BCG BCG Historical Records & Archives 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'research log' in BCG-level genealogical practice?
- To record only positive findings for inclusion in a final report
- To document all searches conducted, sources consulted, dates searched, and results — both positive and negative — to prevent duplication and support transparency (Correct answer)
- To list all archives visited during fieldwork
- To track billing hours for client projects
Correct answer: To document all searches conducted, sources consulted, dates searched, and results — both positive and negative — to prevent duplication and support transparency
A research log records every search attempted, enabling the genealogist to demonstrate exhaustive research and avoid repeating unsuccessful searches.
Question 2: Which land record type in the U.S. provides the most genealogically useful information by naming the grantor, grantee, legal description, and often witnesses?
- Plat maps
- Tax assessment rolls
- Deeds (Correct answer)
- Homestead entry papers
Correct answer: Deeds
Deeds record the transfer of property between named parties and often include witnesses, making them valuable for identifying family relationships and migration patterns.
Question 3: What is a 'derivative source' according to BCG's evidence framework?
- A record created by a government agency
- Any record that was created from an original, such as a transcription, abstract, index, or digital image (Correct answer)
- A record obtained from a secondary repository
- A document that includes hearsay information
Correct answer: Any record that was created from an original, such as a transcription, abstract, index, or digital image
A derivative source is any record that has been extracted, transcribed, abstracted, or reformatted from an original, introducing the possibility of transcription error.
Question 4: Which U.S. federal record series is particularly valuable for researching Native American genealogy and tribal membership prior to 1940?
- Homestead Act entry files
- Dawes Rolls and related enrollment records (Correct answer)
- Social Security Death Index
- Freedmen's Bureau records
Correct answer: Dawes Rolls and related enrollment records
The Dawes Rolls, created 1898–1914, enumerate members of the Five Civilized Tribes and are foundational records for Native American genealogical research in Oklahoma.
Question 5: When should a BCG-level genealogist consult church records in addition to civil vital records?
- Only when civil records are unavailable
- When researching any period or locality where churches recorded baptisms, marriages, or burials before or alongside civil registration (Correct answer)
- Only for immigrant research
- Only for records predating 1850
Correct answer: When researching any period or locality where churches recorded baptisms, marriages, or burials before or alongside civil registration
Church records often predate civil registration and may provide additional details such as sponsors, witnesses, and parents not captured in civil documents.
Question 6: What is the significance of the 1890 U.S. Census for genealogical research?
- It was the first census to record exact ages
- It included a special veterans schedule with military service details
- Most of it was destroyed in a 1921 fire, creating a significant gap in the record
- Both B and C are correct (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C are correct
The 1890 census included a special veterans schedule and was largely destroyed by fire in 1921, leaving a significant gap between the 1880 and 1900 censuses for genealogists.
BCG BCG Historical Records & Archives 2
What is the purpose of a 'research log' in BCG-level genealogical practice?