upon which our family history records are based. For example, each birth certificate, census record,
newspaper obituary, and photograph album has a corresponding Source record that identifies it.
The authenticity of a family history should be questioned unless there is an easy way to identify its
sources and establish their accuracy. A family history is only as valuable as its sources, and when
the sources and their origin are doubtful, the history is almost worthless. Source records are
our fundamental building blocks for assuring the accuracy and creditability of the Olson Family History.
To view the sources of our information, simply click on the Source hyperlinks within any of our
Individual, Relationship, or Household records.
- Photographs — A
Photograph record exists for each
photograph or engraving included in the Olson Family History. View photographs by clicking on any
of the thumbnail images that appear in many of the Individual, Relationship, Household, or Source
records. The Photograph will then appear with its full caption. You may click on the
image a second time to view the photograph in a larger window. If you are using a Firebox or Netscape
browser and the original photograph was large, click on the image a third time to view it as it was
originally scanned.
- Family Trees — The
Tree Records are new and only exist for a
few of the individuals at this web site. They provide a quick and convenient means of viewing a
three-generation ancestry chart. They are accessed from the bottom of those Individual Records that have
the following button:
.
More Tree Records will be added in the coming months.
Each of the above records is viewable as a separate web page. In addition, each record is identified with a unique number. These record numbers are identical to the record numbers in the Ancestors and Descendants (A&D) genealogy software with which the Olson Family History is maintained.
Each Individual, Relationship, Household, and Source record includes a Next Page
button and
hyperlink at the bottom right corner of its web page. Click on that button to go to
the next (numerically higher) Individual, Relationship, Household, or Source record.
The complete Olson Family History is supported by 1,315 fully indexed source records
collected over the last four decades. These source records include historical books,
photographs, census records, birth records,
marriage licenses and certificates, pension
records, land deeds and maps, divorce records, interview summaries, town directories,
voter lists, church membership lists, personal letters, newspaper
articles, death records and obituaries, funeral and cemetery records, etc.
The original or reproduced copy of each of these source documents is physically stored at the
Hancock residence within a 9" x 12" envelope that is identified by its unique Source Record
Number. These Source envelopes are then stored in banker boxes as shown in the photo at the right.
Hyperlinked citations to these source records provide a convenient and effective means of identifing and substantiating
the primary and secondary sources for all the family data on these web pages.
The codes "Aft", "Bef", "Exa", "Fam", "Cal", or "Cir" (for After, Before, Exact, Family-reported, Calculated, and Circa, respectively) are used in each date field to indicate the reliability and accuracy of the information presented.
As stated in our Privacy Policy, only information on deceased persons is posted on this web site. Although we have extensive information on living relatives, we are intentionally not putting it on the Internet. This is to avoid providing information that could potentially be used by criminals for illegal purposes. Family members who want access to this information may contact Karen Hancock via e-mail, telephone, or letter.
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