Hello and welcome back to the blog! I hope as always, I am finding you well in your research! Today I would like to present to you some helpful research techniques that might speed along your process and allow you to more effectively compile your family information. In the past we have talked about everything from different record types to research tools. If you are finding yourself stuck in other areas of research not discussed in this blog today, I highly encourage you to go look back at past blogs or check out my longer form webinar content.
As we have already covered, the first step in any good project is to set a goal. Please keep this goal in mind as we go through our other important techniques. Firstly, as any good genealogist knows, we must evaluate our sources. Keep these questions in mind as you sort through your information: is it accurate, are they reputable, do they seem logical? Asking yourself these questions as you sort through the stacks of records you may amass is key in helping you stay organized! This all leads to two other really important steps in maintaining your efficiency as a researcher: transferring information and organizing new records. Although organizing your research is something probably not unfamiliar to you, if you have kept up with past blogs, the idea of transferring your information might sound a little daunting. By this I mean that you might need to catalogue any new information and documentation you have found into your genealogy program of choice. I would recommend “Family Tree Maker”. Remember that if you have already been keeping good research habits, such as creating a research log this step should be pretty straight forward. If the idea of a research log is new to you, please see my blog on organizing genealogical research.
The above ideas of evaluating your sources, transferring information and organizing your research may seem simple, but they all allow you to spend less time worrying over the little things so that you can accomplish your goal and find the answers you may be seeking. As you do these simple three tasks, I also remind you to keep in mind your basic genealogy principles or habits if you will. Keep regularly researching, stay on top of organization, keep up with some sort of genealogical news source, digitize old photos, subscribe to a genealogy website, create a master family tree, set up a genealogy specific email, and of course seek help! I know that a lot of these tasks sound easy, but may in fact become confusing the more research and the more sources you gather. I urge you most specifically to keep organized, I cannot stress this enough. If you find yourself at any point stuck or confused with how to apply any of the research tips I have listed to your own personal project, do not hesitate to reach out and I will try my best to guide you in a better direction. Thank you all for reading and may you have the greatest of luck on your continued genealogical journey.
Winona I Laird “The Genealogy Granny”
