ROYALTY, NOBILITY AND MEDIEVAL
RESEARCH WEBSITE & CLASS

Los Angeles Regional Family History Center
Instructor - Jon Schweitzer
Revised 3 May 2007 by Jon Schweitzer

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Additional information may be found in my Red 3 Ring Notebooks: "Royalty, Nobility and Mediaeval Research", "Ancestral File Research", "IGI Research" and "Computer - PAF- Utilities" Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Copies of this class handout and all transparencies shown in this class are in my Red 3 Ring Notebook "Royalty, Nobility and Mediaeval Research".

These notebooks and others are located next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in alphabetical order.

See a complete list of my 75 Red 3 Ring Self-Help Notebooks at http://www.larfhc.org/notebooks.htm

One must make a reliable royal and/or noble connection before proceeding with the extensive research required.

Our Special Royal Visitor Speaks

Buy a title for yourself. T1(overhead transparency no. 1)-T2

UNIQUE RESEARCH AREA
You can't research the original documents.
You must rely on other people's work and the best printed sources.

OBJECTIVES
Find and store the best data, correct the database using the easiest and fastest methods and record the sources.
These objectives can be accomplished using the following 6 steps:
Find and enter computer Ancestral File data into your PAF
    (Personal Ancestral File Program), using GEDCOM.
Enter all good sources into the notes section of your PAF.
Obtain other people's GEDCOM data and add to your PAF.
Correct and add to the resulting database, using the computer IGI.
Correct and add to the resulting database, using the best printed sources.
Use the "How to Add Sources Efficiently to a Genealogy Program" at the Web site http://www.encinojon.com/addsources/ T3-T4

INTERLOCKING SOURCES
When ending with one source on a line and starting with another source, the best documentation of sources is to have a "three point" interlocking of the two sources. The two sources should agree on the same "three points" of child, father and mother and both sources should be listed for all three persons.
Start listing all of your documentation in your notes on PAF (Personal Ancestral File). See the "PAF Documentation Guidelines" in my "Computer-PAF-Utilities" Vol. 1 Red 3 Ring Notebook.

ITEMS REQUIRED
Computer--IBM or clone, PAF Program, Lastest Anti-Virus Program and Printer

ATTEND OTHER CLASSES
Attended my PAF for IBM - Intermediate and Advanced Class

SOURCE RATINGS
My ratings of the sources below are numbered 1 to 10. Number 10 is the best. The rating is shown with the letter "R" for "rating", the rating number and the reason. Example: R6 - errors.

ANCESTRAL FILE GIVEN NAMES AND SURNAMES
Your royal and noble ancestors might be listed with different given names and different surnames than you think. You must search all possible variations of the names. The person might be indexed by given name, surname or nickname. When the person did not have a "fixed" surname, the surname should be the name of the country or area where the person held the highest title. Example: The surname of King Henry VIII in the Ancestral File is "ENGLAND". T5

USING THE COMPUTER ANCESTRAL FILE AND GEDCOM DATA
See my notebook, "Ancestral File Research". The fastest way to start to build your database is to find your royal or noble connection in the Ancestral File and make a GEDCOM file. You must use the Lastest Anti-Virus Program on all disks you make or receive. This is not the best source because of the large amount of errors, but it will give you a large percentage of correct lines on which to build and correct. R6 - errors and no sources unless you contact the submitter using F9 on the keyboard or obtain the "submission sheets" on microfilm.

OBTAINING GEDCOM FROM THE ANCESTRAL FILE SUBMITTERS
Print out the names and addresses of the submitters from the Ancestral File using F9. Attempt to exchange with them at least GEDCOM files for the specific ancestral lines. R7 - errors and usually, no sources. You must use the Lastest Anti-Virus Program on all disks you make or receive.

ENTERING SUBMITTERS GEDCOM
Make and keep a separate empty PAF file for reviewing and editing any GEDCOM. Make another separate PAF file for the royalty and nobility. Make a backup disk before adding any GEDCOM to the royalty and nobility file.

ANCESTRAL FILE SUBMISSION SHEETS MIGHT HAVE SOURCES
Obtain the microfilm of the Ancestral File* "submission sheets". The microfilm number is in the lower right hand portion of the submitter's screen using F9. The best sheets will be the ones submitted by the Genealogical Department Royal Identification Unit (Family History Department Medieval Families Unit) because they alway have excellent sources. T6-T7

USING THE COMPUTER IGI DATABASE AND GEDCOM DATA
See my notebook, "IGI Research". Search the computer IGI database using the same "name" methods as the Ancestral File. This database is poor to fair because of the large quantity of errors. Entering date years less than 1000 must start with a zero. Place all individuals and families in the "Holding File" and then download the "Holding File" onto a disk as a GEDCOM or ASCII file. Use the GEDCOM and PAF utility "IGI255" to print out a report. R5 - many errors and no sources.

SURNAME PROBLEMS, DECISIONS AND ERRORS
You will have to make many hard decisions about which names and dates to use for individuals. You will find there are many errors in the Ancestral File, IGI and other people's GEDCOM files. Use the PAF "tools": "Possible Record Problems", "End-of-Line Individuals" and "Print List of Possible Matches" to improve your database.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEARLY PERFECT PRINTED SOURCE
The work was done by an extremely experienced and knowledgeable genealogist.
All sources used for each person are cited.
All family details are shown.
There are very few errors.
All known places and complete dates are stated.
Published in the last 20 years.
Revisions and new editions are published with corrections.
This means that most family histories and most other sources are not good sources.

ENTER SOURCES
Wait until you have firm, ancestral lines before you hand enter, from any printed sources, the balance of children, if any, in each family.

Use the the " How to Add Sources Efficiently to a Genealogy Program" at the Web site http://www.encinojon.com/addsources/

BEST LOCAL SOURCES ( Sources with *** are in this Family History Center )
"Europaische Stammtafeln", a set of more than 16 volumes by Mr. Detlev Schwennicke, 1978-1990, large and detailed genealogical tables in German of royal and noble families in Germany and Europe. Corrections are in a few volumes that follow the entries. A general name index is in volume XIII. This set was recommended by Mr. Robert C. Gunderson, the Senior Royalty Research Specialist in the now extinct Medieval Families Unit in the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City. To date, this is the best single most comprehensive source for European royalty and nobility that I have found anywhere.
At this time there are 14 volumes at the Los Angeles City Central Library in the Genealogy Section on floor LL4 (fR 929.7 E895). Look on the oversize and folio shelves for them. If you do not find them, order them pulled from the closed stacks. Make copies of all pertinent pages. Bring at least $5.00 in change. Also consider buying a copy machine debit card at the Reference Desk on floor LLI.
Bring a $5 bill to buy the card from the card machine. Saturdays and Sundays are the best for parking at $1.00 to $2.20 for all day. In the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the set is in the Europe Area (940 D5es). R9 - superior genealogist, lists sources and has most family details, a few printing errors and lists corrections in later volumes. T8-T16
"Matrilineal Descents of the European Royalty - A Work in Progress", a microfiche set by Mr. William Addams Reitwiesner, 4th Edition, 1993. A unique and superb work of each mother's mother's, etc. ancestral line. This is located in the microfiche area of the Los Angeles Central Library in the Genealogy Section on floor LL4 (NHR 929.7 R379). R8 - excellent genealogist, lists sources for each person, lacks places and dates details, new editions released periodically.
This work might develop into the "best" source if the author includes the places and dates details. The author types the copy, which eliminates the extra chances of printing errors and he releases new, improved editions about every two years.
"The Plantagenet Ancestry", by George Andrews Moriarity, About 1960, FHL Call No. British Book Area 929.242 P694m, LAPL Call No. 929.721 P713Mo, FHL Film No. 441438 British Area***. R8 - one of best medieval genealogist and there are additions and corrections, hard to read, has sources.
"Nachkommen Gorms Des Alten", by S. Otto Brenner, 1964, LAPL Call No. fR929.789 B838, FHL Film No. 897500 Scandinavia Area***. R8 - excellent genealogist, few errors and has sources.
"Ancestral File: Submission Sheets", by Genealogical Department Royal Identification Unit (Family History Dept. Medieval Families Unit), FHL Film No. 1394478, AF 87C-001315 to AF 87C-001328. Very early Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) Family Group Sheets***. R8 - good sources.
"Ancestral File: Submission Sheets", by Genealogical Department Royal Identification Unit (Family History Dept. Medieval Families Unit), FHL Film No.
1394475, AF 87C-000205 to AF 87C-000223. Very early Poland Family Group Sheets***. R8 - good sources.
"Ancestral File: Submission Sheets", by Genealogical Department Royal Identification Unit (Family History Dept. Medieval Families Unit), FHL Film No. 1394476, AF 87-000771. Very early Hungary Family Group Sheets***.
R8 - good Sources.
"Ancestral File: Submission Sheets", submitted by Fern Stevens and made by Sanford August Johnson about 1952, FHL Film No. 1512632, AF 89-006575 to AF 89-006577. Very early Scandinavian and England Family Group Sheets***. R7.
"The Plantagenet Ancestry", W. H. Turton, 1928, FHL Film No. 87859***, LAPL Call No. GEN R 929.721 P713TU. R7- many errors and lacks family details.
"Royal Ancestors of Some American Families", Michel L. Call, 1989 (973 D2ca)***. A new Vol. 2 might be purchased soon. R7 - errors and lacks family details.
"Genealogies of European Families from Charlemagne to the Present Date", Gerald Paget, 1957, FHL film numbers 170050-170062 European Area***. R7 - errors.
"Magna Charta - Families of Royal Descent", by John S. Wurts, Parts 1- 8 in 7 Volumes, 1939 - 1958?, LAPL Gen R 929.72 W969A, FHL Call No. 942 D2wj***. R7 - good detail, lacks most sources.
"Dictionary of Royal Lineage of Europe and other Countries", by Carl Magnus Allstrom, 2 Volumes (Volume 1 - 1902, LAPL Call No. GEN 929.7 A442, FHL Call No. 940 D56ac*** and (Volume 2 - 1904, LAPL Call No. GEN 929.7 A442, FHL Film No. 1181544 - Europe*** ). R7 - many errors and lacks family details. T21-T22
"Manuel d' Historie, de Genealogie et de Chronologie de tons lesetats de Globe (Genealogy of all the Countries of the World)", by A. M. H. J. Stakvis, in French, 1966 - reprint of 1888 to 1893, 3 Volumes, (V1 - 2, FHL Film No. 1059451 - Europe*** and V3, FHL Film No. 1059452 - Europe***). R7 - lacks family details.
"Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe", Jiri Louda and Michael
Macclagan(940 D6Lh)***. R6 - errors and lacks most family details. T22-T24

SOURCES AT THE LOS ANGELES CITY CENTRAL LIBRARY (LAPL)
"Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to American before 1700", (title changed from book below) by Frederick Lewis Weis, Seventh Edition, 1992, LAPL Call No.Gen R 974 W426. R8 - very good reputation, many corrections made over the years in all the editions.
"Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England between 1623 and 1650", (title changed for book above) by Frederick Lewis Weis, Sixth Edition, 1988, LAPL Call No. Gen 974 W426, may be checked out, make copies of corrections from above newest edition. R8 - very good reputation, many corrections made over the years in all the editions.
"Descents from Antiquity", by Augustan Society, 1986, LAPL Call No.
R 929.7 D4455. R7 - good charts, no sources.
"Pedigree and Progress", by Sir Anthony Wagner, 1975, LAPL Call No. 929.01 W132. R7 - excellent genealogist, good charts, lacks family details.
"The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales", by Gerald Paget, 2 Volumes, 1977, LAPL Call No. GEN R 929.721 P135, FHL Call No. 942 D22pg British Q Area. R7 - excellent genealogist.
"Roman Empire", by H. Stuart Jones, 1908, LAPL Call No. 937.06 J77. R6
"Stammtafeln" by H. Grote - Genealogical tables in Old German of royal and noble families in Germany and Europe (GEN. 929.7 G881) at the Los Angeles City Central Library - order it on an inter branch or interlibrary loan. R6 - errors and lacks most family details.

See some selected pages from these sources which are in my Red 3 Ring Notebook, "Royalty, Nobility and Mediaeval Research". T25-T26

NAME PROBLEMS
Even if the persons are listed in the above sources, it will frequently be very difficult to find them because of the various names used to list them and the language that was used. Examples: The surname Sachsen in German is Saxony in English. The given name Karl I in German is Charlemagne in French and English.

USE PAF FOCUS TO FIND - REVIEW - EDIT
Use the Focus feature of the PAF program to view or print all persons with a given name. Use it to review all notes that have a name or "Tag".

CLEANUP DATABASE
There will be a very heavy merging of names and correction of dates.
Always make a backup disk before adding a GEDCOM file, merging or using the PAF utilities programs.
Use the PAF utilities programs "Reclaim", "Notcln", "Namecln" and "Forest" to check and clean your database, only if you are an experienced computer user.
Estimate all the missing dates and enter them as "Abt".

USE EXTERNAL UTILITIES
Details about many External PAF utilities and "Readmes" may be found in my Red 3 Ring Notebook, "Computer - PAF - Utilities", Vol. 1.
Buy the zipped 2 -- 3.5" HD disk set of about 41 of the best PAF Shareware/Freeware Utilities direct from the distributor and everyone's PAF Utilities Angel, Joan Lowery Enterprises, 7371 Rue Michael, La Jolla, CA 92037 for the rock bottom price of only $6.86 that includes shipping handling and CA sales tax.

PRINTING WORKING CHARTS AND FAMILY GROUP SHEETS
At first print only the working pedigree charts. After you have solid lines using the best printed sources, you can print the working Family Group Sheets without the documentation sheets. Write in the sources next to each person's name. Enter and check off each correction or addition into PAF using the "Paper Clip" method as show on the attached sheet. Make additions and corrections to the Family Group Sheets. Print out the documentation sheets much later.
Use a "fall in correct order" tray if your printed sheets come out of the printer.
Use ink cartridge refills if your printer uses liquid ink.
Buy printer paper at discount office supply stores for about $20 per case.

WORKING PEDIGREE CHARTS
Look for corrections and extensions of your end-of-line individuals by bringing your working pedigree charts to:
A FHC to look in the Ancestral File and IGI and other sources.
The Los Angeles Public Library to look at the"Europaische Stammtafein" volumes, " Matrilineal Descents of the European Royalty" and other sources.

COMPUTER SCANNING
You may enter printed information you find into the PAF "notes" by using a scanner. Place the scanned data into an ASCII text file and use the PAF utility program, "Import", to place the data into the notes of a specific person.

HISTORICAL ATLASES IN THIS LIBRARY
The Anchor Atlas of World History", Vol. 1 (909 K575)
"Atlas of Medieval Europe" (Map Area 911.4 E7m)
"The Penguin Atlas of Medieval History" (909 E7m)

SUBMITTING CORRECTIONS
Do not submit Ancestral File corrections, new data and sources for persons before 1500 to the Family History Library or the now extinct Family History Library's Medieval Families' Unit.

MORE READING AND RESEARCH
See the Black 3 Ring Notebook, "Instruction Manual - Medieval British Isles", located in the office and the new wonderful "Medieval Families Data Entry Companion" in my "Royalty, Nobility and Mediaeval Research" Red 3 Ring notebook. They were both furnished by Debbie Latimer of the now extinct Family History Library's Medieval Families' Unit in Salt Lake City.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE LOS ANGELES CITY CENTRAL LIBRARY
Check them out or order them on an interbranch or intralibrary loan.
"Early Medieval Europe 300-1000" by Roger Collins (940.1 C7115), a small
book, but the best Notes and Bibliography sections I have ever seen.
"Western Europe in the Middle Ages 300-1475" by Brian Tierney and Sidney Painter (940.1 T564A), a good general book.
"The Middle Ages" by Morris Bishop (940.1 B622), a good little book about the nobility, ordinary people and everyday life.

HELPFUL INTERNET SITES - Active Links
http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/genealogy/GEDCOM.html
Royal and Noble Genealogical Data on the Web

http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/genealogy/royal/catalog.html#Catalog
Catalog of Royal Family Lineages

http://www.cyndislist.com/royalty.htm
Royalty & Nobility Web links

http://users.erols.com/wrei/faqs/medieval.html
Frequently Asked Questions for soc.genealogy.medieval

http://www8.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/html/chl-enter.html
Descendants of Charlemagne

http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/royalgen.html
Royal Genealogies -- Menu

http://www.encinojon.com/Royalgen/
Royalty and Nobility Genealogy Database with Sources on computer disks for Sale!

http://www.encinojon.com/addsources/
How to add sources efficiently to a genealogy program

http://habitant.org/tools/esnotes.htm
Europäische Stammtafeln notes

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