BCG BCG Historical Records & Archives 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which U.S. federal record group at the National Archives contains population schedules from the decennial census dating back to 1790?
- Record Group 15
- Record Group 29 (Correct answer)
- Record Group 60
- Record Group 75
Correct answer: Record Group 29
Record Group 29 at the National Archives contains U.S. Census Bureau records, including all surviving population schedules from 1790 onward.
Question 2: What is a 'soundex' code and why is it used in genealogical research?
- A digital index of military service records
- A phonetic coding system that groups surnames with similar sounds, used to index records like the 1880–1920 U.S. censuses (Correct answer)
- A standardized citation format for archival documents
- A method for transcribing handwritten vital records
Correct answer: A phonetic coding system that groups surnames with similar sounds, used to index records like the 1880–1920 U.S. censuses
Soundex is a phonetic indexing system that groups surnames by sound rather than spelling, helping researchers find records when name spellings varied.
Question 3: Which type of U.S. record typically provides the most detailed information about an individual's birthplace, parents' birthplaces, and cause of death?
- Voter registration records
- Death certificates (Correct answer)
- Tax lists
- Land grants
Correct answer: Death certificates
U.S. death certificates commonly capture birthplace, parents' names and birthplaces, occupation, and cause of death, making them among the most informative vital records.
Question 4: Under BCG standards, why must a genealogist evaluate the informant's knowledge when assessing a vital record?
- To determine whether the record can be cited
- To assess whether the informant had firsthand knowledge of the facts recorded, which affects the reliability of individual data points (Correct answer)
- To comply with state privacy laws
- To calculate the record's age and eligibility for public release
Correct answer: To assess whether the informant had firsthand knowledge of the facts recorded, which affects the reliability of individual data points
An informant's proximity to the event determines whether the information is primary or secondary, directly affecting how much weight the evidence receives.
Question 5: What does 'original record' mean in BCG's evidence terminology?
- The oldest known copy of a document
- The first-generation record created at or near the time of an event, as opposed to a derivative (Correct answer)
- A record stored in a government archive
- A handwritten document as opposed to a printed one
Correct answer: The first-generation record created at or near the time of an event, as opposed to a derivative
An original record is the first-generation document created at or near the time of the event, before any transcription, abstraction, or digitization has occurred.
Question 6: Which U.S. repository holds the largest collection of passenger arrival records for immigrants entering through the port of New York?
- The Library of Congress
- The National Archives and Records Administration (Correct answer)
- The New York State Archives
- The Ellis Island Foundation Archive
Correct answer: The National Archives and Records Administration
NARA holds the official passenger manifests and arrival records for the Port of New York and other U.S. ports of entry as part of its federal immigration record holdings.
BCG BCG Historical Records & Archives 1
Which U.S. federal record group at the National Archives contains population schedules from the decennial census dating back to 1790?