Events in Gramps

Here an overview of the predefined events in GRAMPS are given, with their meaning.

Events and event types

Events form a core concept in genealogical research. It is important therefore that the terminology and usage is consistent and well defined, so as to allow for optimal communication, translation and portability.

In GRAMPS you define an event as belonging to a event type. This is useful as it allows the grouping of events under a common denominator, the event type. When creating an event, you must first select the event type. This can be any of the predefined events, or you can create a custom event just by typing a name.

Defining too many event types can be problematic, and in many cases it might be better practice to group events under the same event type, and instead use the description field to add an extra nuance.

Let us first provide an overview of the predefined events types available in GRAMPS, and then later mention event types that are not in that list.

Event types available in GRAMPS

The use of most event types is self explanatory, and the best way to familiarise yourself with them is simply to set to and dabble! However some events need more careful use, and introduce concepts that are not at first obvious.

Adopted

This type is for events related to childhood adoption. Typically the event is added to the individual being adopted, with this person playing the primary role. Administrators, civil servants and parents can be added to the event with other event roles

The adoption event can be added for the process of adoption (which can take several months), but also as a placeholder for an adoption certificate that you have as a source.

On adding the person to the family he is adopted into, one should also set his relationship with his adoptive parents to adopted. This doubles the event information somewhat, but is used in some reports.

Event types not available in GRAMPS

Draft lottery

Draft lottery was a general practise to determine who should do military service. Before the advent of a professional army, it was not feasible to train all young boys, so a selection was needed: who should join the force and who should not. To make this fair, a lottery was generally organised to which all boys of certain age had to participate. The documents of these lotteries form an interesting source of genealogical information, as all boys where required to participate.

This event type should be used for all events surrounding the draft lottery:

• the lottery itself. This happened in a place on a specific date.
• legal documents referring to the lottery. Rich boys who had to join the army due to the lottery generally paid commoners to go in their place instead. Legal contracts where drafted for this.
• desertion documents concerning the lottery. Many people having to go in the army due to the lottery, immigrated abroad, with the consequence that they are flagged as deserters in their home country. In genealogical research this event can be very difficult to trace, as deserters often changed their name