Indexes
One of the essential aspects of genealogical research is the index. Indexes are pointers to data; signposts to navigate our way through the never-ending mass of genealogical data.  As in a book, the index it is a quick way of finding reference to a particular item in which we are interested without reading or scanning the complete book.

Genealogical indexes exist is several forms.  Perhaps the most common are:

  • the micro-fiche: stores information on film as produced by a photographic process; needs a micro-fiche viewer to display the image on a screen; library based for most of us; slow access;
  • paper based: information printed to paper in a book and most likely stored and catalogued in a library; perhaps the most common resource in a well equipped genealogical library; easily accessible but cannot be updated without reprinting the complete index; portable and easily accessible in a library; slow access;
  • computer database: as we have illustrated with Family Search the data is stored on a massive computer database from which it is accessed by electronic means; the Internet is a growing technique for accessing a database of this type;
  • CD-ROM: genealogical records that have been keyed to a database in digital form and retrieved with software; written to a Compact Disk (CD-ROM ); displayed on a computer screen;  updated editions of CDs are relatively cheap compared with paper based or micro-fiche equivalents; portable and easily accessed from personal or public computer screens; available in good libraries; fast response to queries.
 
This course will focus on using indexes on CD-ROMs.  All the CDs that will be illustrated are available in most main and public libraries and/or specialist genealogical libraries. 
We will start the exploration of CD indexes by constructing a genealogical record of the family of Nicholas Clemens and Bridget Davis, pioneer settlers, farmers and miners from Harrietville, Victoria, Australia, during the latter half of the 19th century.
Therefore, we begin by opening a CD index called Pioneer Index, Victoria 1836-1888. 
[ Click here to continue ]
Contents  |   Previous