How to Write a Genealogical Query

By: Nancy P. Goodman;
Genealogy Instructor for Senior Citizens

Copyright by Nancy P. Goodman, Feb. 3, 1996

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• If you are researching your family history, you may want to submit a question or 'query' to be published in some publication or in a genealogy magazine or newsletter. A "Query" - if effectively written - can sometimes bring great results in your search for specific information on that 'elusive' ancestor.
  
  In order to write an effective query, you might use the following guidelines:
  

  STYLE:

• 1. TYPE OR PRINT PLAINLY. You want to make it easy to read for the person editing your query.
• 2. MAKE YOUR QUERY SHORT AND KEEP IT TO THE POINT. Your query will have a better chance of being published if you do not ramble on or try to tell your life's history all in one letter.
• 3. DOUBLE SPACE YOUR QUERY EVEN IF IT IS HANDWRITTEN. Again, you want to make it easy for the editor to read.
• 4. PAPER - USE STANDARD-SIZED 8 1/2 x 11" PAPER - typing paper, notebook paper or letter-sized pad.
  DO NOT USE small notepads, cards, or irregular sized paper.
  USE ONE SIDE OF THE PAPER ONLY.
  Your editor may be dealing with many, many letters and irregular-sized paper or letters with writing on both sides may 'get lost in the shuffle'.
• 5. CAPITALIZE ALL LAST NAMES (SURNAMES)- including the maiden name and previous married names of female ancestors, such as:
  Annie Elizabeth JONES PHILLIPS
  Janie JOHNSON NAPIER MULLINS
  

  CONTENT:

  :

• 1. NAMES - Use complete names, as far as the information is available to you, such as: John William JACKSON, rather than John W. JACKSON or John JACKSON. There may be fifty John Jackson's in the 1850 census, and there may be ten John W. Jackson's, but there may be only one or two John William Jackson's listed.
• 2. DATES OR TIME PERIODS - Give complete dates as far as you know, or at least estimated dates of each event, such as:
  Born 05 May 1820; married 10 Oct 1838; died 01 Jan 1850 or:
  born ca (about) 1820; married ca (about) 1840; died ca (about) 1850.
• 3. PLACES - try to give a county, state or area, etc., for each event, even if it is followed by a question mark, such as:
  Ezekiel J. PHILLIPS, born ca (about) 1778 in Maryland (?); married Mary ____ (last name unknown); Mary was born in North Carolina (?) about 1778. They were in Robertson County, Tenn. by 1820. Who were his parents? Or brothers and sisters? What was Mary's maiden name? When and where were they married?
  Ezekiel J. PHILLIPS, died without a will in 1851 in Robertson County, Tenn. There was an 'estate sale' to dispose of his possessions after his death. Included in the sale items was the "Phillips Family Bible", which was bought by "A. Appleton" for $1.50. Does this Bible still exist? Does anyone know where Ezekiel is buried?
  
• 4. VERY IMPORTANT - DO NOT ABBREVIATE ANY WORDS IN YOUR QUERY - Each publication, including newspapers, will make a decision as to whether or not to abbreviate words. To be certain your query is fully understood, you should write each word fully and not use 'genealogy jargon'. After all, the Editor is there to edit, so let him do his job.
  
• 5. REMEMBER TO PROOFREAD YOUR QUERY BEFORE YOU SEND IT - It is easier to correct mistakes BEFORE they are published.
  
• 6. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST - MAKE SURE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ARE INCLUDED and PRINTED PLAINLY - You might be surprised at the people who forget to include their mailing address, or their writing is not legible. Include your phone number if you wish, and if you are "online", also include your 'Email address'.
  

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  HOW TO 'READ' A GENEALOGICAL QUERY:

  By Nancy P. Goodman, Genealogy Instructor, Senior Citizens of Nashville, Inc. Copyright by Nancy P. Goodman, 1996.

  Some typical abbreviations which may be used by genealogy magazines are:

• Date of birth = DOB
• Date of death = DOD
• circa (about) = ca or c.
• born = b. or B.
• died = d. or D.
• married = m. or M.
• husband = h. or H.
• wife = w. or W.
• child = c.
• father = f. or F.
• mother = mor. or Mor.
• daughter = dau.
• son = sn.
• census = cn
• spouse = sp. or Sp.
  If you hear the term 'daughtered out', this refers to the fact that a particular family line had no male issue to carry on the family name, or if there was male issue, then there was no next generation of male issue, only daughters - thus, that family line 'daughtered out'.
  
  

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  All rights reserved by:
  Nancy P. Goodman,
  PO Box 863;
  Hendersonville, TN 37077
  Last updated on Monday, September 23, 1996 - 8:57:27 PM.
  
  Copies of this article are available for a nominal charge for distribution to genealogical societies or groups.
  Contact the author 'ONLINE' at: [Genny1@aol.com] or at the mailing address given above.
  
  Return to my Home Page [Home Page}

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  GENEALOGY AND TENNESSEE has been on the WWW since January 27. 1996.
  Changes and updates last made on this page on: Dec 1, 1996  in Tennessee by
  Nancy P. Goodman. All rights reserved.

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