Kudos to anyone embarking on their own research project! Documenting your family's history is a worthwhile and meaningful endeavor, and not everyone is able to work with a professional genealogist.
I enjoy guiding folks on their research adventure, whether through short coaching sessions (pick my brain!) or by offering a few tips for getting started.
Genealogy Research Tips
Whenever I work with a client who is just getting started with a genealogy project, I offer these helpful tips:
Start with what you already know and work your way backwards up your family line. You might be surprised by how much you already know! Begin by documenting your own personal information (birth date/location, marriage date/location, children's’ birth dates/locations, etc.) and that of your parents and grandparents (if known). Make note of missing information or discrepancies. Reach out to other family members to fill in the gaps. Document this information on individual or family group sheets (see below).
Gather personal records or memorabilia that may help you build your foundation information, including family photo albums, scrapbooks, bibles, military, or other records.
Work on one family line and/or ancestor at a time. Seriously. Tackling too many lines or people at a time quickly becomes confusing, especially if your research includes common or repeating family names.
Research one question at a time. It’s easy to get lost in the search and excited by unanticipated results. One research inquiry may lead to a dozen new questions. Make note of those questions (or new resources) but stay focused on your task at hand. For example, “What was my maternal grandmother’s birth, marriage and death dates and locations” or “I’m looking for my great grandfather’s WWII military service record” are good, focused research questions. “I want to learn everything I can about my father’s family” is not.
Get organized! Create folders and boxes for each family line and individual that you research. Record your research findings on pedigree charts or other paper forms including individual or family group sheets. If you’re working primarily with digitized or electronic documents, create a folder and file structure in Google Drive or Dropbox, and back up your documents on a regular basis. Store your physical research in a secure, climate controlled environment. Avoid attic and basement spaces if possible. Bugs, humidity, dust, etc. are not our friends.
Document your research efforts in a journal or research log of some sort. This will help you save time and potential for redundant research down the road. Be sure to cite your sources and the result of each research interaction. Where did you look? What was your search strategy and the result? Any follow-up steps? Contact information for a helpful librarian? Document the records collections, book or publication titles, and any websites/URLs you found to be helpful.
Do your own research. Don’t trust family lore or another person’s research that you may have discovered online or received from a distant family member. Verify their results by conducting your own research. Double-check citations and source information.
When in doubt, ask a librarian! Your local library or historical society has staff trained to support this type of research. They maintain a wealth of knowledge about genealogy resources and tools. Give ‘em a call or email, or stop by for in-person assistance.
Tobias History Research is a premier provider of history research and archives management services. With 20+ years of professional experience, founder Vicki Tobias helps clients expertly discover their history and enthusiastically share their story. Learn more about her services.