Future Research Projects

The McCreary family heritage offers numerous opportunities for collaborative research that can deepen our understanding of the family's history and preserve it for future generations. Here are projects that family members of all skill levels can participate in:

Genealogical Research Projects

DNA Database Expansion

Work with other McCreary/McCrary families to build a comprehensive genetic database that can help connect distant branches and verify documented lineages. Participants can contribute DNA test results, compare matches, and help identify previously unknown family connections. This project would benefit from coordination with surname studies and Scottish-Irish genetic research initiatives.

Ulster Origins Documentation

Systematically research and document which specific townlands, parishes, and counties in Ulster different McCreary families emigrated from. This involves examining passenger lists, land records, church registers, and estate papers in Irish archives. Creating a database linking American McCreary families to specific Ulster locations would help others trace their roots.

Spelling Variation Catalog

Compile a comprehensive list of all documented spelling variations of the surname (MacRory, McRory, McCrary, MacCrary, etc.) with examples of when and where each variation appeared. This would include analyzing how the name evolved in different regions and time periods, which can help researchers recognize their family in historical records.

Archival Research Projects

Land Records Survey

Conduct a systematic survey of land records in key McCreary settlement areas (Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina). Document land grants, deeds, surveys, and tax records that mention McCreary families. Creating an indexed database would make it easier for family members to trace land ownership patterns and migration routes.

Church Records Documentation

Locate and transcribe Presbyterian church records from congregations where McCreary families worshipped. Session minutes, membership rolls, baptismal records, and marriage records often contain valuable genealogical information and insights into family relationships and community life.

Military Service Documentation

Research and compile records of McCreary family military service from the American Revolution through modern conflicts. This includes pension applications (which often contain detailed biographical information), service records, unit histories, and veterans' organization memberships.

Oral History Projects

Elder Interview Initiative

Conduct video or audio recorded interviews with the oldest generation of family members to capture their memories, stories, and knowledge before this information is lost. Use standardized interview questions to ensure consistency while allowing for personal storytelling. Topics should include family traditions, migration stories, occupations, daily life, and family relationships.

Story Collection and Preservation

Gather written family stories, letters, diaries, and personal accounts from family members. Transcribe handwritten documents, scan photographs and documents, and organize these materials into a searchable digital archive. Include context and identification of people, places, and events mentioned.

Historical Context Research

Community History Studies

Research the broader communities where McCreary families settled. Document the development of local Presbyterian churches, schools, businesses, and civic institutions. Understanding the community context helps explain family decisions and experiences.

Scotch-Irish Cultural Documentation

Study and document traditional Scotch-Irish cultural practices maintained by McCreary families, including foodways, music, language, customs, and craft traditions. Interview family members about traditions they remember and document recipes, songs, and practices that might otherwise be forgotten.

Migration Pattern Analysis

Map and analyze McCreary family migration patterns from Ulster through multiple generations in America. Why did families choose certain destinations? How did chain migration work? What economic and social factors influenced movement? This project combines genealogy, geography, and social history.

Digital Humanities Projects

Interactive Family Timeline

Create a comprehensive, interactive timeline linking McCreary family events to broader historical contexts. This would expand on the existing timeline to include specific family stories, photographs, and documents tied to historical events. Family members could contribute entries about their own branches.

Mapping Project

Develop interactive maps showing McCreary family locations over time. This could include origins in Scotland and Ulster, American settlements, and current family distributions. Layers could show migration routes, concentration areas, and connections between branches.

Website Content Development

Contribute written content, photographs, documents, and other materials to build out the various sections of the McCreary heritage website. Opportunities include writing biographical sketches, transcribing documents, scanning and cataloging photographs, and creating educational resources.

Specialized Research Topics

Occupational History Study

Research the occupations and economic activities of McCreary families across generations. How did work patterns change over time and place? What skills and trades were passed down? How did economic conditions affect family decisions?

Religious History Research

Document the religious life of McCreary families, particularly their involvement in Presbyterian churches. Research includes church founding, leadership roles, theological traditions, and how religious practices evolved in America.

Women's History Project

Focus specifically on McCreary women, who are often less documented in traditional genealogical records. Research women's roles in family life, education, religion, work, and community. Recover stories of daughters, wives, mothers, and widows.

Naming Patterns Analysis

Study naming patterns in McCreary families across generations. Which names recur? How were children named? What can naming patterns tell us about family relationships and values? This can also help identify family connections.

Collaborative Projects

Record Transcription Teams

Form teams to transcribe handwritten historical records that mention McCreary families. This could include census records, wills, deeds, court records, and family Bibles. Making these records searchable benefits all family researchers.

Photograph Identification Project

Collect unidentified family photographs from different family branches and work collectively to identify people, places, dates, and contexts. Often someone from another branch of the family can identify people unknown to the photograph's current owner.

Cemetery Documentation

Visit and photograph McCreary graves, recording inscriptions and cemetery locations. Create a comprehensive database of burial locations. This preserves information from deteriorating stones and helps family members locate ancestral graves.

Getting Started

Most of these projects welcome participants with varying levels of experience and time commitment. Whether you can devote hours each week or just contribute occasionally, there's a way to participate. Many projects can be done remotely using online resources, while others involve visiting archives, libraries, or family sites.

To begin participating in these research projects, contact the website administrators to express interest and find out which projects currently need researchers. Many projects provide training materials and mentorship for new researchers.

The collective knowledge of the extended McCreary family is vast. By working together, family members can preserve and expand our understanding of our shared heritage for future generations.