Abstract: Genealogical research can be very exciting; however, it can quickly become overwhelming. Follow these five quick tips before you begin your search to lay a strong foundation that will empower you to keep searching.
1. Begin with your Roots
It may be tempting to start with the most intriguing part of your lineage such as an old immigration record or military draft card. However, in order to set yourself up for success, the best way to start your genealogical journey is to lay a strong foundation. Start with yourself and confirming information for all of your closest family members initially, you will have more clues to lead you in the right direction when you are further along with your research.
2. Do not make assumptions
One of the most rewarding parts of your genealogical search is when you can follow a clue into a new discovery. However, skepticism will be your greatest tool when gathering and analyzing your information. Although stories and records can seem relevant at the time, validate your sources to ensure you are not making an assumption that can lead you down the wrong path. Also, record your information in pencil to allow yourself the room to make changes when you find new evidence.
3. Stories are often exaggerated
Many families’ histories include legends and traditions passed from one generation to another. These stories can be helpful and enlightening as they can provide context and clues to your search. However, it is important to separate fact from fiction. It will be your mission to prove the validity of your family legends to ensure you can use the information to aid in your search. For example, many families have a tradition that their surname was changed at Ellis Island. This never happened at all. Read more in the Myth of Ellis Island. http://blog.mocavo.com/2012/09/the-myth-of-ellis-island
4. Be sensitive to skeletons in the closet
Although we like to view our past in a positive perspective, there are sometimes sensitive matters that a family has encountered in the past. Situations such as divorce and adoption should be handled with respect and care so as not to offend living relatives that may have been impacted by the circumstance. When you encounter these situations, respectfully ask relatives that may have been impacted by the situation if they are uncomfortable with you investigating the matter. If they are uncomfortable, try to only obtain the necessary information you will need to move on to the next generation, and then let the situation rest. You can resume your search through other avenues at a later time. Earning your relatives’ trust in these situations will help you gather more information from them in the long run.
5. Record Everything & Keep Organized
Throughout your genealogical journey, the most important step to take for every piece of information that you encounter will be to record your findings. When recording your findings, ensure you record both positive matches and negative matches so you do not end up duplicating your search. It is also important to record negative matches as well because they may become relevant at a later time as you find more information. Organization is also key to a successful project. There are many different suggested ways to organize your information, such as paper forms, filing, online software, and family history websites, but pick what makes you feel most comfortable. Most researchers today have a combination of electronic and paper records. As you begin to build your inventory of information, you will quickly see it grow, so being organized at the very beginning will help you have a speedier search process.
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