School and Alumni Association Records
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While it’s common for genealogists to review birth, death, and marriage records (to name just a few). One area that the “home” researcher might forget is reviewing school and alumni records. These have a lot of valuable information, if only from the vantage point of family stories.
For example, you may discover that the odd looking antique kept from school days by an ancestor was actually sports gear or something else equally interesting.
1. Registration Records: Most schools maintain these records for a very long time. They include a wealth of data including medical conditions, home address, parents names, birth date, and frequently inoculations (as well as physician who provided them).2. Transcripts: Here you’ll be able to review how your ancestor did in school. Since a variety of higher level institutions and businesses request these regularly you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting a hard copy. By the way, unique academic feats may appear in commentary here!
3. Yearbooks: A great pictorial review that illustrates the entire tone of the school in that era. Don’t overlook little details here – hobbies, groups, nicknames, awards, community involvement, etc.
4. Fellowships, Loans, Scholarships: Another item that many schools must keep track of and retain for several years. Additionally these are often tied to outside groups from whom you can collect more information.
5. Sorority & Fraternity Records: any group with whom your ancestor may have had a membership might also have some really juicy records about him or her in the archives!
6. Alumni Media: If the alumni association at a school provided a newsletter or directory, these materials will have more details about your ancestor’s accomplishments especially if they kept in touch after graduation.
Some regional libraries will house these books too if the local school only has more recent issues. Additionally, Alumni groups often maintain reunion records that include updated career paths, children, hobbies etc. Cross reference this information with microfilm newspaper files at the local library.
About the only limit here is that you need to have some idea where to begin the research (even a county will help you narrow things down).
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