Genealogy tip 3—9 ways to stay focused in ancestry research.
Being a history researcher comes with the need to learn and understand how to research records, find the key information and develop a plan that will take you to all available information. Through the years, I have had the pleasure of conducting historical and genealogy research throughout the United States and Europe. Every time I conduct research in a new location, I feel like I have to learn/relearn how to conduct historical research. Why? I need to learn where the records are kept, what is available, develop a plan of how to research this location and so much more. I have written a series Genealogy Tips to introduce you to what I consider to be the most foundational skills I use over and over. In this article, I want to share Genealogy Tip 3: Nine Ways to Stay Focused in History and Genealogy.
Genealogy Tip Series
Click on an of the following Genealogy Tips to be taken to the article.
Genealogy Tip 3: Nine Ways to Stay Focused in Genealogy
It’s straightforward to start researching one line of thought, become interested in another, and change direction, all in a few minutes. Soon you’re surrounded by papers, documents, names, dates and locations and are left with a head full of swirling questions.
You will find your research more productive if you identify your research goals, develop a research plan and focus on their completion. The following are some ideas for keeping your research on track and manageable.
1. Focus on specific sections of your ancestor research / genealogy at a time. This can be:
- A specific family line or surname
- A specific time and place
- A specific family unit
- A specific question to solve
2. Once you have focused on a specific area to research, create a log to help you develop a big picture of what you have and where you want to go. Keep the log up-to-date — it will save you time and energy. Note when and where you viewed the information. The log can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Who you have talked to and what information provided
- Information you have found and citations
- The questions you still seek answers to
- Thoughts of where to research
- The answers you have found
- Ideas and assumptions you are making and why
3. Keep a to-do list — a plan for what research you seek to perform. Organize the plan so the most critical research gets done first. Often you find that when you focus on top-priority research, many other items on your list are completed also.
4. Group your to-do items by the source you will use to conduct research.
5. Create a “future research” file. As you conduct your focused research, you will always come up with ideas for research you want to conduct outside the focus of your current line of inquiry. Record it — whether it’s an idea, a paragraph, a printed document, a photocopy or whatever else — put it in the file and forget about it until you are done with the task. You can then go through the file at a later date, organize your notes and start the next task. Don’t be surprised if you begin doubling your accomplishments.
6. Keep track of your progress.
7. Reach out for help as you need it.
8. If you have a hard time finding the time or are spending too much time researching, schedule time with yourself to conduct your research. Make your appointments start and end on time. There is something about a deadline that helps keep you on track.
9. See the big picture. While focused research will help keep your ancestor research work organized and streamlined, it’s important not to get so focused on finding a single individual or piece of information that we don’t look at extended family, neighbors, and the entire community’s migration patterns. Often the missing person (or piece of information) will pop up in someone else’s family in a completely different geographic location.
Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is not a straight line. There are many instances where researchers come to a dead end on an individual and, through researching related people (siblings, aunts, uncles, and so on), are led back to the individual of interest. Think outside the box. If you’re stuck, find unusual ideas and places to look for information.
Additional Articles on BeginMyStory.com
The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you find history and genealogy records.
- QuickStart Beginners Guide to Ancestry Research
- Introduction to Ancestry Research and Historical Records
- 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives
- 1950 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners
- 4 Easy Steps to Google American Ancestry
- Preparing to Easily Google Ancestor Records
- Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews
- How to Get Great Google Search Results in Ancestry Research
- 9 Advanced Google Search Strategies to Trace Ancestors
- What It’s Like to Start Ancestry Research
- Search sites like FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com
