A complete historical, genealogy, and ancestry field trip research guide.
I have spent many hundreds of hours over the years traveling the lands of my heritage in the United States and in Europe. This is a complete guide to historical and genealogy field research based on my experiences and successes. Field trips can be as close as the local library or hundreds if not thousands of miles away. The guide is designed to get you off to a great start in your desire to learn and write about your ancestors.
Ancestry Field Research Trip Guide
Table of Contents
- Additional Resources to Expand Your Knowledge
- Ancestry Field Trip Research Guide: Organize Your Research
- Review your records before you go on your trip
- What kind of records can’t be found at home?
- Questions to ask that can yield treasures
- Determine what type of information you seek
- Be specific in your inquiries
- Make advance contact—establish a rapport
- Whenever possible, let people know you are coming and when
- Know the times of operation
- Be patient when requesting records
- Planning to visit the library or archive
- Learn about the expertise of the staff
- Where is the best place to get information?
- Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Planning for an Extended Ancestry Field Research Trip
- The 50-50 Rule
- Setting realistic goals for your research trip
- Travel agent vs. do-it-yourself in planning
- Choosing a travel agent
- What do people do on historical/genealogy research trips?
- Plan to have a base of operations
- Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to accommodations
- Consider hiring a researcher who speaks the local language
- Planning local transportation
- Renting a vehicle may be less expensive than a train pass
- Strategy for Conducting Historical and Ancestry Field Research
- Learn about local history
- Searching for an individual’s original places of residence
- Searching libraries and archives in the country
- Searching graveyards during your trip
- I enter a graveyard with reverence and anticipation
- Research services and fees
- Photocopying services
- Write clear and concise queries
- Consider Interlibrary Loan
- Research Trip Priorities—After Your Trip
- Use Your Camera to Document Your Research
- Photographing at the Cemetery or Graveyard
- Author Schreiber Personal Field Research Experiences
Return to Historical/Genealogy Field Trip Guide Table of Contents
This is where the computer screen ends, and shoes hit the street. It doesn’t take long to realize there comes the point when computers reach the limits of their capabilities in historical/genealogy research. If someone hasn’t digitized, abstracted, or electronically captured an image and put it on the Internet, put it on a CD, or sent it to you in an email, you will have to conduct field research, and you will need to leave the house.
It has been my experience that most of the documentation I need doesn’t exist on the Internet, and of course, that is changing daily. I need to get out and spend time in libraries and archives at the local, state, and national levels.
I often use genealogical and historical societies and local and university libraries and archives when I conduct field research. Most of the documentation you’ll need is not on the Internet but at libraries and archives. State and local libraries have genealogy guides, local history books, and newspaper archives unavailable anywhere else.
To my delight and amazement, I have found books, records, and documents, from the late and early 1900s that helped clear up and extend our family history.
As I visited my family’s land and saw firsthand what they may have experienced, I understood better why they may have decided to live in one place versus another. Field research helps me build a mental picture that clarifies research that a computer screen can’t and extends the research I can do online.
Additional Resources to Expand Your Knowledge
Consider the expanding your knowledge beyond the historical and genealogy field trip research guide with the following resources:
- Travel Packing List for Ancestry Research Field Trips
- How to Effectively Trace Ancestors in Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
- Use Your Camera to Document and Photograph Ancestry Research
- 4 Easy Steps to Google American Ancestry
- How to Google Record Collections of Libraries, Societies and More
- Introduction to Ancestry Research and Historical Records
- Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews
- Social Networking Guide for History and Genealogy Researchers
- 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives
Ancestry Field Research Trip Guide: Organize Your Research
Before you travel ten or even hundreds of miles to find the library or archive in the hometown of the individuals, make sure the records you seek aren’t as close to your computer or down the street at your local library.
I had planned one research trip to New England and had extensively researched the various libraries and record repositories to find what I was looking for. One of my stops was at the regional library. When I arrived home, I learned that the records I sought could be viewed on microfilm from the local LDS Family History Center or acquired by interlibrary loan. I spent half a day looking through their microfilmed church records.
Searching for family records in an individual’s origins should only be undertaken after you are sure you cannot acquire the records through readily accessible means. You won’t want to spend hours and hours in an old church or archive and find out later that the records you needed were just minutes away. Try to identify which records, books, and histories have not been microfilmed or open for interlibrary loans.
Okay, you have done your homework and confirmed that you want or need to conduct field research. Now what?
Review your records before you go on your trip
It’s essential to go over your records very carefully. Review every printout, photocopy, note, and Internet record. Know what you have and what you don’t have, and make a to-do list of what to find. The essential genealogical advice is to work from what you know to what you don’t know. Please do not take your entire notebook; instead, take keynotes that will aid in your search during the trip. If you bring your laptop, you may already have all the details electronically.
Remember, there are records available in the United States (such as parish records at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City). Concentrate on what’s not available here.
What kind of records can’t be found at home?
It’s been mentioned several times to focus on those records you can’t find in your homeland. The following is an excellent example of what to look for. A fellow researcher had been hunting for a particular ancestor for twenty-eight years. All he knew about the person was that he might have worked aboard ships as a young man. Before his trip, he became aware of a Mariner Library in that ancestor’s country. While at the library, he found a letter written in the ancestor’s hand in what was known as the Marine Board correspondence. He also found meal lists from the 1850s and various other documents related to his family. This type of information you won’t find in microfilm or online. It takes visiting the ancestral lands to accomplish such research.
Questions to ask that can yield treasures
Remember you’re conducting this research because you cannot acquire these records from home. Make sure you ask your libraries, archivists, and clerks questions such as the following:
- What indexes or collections are unique to your facility?
- Do you have card files, newspapers, original records, computer databases, networks, or compact discs that can only be searched at your repository?
- Have your records been microfilmed? If yes, where else are they located?
- Are any of your collections accessible online?
- Does your collection have records such as church records that have not been microfilmed?
- Do you have records from (period)? If not, do you know where I can find them? Note that many countries are consolidating rare records to a common depository.
Determine what resources are available in that area before you start your trip; research to determine the places with information or materials you can use. Resources can include libraries, archives, genealogical societies, historical societies, courthouses, vital record offices, churches, funeral homes, chambers of commerce, cemeteries, schools, and fraternal organizations.
And don’t just concentrate on libraries, courthouses, and cemeteries. Frequently, genealogists ignore regional archives or regional libraries that may contain valuable records.
Determine what type of information you seek
Know what you are looking for and what you need. Do your homework before leaving to know where you want to go and what to look at when you get there.
I like to begin by writing down questions to the answers I am looking for. This gives me a start to my research plan. For example:
- Who are the great grandparents?
- What was the name of my Dad’s brother who died as an infant?
- Where is the house my Mom grew up in?
On one of my business trips to the New York City area, I made arrangements to take a few days of vacation and research my stepfather’s line in the Jersey City, New Jersey, area. Before his trip, I prepared extensively so that my short time in New Jersey would be most beneficial. I researched and located the available resources in the city and county. I made notes about my family and printed off all the information I had about the family from my historical/genealogy database program. I asked myself questions about what I wanted to find out about the family and made a list of the types of information I wanted to locate, the possible types of records that might satisfy the needs, and where I might find the records. Then I listed, by location, the people and record types I wanted to find. For example, if I were going to the courthouse, I would have a list of each individual and the types of records I would hope to find there for each person (birth, marriage, and death records; property tax records; wills; and so on).
I contacted each resource, discussed my needs, and confirmed the types of records that were available, the hours of operation, key persons to contact, any special requirements for viewing or acquiring records, the availability of copy machines and if there were any associated costs, and whether there were fees to enter the facility if any. I also asked about what types of personal documents they had to prove lineage (if needed), the availability of people to help me, guidelines for using cameras, types of facilities to research, opportunity to do the research online versus in person, and if I needed to make a special appointment to meet with key people.
Be specific in your inquiries
For example, when I contacted the local Catholic Cemetery, I wanted to know if they had sexton records on-site, how they were organized, and whether I could get access to them. When I contacted the local library and genealogical Society, I inquired about the records they had and who in the organization might know the most records I wanted to research, how to reach the person, and when he might meet with them. Where appropriate, I sent key contacts a detailed summary of information and clearly outlined the information I was seeking. This gave the person a few days or weeks to prepare for my arrival.
If you aren’t well prepared, you could run around unnecessarily, looking for things in the wrong place. I learned early on that if I didn’t prepare for a trip, I could spend precious hours chasing records that may or may not exist. Researching before my trip helps me become more focused on goals and better utilize my limited time.
Make advance contact—establish a rapport
Once you have identified the available resources, make an effort to contact each source directly by mail, telephone, or email. You will save yourself many, many hours by making advance contacts.
When you make these personal contacts in advance, introduce yourself and explain that you are conducting historical research. Let them know what you are seeking and try to establish a rapport. You are making new friends, and they can open doors for you while you are on-site and smooth your way.
Once, a person I’d contacted in advance helped me find the curator to a local museum that was only open a few hours a week from whom I made special arrangements to have a private opening. This was done on a moment’s notice, a task that would have taken me hours in an unfamiliar town.
Whenever possible, let people know you are coming and when
This may be the most important of the hints I can provide about traveling and doing on-site research. Let people know you’re coming and when. Make sure the people you need to see will be there. Based on my needs, I have been willing to rearrange my schedule to be at a library when the prime resource would be there. Don’t leave this to chance. Remember, you have come a long way. Don’t arrive at the church only to find that Wednesday was the archivist’s day off or a local holiday for which all public facilities were closed.
And don’t forget to confirm your appointment or even simply give a courtesy call to let them know you are excited to come. I have had the local contact with whom I was going to meet have many of the records and books I needed pulled from the shelves, all ready for me to review. At the request of my key contact, unbeknownst to me, I have had persons travel many miles to visit with me because they were an expert on my family line.
And if your schedule changes and you can’t make the agreed-upon time, be courteous—call and let them know so they can reschedule with you.
Make sure they have your contact information—email, cell phone number, and so on—to get hold of you should their circumstances change or they need to clarify your research needs.
Know the times of operation
Remember to contact county courthouses, libraries, and other record repositories you plan to visit to determine their office hours. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to a destination and finding it closed.
Be patient when requesting records
If you plan to receive specific records before leaving for your trip, give yourself at least a four-month window. Why? Many libraries and archives have more requests than staff to manage them. Sometimes it will take several weeks for the staff to begin research, let alone send you the requested information.
Planning to visit the library or archive
Check to see if the library has a website. Most library websites provide the basic information associated with hours of operation.
More extensive libraries, like the Library of Virginia and state or country archives, have an online catalog. Search the catalog before you go. I have usually been able to locate specific books, microfilm, papers, photographs, and so on that will be available for my specific research. Make sure you print out the details from your catalog search.
Check out the Library of Congress Card Catalog to determine what books have been published about the county or area you’re planning to visit so that you can look them up in the local library you’ll be visiting.
Write to or email the libraries that don’t have online information about their genealogical collection, location such as floor or level, building, and hours of operation. Some collections in libraries can only be seen at specific times and may have special restrictions.
Learn about the expertise of the staff
In some cases, I had planned to visit a library when the librarian with the expertise I needed would be working. I have also found it helpful to call the library and talk with a librarian to see if staff researchers can help if I have questions.
Local researchers may be available as volunteers and for hire who know the library and are willing to work with you to quickly get the information you seek.
Make sure you concentrate on using indexes, manuscript collections, unpublished records, rare books, photographs, and sources unique to the library or archives you are researching before you get to the more distributed information that other facilities will have.
If the library doesn’t seem to have what you are looking for, make sure you ask the library for recommendations of where to go.
Also, be aware of local traditions. One researcher tells of an experience when they visited archives located in Glasgow, Scotland. Upon arriving at the archives prearranged time, the primary researcher left for her daily two-hour tea and lunch break. The supporting staff was unable to assist the researcher. Upon the archivist’s return, she was able to locate records of local cemeteries that the staff had told him did not exist in minutes.
Where is the best place to get information?
As you start uncovering where to find the records, you may find that the identical records are available in different locations. Make sure you ask about the cost of acquiring such records. A marriage record from the early 1800s would have cost me $10.00 at a university library on a recent trip. The same information was available at the state archive for the cost of a photocopy.
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah
Anyone researching Salt Lake City at the Family History Library will find foreign record offices quite different. You won’t be looking at original documents, but you can go and take as many films as you want out of the cases, copy anything you like yourself and return the films. You can cover a lot of territory in a short span of days, especially since it is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday (closed some holidays). Groups of people come to Salt Lake worldwide to research because so many records have been gathered in one place. It is much more efficient than running around to different archives in their native countries. If you decide that you want to go to Salt Lake City, check out the online catalog to help you find exactly what you are looking for before you come.
Planning for an Extended Ancestry Field Research Trip
The 50-50 Rule
The best counsel anyone gave me about planning a historical or genealogy research trip was:
- Plan 50 percent of your trip before you go. Plan the other 50 percent when you get there.
It’s important to know where you will be each day of your trip, but don’t plan it so tightly that you can’t take advantage of opportunities to do things that interest you. If you will be researching libraries and archives while on your trip, a rule of thumb that many genealogists have stated is to allow one day of research for every three days of your trip.
Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers, even if they’re in a churchyard! See, hear, breathe, and smell the place. Maybe you won’t get to the concert at the local cathedral, but maybe you can worship in your established church (and walk the cemetery after the services), walk the docks, hike the mountains, eat with locals, and watch the sunrise and set. Try to see the country through the eyes of the people you are researching.
It’s not uncommon for many to have ancestors from several countries. If this is your first historical or genealogy research trip, you will want to visit every country and place related to your ancestors. Simply said, DON’T. Narrow your focus. Based on my own experience, I would recommend the following:
If your vacation is
- 1 or 2 weeks—Focus on one country.
- Three or more weeks—Focus on two countries (Max).
If this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip, I would still recommend spending more time in fewer places rather than pushing your schedule to the brink of exhaustion. You will significantly increase your chances of achieving your goals and having a great experience.
Setting realistic goals for your research trip
Suppose you spend a half-day traveling across town to interview a family member. In that case, a full day is traveling to a cemetery two hundred miles away to take pictures of family headstones or spending several weeks abroad searching for your family roots; having clearly defined goals will help you focus on desired outcomes for your research. Being able to state your goals will require research, preparation, and prioritization.
Fellow genealogists had asked me to provide a little assistance in helping them with a historical or genealogy research trip abroad. When I asked what their goals were for the trip, they replied with one goal, “We want to visit the village where our family lived in Wales.”
For the next couple of hours, we took inventory of what they knew, what they wanted to know, and what else they might want to do while in Wales. We discussed questions such as the following:
- Where did the family live in Wales? When?
- What do you know about
• Wales?
• The region where your family lived?
• The village where your family lived? - When did the family come to America?
- Who in the family came to America?
- When and where were they born?
- Where and when did family members die?
- Did they leave any family in Wales?
- What did the father do for a living?
- What was the religion of the family?
- What brought the family to America?
- Where were the parents married?
- What ship did they come on, and from what port?
- What do you wish to know about your family?
The couple pulled out family histories, family group sheets, and other documents to help answer the questions. We did an Internet search on Wales and related topics. We had a few more ideas of what they might like to do on their trip when we were done. For example, together, we created the following list of goals for their trip to Wales:
We want to
- Visit the city of Swansea in Wales.
- Visit the church where our family attended church.
- Find where members of our family are buried.
- Learn about the history of Swansea.
- Find out if the family had other children or family that stayed in Wales.
- Find out who the parents and family of the wife were.
- Learn about coal mining in Swansea and the area.
- Learn about the culture in Swansea in the 1840s.
- Learn what would have caused the family to leave Wales.
- Learn about common foods of Wales and Swansea.
- Take a tour of Glamorganshire.
Of course, like any good historical researcher, they found that one answer often led to several more questions that needed answers before they could finalize their plans for a historical or genealogy trip to Wales. Their pre-trip preparation would range from conducting further research in the United States to identifying research resources in Wales. They would be learning more about Wales and its history, identifying places to see and visit, evaluating options to participate in organized tours, and discovering Wales on their own.
As part of their preparation, I showed the couple how they could post a short message on one of the genealogical message boards seeking help in planning their forthcoming trip. The message introduced the couple, listed the surnames they were researching, and asked questions, such as the following:
- Where was the best place to locate their base of operations?
- Which of the local libraries was best to find specific types of information?
- What sties were must-see destinations?
- Who could they contact (such as a country genealogist) to help them, possibly for hire?
- What libraries, archives, and historical societies were important to contact?
Within hours—and over the next week—they received insightful hints and direction from people who lived in the area or had gone before on similar trips. Some people replied directly to the message boards, while others sent an email directly to the family. Thoughts shared included conducting research, where to stay and eat, where they would most likely find family graves and insights on personal historical research.
Travel agent vs. do-it-yourself in planning
If your question is whether you should use a travel agent or plan your trip yourself, the answer is both. Planning a history or genealogy research trip is a very customized process. Unless you’ve been to the location you are traveling to at least once, you are more than likely to need the help and services of a travel agent.
An excellent place to start your search is online. Almost every country, state, county or province, and the city has a website providing insights into services, places to see, and how to start your research. You will also come across sites dedicated to promoting beneficial travel. You will find special events, festivals, hours and days of operation that will help define your schedule.
One of the more helpful web searches I have found is to look for package trips run by tour operators in countries and regions where I am interested. I see the hotels, sites, and so on that they include in their trips, and it helps me see what the “highlights” are in the area.
Historical and genealogy travel is a growing business in the travel industry. It’s worth your time to check if there are websites dedicated to organizing history-related travel to your area of focus. These sites usually have experienced genealogists who support and lead trips.
Once I get a sense of what to expect from my trip, I inquire about several travel agents specializing in history research travel or genealogy in that country or region. I tell them what I am seeking to do and the areas I would like to visit. I start with email and then phone for follow-up discussions. These exchanges help me organize how I want to approach my itinerary—from establishing a “base of operations” to choosing which tourist sites I want to see. I have found the travel agent to be very helpful in working with me to determine how best to use their services and what to do on my own.
It only pays to use a travel agent if you use a good one. A good travel agent will know when a slight change in your schedule can save you a lot of money. If you buy directly from the airline, you may not find out such information since they will only quote you the rates for the times you ask. So if you’re going to use a travel agent, make sure that you find one who is willing (and able) to search through the morass of fares and restrictions to find a good deal for you. A travel agent who just punches your data into the computer and tells you the prices is no better than the airline’s 800 number. A good travel agent can probably save you 10–15 percent.
Suppose you want a travel agent to work hard and well for you. In that case, you need to explain to them that you are indeed seriously committed to dealing with them and their agency. Their time and effort spent researching travel products for you will indeed be rewarded by your subsequent purchase of travel through them.
These days, travel agents can spot a “shopper” a mile away—a person that picks their brains for free advice but doesn’t reward the free advice with their business.
Expect to pay a good travel agent for their time, advice, and assistance.
I usually use the travel agent to book essential cornerstones such as flights, hotel rooms, and cars or travel passes for rail. The little extra cost I may pay for working with the travel agent is well worth their expertise and service in helping me to organize and manage my trip. If you run into problems with any aspect of your travel before, during, and after your trip (and it will happen), you have one number to call and a person or team who is there to help you. What problems, you ask? For starters, flights are delayed, your hotel is under renovation, or you choose to extend your stay in a specific city. The travel agent has all your key information, including credit card numbers, phone numbers, preferences in hotels, seat selection on airlines, and general itinerary in case someone should need to get in touch with me.
Choosing a travel agent
Approach the selection of a travel agent with the same care you’d exercise when you choose your doctor, lawyer, or any other long-term professional adviser. After all, the right travel agent should know your financial wherewithal and physical abilities and share your tastes and sensibilities. The expert travel agent should even have an in-depth knowledge of your favorite destinations. Consider the following:
- Make a list of your travel preferences and the services you expect from a travel agent. Do you want an adviser who will give you personal recommendations? Or would you prefer a clerk who follows your instructions and processes your tickets and reservations?
- Interview any travel agent you’re considering (see suggestions below). If possible, visit the offices, and talk with the agent you’d use. Ask specific questions to help formulate your opinion about an agent’s judgment and expertise. For example, solicit comments on a hotel or a destination you know well.
- Check out the agency: does it have a reservations computer to search out the lowest airfares? Does it have preferred relationships with particular suppliers and tour operators, and do you like doing business with those suppliers? Does the agency work with hotel or airline consolidators? Does it have an after-hours helpline?
- Before deciding, ask the agency to price and package a vacation for you. Then do some comparison shopping. How do the agency’s recommendations and prices stack up against the competition’s? And how fast did the agency work? The agent who offers the best combination of quality, price, and service is probably the one you should use.
The best way to find a good travel agent is by word-of-mouth recommendation. Solicit references from friends and family who know your desires and from travelers whose tastes and judgment are similar to yours. Ask how they use their travel agent and in what capacity. Ask the secretaries where you work for recommendations. Note that most people will recommend a particular agent—don’t assume that every agent who works at that travel agency is as good. Don’t be afraid to ask for the recommended agent by name. Most people tend to use the travel agent closest to where they work or live. If you don’t like the service you’re getting, try a different agent.
If you are interested in reviewing travel agents that specialize in genealogy and historical research trips, start your Google search with the words like “Genealogy Travel.”
Even if you need an agent only to write a ticket you’ve booked yourself, it helps to have one with whom you can communicate.
Be aware that travel agents specialize in either a type of customer or a type of travel. The significant areas of specialization are business and leisure travel. While every accredited agency has the authority to book any kind of travel, leisure agencies specialize in cruises, charters, low airfares, or up-scale resorts. The advertising in local media reveals much about an agency’s area of expertise.
A good travel agent will become familiar with your travel preferences and keep track of your frequent flyer numbers and any special requirements, such as special meals, seat selection (window versus aisle), etc. They’ll let you know if changing your itinerary slightly will result in a lower fare. They’ll also advise you of any changes made by the airline on your tickets, either by calling you or, if they can’t reach you, by mail.
What do people do on historical/genealogy research trips?
The historical research trip is about you, your family, and learning about your roots, and it’s about being free to explore and discover.
Most history research trips include visiting and taking pictures of the places where individuals lived, looking up the addresses or farms, visiting churches and graveyards, exploring the history and culture of the people, searching libraries and archives for family records/information, and finding and meeting family. Trips also include visiting the tourist spots, joining tour groups for a day or longer excursions, exploring the countryside, finding an out-of-the-way café and ordering cuisine unique to the area, ordering ice cream and taking a stroll in the local gardens, and getting an invitation to join a new acquaintance for lunch.
Let each day be a new adventure. Have just enough planning to accomplish the goals you have set and have enough freedom to take advantage of the unexpected opportunities that might come your way.
Plan to have a base of operations
If you have done any level of travel, you have learned that not every town has the same level or type of services to accommodate your desired expectations. I usually try to identify a base of operations if I am in a specific area for two or more days. It simplifies the need for packing and unpacking, checking in and checking out. During my first trip, I spent most evenings finding a hotel that I could afford or had vacancies. At the end of a long research day, you want a place to sleep. Now, I don’t waste my time finding a place to eat and become familiar with where the basics such as gas stations, transportation hubs, ATMs, copy centers, and so on are located.
Preparing for a research trip requires several months of preparation and planning. Start scheduling reservations for your trip 3–4 months in advance. Book your first and last night bed and breakfast, hotel room, guest house, or other accommodations from your home country before you leave for your trip. The last thing you want to do when you land is a scramble for a place to stay.
Whether working with a travel agent or contacting persons directly, make reservations at least 2–3 months before departure to book a room and give a deposit, if necessary.
Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to accommodations
It’s helpful to book a B&B or hotel room near the airport on your last night’s stay. That way, you don’t have to travel for miles and miles to reach the airport to be on time for your flight home.
If you like B&Bs, booking ahead of time is especially important if you are traveling in the summer, as B&Bs—especially in cities—may be booked months in advance because tourism in the summer increases. Summer is the peak travel time in most countries. Book car and flight arrangements months ahead of time as well. In addition, find a B&B with en-suite accommodations. That is the bathroom and shower area in the bedroom. I wouldn’t say I like to walk down someone’s hallway looking for the bathroom at night.
Consider hiring a researcher who speaks the local language
If you are in a country where you are not familiar with the language, consider hiring a researcher that can work with you. They can help with your research, but they can also act as a tour guide for the area you are researching.
One acquaintance recently went to Wales and hired a Welsh-speaking researcher. The researcher did the driving, and she explained what they saw and answered questions. Several months before arriving in Wales, the in-country researcher worked with this individual to nail down essential logistics. Why hire a Welsh speaker in an English-speaking country? Welsh was commonly spoken until the late 1800s, and many of the gravestones, records, and so forth are written in Welsh.
Plan for your family when you are in the library. If you’re taking your family with you on the history research trip, be prepared to have activities your family can go to while in the library if they don’t participate in the research work. A web search will provide many options to choose from.
Planning local transportation
Become familiar with your transportation options before you travel. Should you rent a car, take local transportation, or perhaps combine the two? Only you can answer these questions, but it pays to understand your options.
There is an excellent train system throughout Europe to get a single ticket for multiple days. When I have purchased these tickets, I made sure it was all-inclusive, including bus, rail, ship, and subway. If you are going to be in large cities, public transportation is well-coordinated and relatively easy to get around.
Renting a vehicle may be less expensive than a train pass, and you gain the freedom of coming and going as you please. The cost of fuel is 2 to 3 times the expense of US prices. There are a few differences to be aware of. For example, if you rent a standard shift anywhere in the United Kingdom, you will save about $100 over the automatic transmission. But with standard shift, keep in mind that you have to shift with your left hand, as the driver’s seat is on the car’s right-hand side.
Suppose you rent a car and set up the rental in the United States, not the destination country. Have the car waiting for you on a specific date at your arrival destination. For instance, if you plan to stay in Dublin for three days, set it up so that the car is waiting for you on the day you leave. But you don’t need a car to get around in Dublin or Belfast, as public transportation is ubiquitous in those cities.
Your travel agent can be an excellent source for sorting out the pros and cons of different transportation options. I also rely heavily on the council in the message boards about what options to make in selecting public transportation or renting a car.
Before I make any final decisions, I like to have a fairly good idea of where I will be and when. I have a fairly good idea of where I want my base of operations and the towns where I want to conduct other research. For example, in planning a trip, I outlined the following scenario:
| The base of operations: Dundee, Scotland | ||
| Aberdeen | 2 hours | Travel by auto |
| Inverness | 3-4 hours | Travel by auto |
| Perth | 30 minutes | Travel by auto |
| St. Andrews | 30 minutes | Travel by auto |
| Edinburgh/Glasgow | 1 hour 30mins | Travel by auto, and take public transportation |
Look through the options and determine what combination works best for your comfort in driving in an unknown location. If you spend eight hours getting lost and finding your way, the extra expense of the train might be pretty worth it.
Before leaving on your trip, purchase a Michelin Road Map of the country. These maps are usually more detailed than the car rental company’s maps. The drawback to these maps is that they are so large you need to stop the car to look at them. But don’t throw away the maps the car rental companies give you. These tend to be a little smaller and less unwieldy in the car. These smaller maps are great for locating the significant dual-carriageways (divided highways) but not for off-the-path villages.
Strategy for Conducting Historical and Genealogy Field Research
Keep a travel journal during your trip
Each day of your trip is full of research, excursions, meeting new people, taking pictures, reflecting upon your family, and unexpected happenings. One day blends into the next after just a week on the road. Take time at the end or beginning of each day to write in your travel journal. Upon your return home, you will find that your journal will be one of the most important assets you have in furthering research and documenting the value of your trip.
I write events chronologically in my travel journal (what happened first, second, third). For example, after I enter a library, I will write details about the following aspects of my experience there:
- Who I spoke with and their role in the library, address, email, phone number, etc.
- All discussions (no matter whom it was with) and information exchanged.
- The records I looked at and why.
- What I found and decisions I made during my search.
- All new information, carefully documenting all associated information.
- Thoughts and questions cross my mind during the research.
I make comments about the places I visited and why they were of interest to me. I discuss what I learned. I also include brochures I may have picked up and any other information that will help me tell the story.
I find myself reviewing what I wrote several times during the trip as I ponder options, decide what direction to take the research, and plan my free time. The parts of my journal that are most interesting are how often I happen to meet the right person who can open doors to help find the place I am searching for, or the person who knows about my family name and history and will take me to the gravesite of an individual, or the person who knows the person who now lives in the person’s home or is the person who knows where to find the record I seek.
Learn about local history
One of the most enjoyable aspects of taking a historical trip is learning about the local area’s history. Don’t focus on finding that long-lost record that you forget that the individuals you search for were people with dreams, opportunities, successes, frustrations, disappointments, bills, sicknesses, and death. They may have moved more than once or cleared the land to make a new home, and they lived there, so why not spend time getting to know the area’s history?
Learn about the history of the area where an individual is from. What did they eat? Where would they have gone to church? Where is the mill they took their crops to? What sort of natural features did they encounter when farming the land? What is the city most famous for? The more you know, the more you can appreciate just what an individual’s or family’s lives were like when you were there. If you learn that lamb and potatoes were the primary staples or that blueberries have been grown in the area since the 1600s, perhaps you will take the time to order the “local” dishes when you are in town. Who knows, you might even ask for the recipe.
Searching for an individual’s original places of residence
Like many of our ancestors, your forefathers came from tiny villages that few people have ever heard of. When they immigrated, they may have said they were from the largest nearby town or city. If you are looking for the experience to stand precisely where Great-Great-Great-Grandpa lived or having your picture taken in front of his home, make sure you know exactly what town they came from.
Records such as birth and land records can help locate where your family lived by giving you a street address or the land’s name. With such information in hand, I have been able to ask for directions from locals and gain excellent directions to find what I was looking for. Don’t be surprised if the information on the records gives you a different village.
You might have the proper village and go to the church. However, the church may no longer have the records, and they may have been moved to the genealogical Society in a larger, nearby city. In most countries, older records are being consolidated in central repositories. Always ascertain in advance where the actual records are kept.
Searching libraries and archives in the country
As I have researched various countries, I have learned to expect to find the unexpected. Some of my experiences were as follows:
- Record offices will have government hours (perhaps closing for lunch).
- You may need reservations.
- You may need to look up your resources in a catalog and write them on a request form, which you submit to the reference librarian.
- Your request may take more than a half-hour to arrive.
- You may only be allowed to view one request at a time.
- You may or may not be allowed to take photographs of the documents. If you cannot take photographs, you may need to fill out a request form and submit it. It may take just a few minutes to a few hours before your request is ready.
- Sometimes, you are limited to the number of copies you can make in a day.
- Remember that the person behind the desk is in charge.
- The staff may bring the requested artifacts to you and pick them up from you while seated.
- You may be required to stow your backpack in a locker.
- Security may ask to see the contents of your pockets or purse.
- Some record facilities are very strict about each researcher having a table or seat.
- Research under these conditions gives you the thrill of handling papers that may be 200-plus years old.
Searching graveyards during your trip
Searching graveyards can be a varied experience of disappointment and jubilation all in the same day.
First, see if you can find a map of graveyards you intend to visit and the background about each. Check with the local historical societies and ask if there is a record of the local cemetery. If there is no documentation available, try to locate the sexton (caretaker of the graveyard) to see if an organizational plot chart defines who is buried.
Check to see if there is an old map and a new map of the graveyard. Compare them to see what differences there might be between them. In some countries, there is what is known as an ordinance survey (OS) reference number that identifies the cemetery, and other countries have other reference systems. The key here is to realize that there may be more to graveyards and cemeteries to help you find what you seek.
I enter a graveyard with reverence and anticipation
I am hoping the headstone is legible and easy to read. If the headstone is over 100 years old, I am pleasantly surprised and grateful if the headstone is legible and not damaged by vandalism or weathered by the years. Whatever I find, it is always fun.
Take a small pocket notebook with you at all times. You’ll need it to draw diagrams of graveyards and write down inscriptions.
If you have some flexibility in your trip regarding the days you will be searching the graveyard, keep a close watch on the weather report. If possible, it is always better to view a graveyard on a sunny day versus an overcast, rainy day.
Are you planning to take photographs of headstones or make headstone rubbings on your trip? If you are and you’ve never taken a photograph of a tombstone or made a headstone rubbing, practice on some local stones before you leave. The time to learn isn’t when you’re at a cemetery 2,000 miles from home on the last day of your trip.
Research services and fees
Many historical societies and libraries supporting genealogical research provide services to you when you cannot come to them. These services are sometimes offered free but sometimes require a nominal fee, and the fees and services cover actual costs. Each search can take from three to eight weeks, depending on the backlog and available resources of the organization.
A search request is where you ask the organization to help with your research. Acceptable and unacceptable search requests are as follows:
Acceptable:
- Search for a surname in indexed county histories for one county
- Search for one family in a census
- Search for one landowner inland tract records
- Search for one obituary
Unacceptable:
- Compile your family history or complete pedigree charts.
- Answer requests for “any ” information on an individual or family.
- Speculate why an individual did what they did.
- Describe in detail what life in Nebraska was like for the person or family you are researching.
- Analyze long and detailed family histories and determine what searches to do for you.
You can expect the organization to limit the number of searches you can request at one time—usually, the limit is about three searches. The organization will only process one request. Requests for searches are made by mail and online, and they will not initiate searches for other records not explicitly requested in your letter and prepayment. The research fees will range from $5 to $30 per search. The fee may vary, depending on whether you live in the state. For example:
- $10.00 per search for in-state residents and members of the state historical society.
- $20.00 per search for non-residents who are not members of the Society.
In cases where you want the organization to do an extended search, you will be charged the hourly fee. For example:
Photocopying services
Photocopying services are available for researchers unable to visit the physical faculty. Researchers can request limited photocopies of portions of published works and manuscript collections. Staff cannot copy entire published works, entire manuscript collections, bound volumes in the manuscript collection, newspapers, or any fragile/sensitive materials. Forms are available online and usually require the following information:
- A brief description of the item.
- The manuscript title or call number.
- Page numbers (if possible).
- A copy order will be generated and sent to you (via email or mail—you specify on the form), explaining the procedures for ordering and payment. When the order form and payment are received, your order will receive prompt attention.
An example of fees associated with photocopying follow:
- $0.20 to $1.00 per page copied (based on size).
- $10 to $25Service or Shipping and handling fee.
- If an order exceeds 50 exposures, the additional charge is added.
- 10–25 percent fee discount for members or in-state residents.
Write clear and concise queries
Whenever you request information from the library or organization, you need to be very clear and concise. The following are examples of the type of information the research staff will need to complete certain types of searches:
Census:
- The exact name of the family (first and last name of the head of household).
- Location of residence (county and either precinct or nearby town).
Newspapers (looking for notices of deaths, marriages, births, and so on):
- First and last name.
- Date and place of the event.
Naturalization Records:
- Name of the individual naturalized.
- County where the person was naturalized if known.
Probate Records:
Consider Interlibrary Loan
Usually, a portion of the library’s or Society’s collection is available through interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan allows you to borrow items for specific research and is transferred from library to library. Note: Libraries will usually not exchange information through the LDS Family History Centers. When you start speaking with the library or Society, ask the following questions:
- What are the organization’s interlibrary loan policy and procedures from which you will request information?
• Are there any costs associated with the loan?
• What is the length of time permitted for the loan?
• How long does it take to process the loan?
• Is it possible to purchase copies?
• Are any particular forms required? - What is the interlibrary loan policy and procedure for your local library?
• Does the library have the equipment you need to view the requested material, such as a microfilm reader, printer, or photocopier?
The interlibrary loan comes with parameters, such as the following:
- Order 1–5 reels that can be loaned at one time.
- Orders must be received on interlibrary forms.
- Most orders will require a loan fee to be paid at the request. Fees range from $5 to $15 per reel.
- Cost may vary depending on if you are a state resident, non-resident, or member of the Society.
- The length of time for the loan is 1–4 weeks.
The types of resources that are usually exchanged through interlibrary loans include the following:
- Census (microfilm)
- Papers (microfilm)
- Original deeds, wills, tax records, vital statistics, etc. (microfilm)
- Maps
- Books and research guides
- Photographs (microfiche)
- Military records (microfilm)
It is at the library’s discretion to designate materials as non-circulating due to policy, age, condition, or exceptional circumstances. Items that are not usually available, but can be photocopied, include the following:
- Periodicals
- Materials in the main reading rooms
- All books published before a given date (e.g., 1925)
- Printed local history and genealogy, and regimental histories do not circulate out-of-state
If you have particular microfilm you wish to own, ask if you can purchase copies. This would be advisable if, for example, there was a unique event covering months and you wanted to have detailed coverage to review and study.
Ancestry Field Research Priorities—After Your Trip
Take time to organize, catalog, and share your findings after your trip. Within hours of returning home, you will be unpacked; clothes will be in the wash, mail will be opened, and you have spoken to family and friends about your trip.
Overall, you are delighted with the goals you were able to accomplish and move forward. I would recommend that you start documenting and organizing all aspects of your trip within twenty-four hours of returning home—from photographs to brochures and from photocopies to journal entries. Don’t let it become another pile of research “to-do’s.” Items quickly become misplaced or forgotten, and often you forget why a record was vital.
Follow your usual steps in processing, organizing, and cataloging your information. The following sequence is intended to be a recommendation, not a sequence to follow rigidly. Don’t change your usual sequence if it varies from the order listed here.
- Analyze what goals were accomplished and how.
- What goals were moved forward, and how?
- What goals were left undone?
- Did you find new data that require changes or updates to your research records?
- Look at your family tree and see what your next steps will be.
- Do you continue working on the same line, or do you start in a new direction?
- Start the next research to-do log.
- Add tasks to your existing list.
- Note any questions your research may have raised.
- Who did you promise correspondence?
- Why?
- By when?
- Who do you want to send a thank you to?
- Review your journal writings.
- Enter into the computer.
- Which people, places, and so on do you want to enter into your resource file?
- New data that revises old data, if found
- Update your family information (group sheets, pedigree charts).
- In your notes, document your change (and sources) carefully so that other family members won’t think you have made a mistake and change it back.
- Record the date you made the change.
- Make a backup of your data (clearly label) before entering new information.
- Make a backup of your data (clearly labeled) right after entering data.
- If you recorded any interviews or thoughts on tape:
- Transcribe any interviews, noting the date, place, interviewee, and interviewer.
- If there is a tape, videotape, photographs, or notes, indicate that on the transcription.
- If you use exact quotes, put them in quotes; otherwise, indicate that you are paraphrasing so it is clear.
- If you can digitize your interviews, do so for backup.
- Carefully and safely organize documents, copies, and notes.
- Scan documents/copies to be included in your electronic files.
- File the acquired data (hard copies) in your files.
- Make new files as needed.
- If you have a database log, make notes as needed.
- Flag files with notes to yourself if needed.
- Document data you acquired its source, and its value to your research.
- Make copies for your master file as needed.
- Organize photos, postcards, brochures, and pictures.
- Scan hardcopy/paper information to be included in your electronic files.
- If desired, insert information into your family tree program if the software allows.
- If you took photos, record dates, places, and reasons of importance for each snapshot.
- Edit photos as needed (cropping, color correction, and so on)
- Develop a photo log to organize materials.
- Develop a backup file of photos.
- Integrate essential photos with family history.
- If you came home with rare original photos, carefully store them (in archival quality storage, acid-free envelopes, low light, and so on).
- Share information—information doesn’t do any good sitting in your files.
- Let others know what you have discovered. Let them share in your excitement.
- Write a letter to the family.
- Include in the family newsletter.
- Post a note on message boards of research data found with documentation.
- Ask questions; if the information you found was ambiguous or contradictory, others might help you.
- Share your resources with other researchers in societies, newsgroups, and message boards.
Use Your Camera to Document Your Research
Use your camera in your library, archive, or museum research. Consider using your digital camera to document and capture the information you find in your research. If you have never used your camera in your library research, practice in your local library under conditions, including meager light. Again, the time to learn isn’t at a cemetery 2,000 miles from home.
Digital photography is all about lighting and location
The first problem you will always face with photography is lighting, and I use flash less than 10% of the time. Instead of flash use natural lighting (near a window), light stands with diffusion screen and lights, or a self-contained photo studio (includes a tripod, diffusion lights and screen, and copy stand—I like Photo Studio In-A-Box from American Recorder Technologies; you can find more information at their website, http://www.americanrecorder.com). Shooting documents with flash indoors usually create a “hot spot” caused by using a flash too close. When you have no choice but to use a flash, use it sparingly, such as in a group setting or a gravestone in a shaded area. Many libraries and research facilities prohibit flash photography, so come prepared to shoot without a flash.
- Note 1: Sunlight is known as “white” light and gives what we recognize as genuine or natural colors. Any other light source has the light of a different color temperature and gives off different color tones.
- Note 2: Digital cameras try to adjust for different kinds of lighting automatically but sometimes need additional help. The camera’s “white balance” setting provides this help. This setting “reads” the light coming into the camera lens and, by assuming the brightest area in the image is white, attempts to balance the entire image so that the bright area looks white. All other colors should then appear natural.
Photographing in libraries
When planning to take photographs in a library, the following tips may be helpful:
- Know their policy about digital photography before you go. Eight percent of libraries have allowed me to use a digital camera with some criteria.
- Do not use flash. Using a flash is usually prohibited due to the photosensitivity of artifacts.
- Set up a photo stand or tripod.
- You may need to sign an intended uses statement.
- You may need to have one of their staff handle rare objects.
- Only take photos of intended artifacts.
- No photos are usually allowed of the building’s interior or people (especially in government buildings).
- Set up the camera in a corner away from others to not disturb.
- Set up near a window to gain the most from natural light if possible.
Photographing museums and archives
When planning to take photographs in a museum or archive, the following tips may be helpful:
- Check first to see if photography is allowed. Most museums and archives will allow photography without a flash.
- Objects covered with glass or plastic are the best shot at an angle. Glass/plastic will reflect a flash or act as a mirror and reflect your image under natural light, so consider photographing the object at an angle.
- Snap a separate picture of a caption or a label of the exhibit.
- Use the tripod and your camera’s self-timer and the “night” or “low light” setting. Lack of good lighting is usually the norm in museums. Use the tripod to steady your image. When you encounter shallow light situations, try putting your camera on the “night” setting and enabling your self-timer. With the steadiness of the tripod and camera settings, you should get some good-quality photos.
- No tripod? Then brace yourself. If it is too dark and there is no tripod, leaning against a wall or a pillar or supporting your camera against a bench, a chair, or a staircase rail will be a good remedy. If a subject is essential enough, take an extra shot by all means.
Photographing Microfilm
Note: These are the backlit or rear projection readers that shine a light through the film and use a series of mirrors or lenses to display an image of the film on a vertical or flat surface. The image displayed in either style can be easily photographed.
- Depending upon your circumstances, you may or may not need to mount your camera on a tripod. I have raised my camera near the projection lens, clicked the shutter button, and got a clear photo with no distortion. If you choose to use a tripod, place your camera on a tripod in front of the reader screen.
- Place a white paper on the reader’s surface as the target area for shooting. Note: Try other blank sheets of colored paper (pink, blue, yellow) to see if these colors help you read the image.
- Adjust the camera or tripod position so the information you want to copy fills the LCD frame
- Use the “macro” mode if necessary. This will depend on your camera model and its distance from the microfilm reader.
- Make sure the flash is turned off.
- Set the camera’s self-timer, if needed.
- Gently press the shutter button halfway to lock the exposure and focus.
- Press the button completely down. If using the self-timer, move away from the camera and wait for the self-timer to trip the shutter.
- Take several shots. Consider using the “best shot selector” or auto-bracketing your shots if your camera has these features or manual bracketing if it doesn’t.
Photographing at the Cemetery or Graveyard
Over the centuries, several different types of stones have been used to create gravestones. Some of the stones are pretty porous and fragile, while others are resistant to damage. Be careful when attempting to improve the readability of the inscription. The following is a brief list of types of stone used in various periods:
- Before the nineteenth century: sandstone or slate.
- Nineteenth-century: marble and gray granite.
- Late nineteenth century to the present: polished granite or marble.
Take photos of the cemetery entrance, sign, book of records, and church
Before you start taking photos of headstones, make sure you capture the details of the cemetery, including the name, street signs, proximity, and church adjacent to the cemetery. All these details will help you and others that follow know where you have been.
North, south, east, west: The best time of day for photographing headstones
Sunlight emphasizes imperfections in the stone and can make the carving look flat. Headstones facing west are best photographed at midday, and headstones facing north should be photographed in the late afternoon. Headstones facing south are well lit all day, and headstones facing east are best photographed in the morning hours.
Large headstones require close-ups of inscriptions
Taking photos of large headstones alone sometimes makes the inscription too small to read. Take a photo of the large headstone and then move close to take a photo of the inscription.
Family grave plots require group and individual photos of each headstone
A family plot constitutes two or more graves, and take a group photograph of the graves that shows the number and proximity. Take photos of each headstone separately. If you photograph a cemetery, photograph and label all family plots the same—for example, group plots, headstones left to right, top to bottom.
Consider taking photos of all headstones in a small community cemetery
If your family came from a small town and your roots go back many generations or many decades, you are related to most, if not all, persons buried in the cemetery. If you have traveled a great distance to capture family graves on film, take an extra hour or two and capture the other headstones on film, you can sort out details later. You will often find direct family members buried among other families.
Look at the base, top, sides, and back of headstones
In addition to the inscription, look around the headstone for other important information that can be inscribed about the individual, family, maker of the headstone, and writings of the deceased.
Take eye-level photos of headstone inscriptions
When taking photos of headstone inscriptions, try to take the photo of the inscription at eye level, and you will find information much easier to read in the photo.
Talk to the sexton
Can’t find a family member’s gravesite? See if you can talk to the sexton and ask to see the cemetery plot map. Sexton may have records you can simply photograph. Some cemeteries bury several layers deep to conserve space. In these situations, the headstone on top may only be for one of the several persons buried in the plot. Sometimes headstones are not available because the family is too poor for a headstone, but the sexton will have details of who is buried.
Take time to clear grass and other foliage away from inscription
Take time to clear any cut, dried grass away from and on top of the headstone before taking a photograph. If a branch is grown over the headstone, pull it back and take a photo. Clear overgrown grass to the edge of the marker or headstone. Important information or epitaphs may be separated from the main inscription (for example, a bronze marker denoting group or religious affiliation, service in a military branch, or that the individual fought in a specific war).
Use a little chalk for the hard-to-read, old headstones
Letters on the old stones are often hardly legible. Take a little piece of white (or black or any other dark color) chalk and fill in letters. Or rub the white chalk on the flat surface next to the letters.
Tilt your camera to the angle of the headstone
Older stones tend to lean or slant. Tilt the camera to the angle of the stone, and your image will straighten up nicely.
Black and gray polished marble shoots at an angle
Gray or polished black headstones are sometimes hard to read or reflect a camera’s flash, making the image illegible. Shoot polished headstone at an angle and then view on LCD for clarity. Re-shoot at a different angle if needed.
Try using a flash on headstones covered with shade or on cloudy days
Try using your flash if the inscription you just took a picture of is hard to read. The light should provide you with just enough extra light to fill in the dark shadows so you can read the lettering. Try using a flash from angles, if needed.
Try a soft brush or natural sponge and water to remove surface soil
Gentle brushing should remove surface dirt and bird droppings.
Try sponge and water on light-colored stone
The stone will darken from the water and darken the inscription on the stone.
Never use complex objects or stiff brushes to clean the stone.
Keep a written record
Some of the items to consider as part of the written record include location, a map of the cemetery with the stones numbered, when photographed (time, date, and frame number), and transcription of the epitaph. Post your photos of headstones on family websites or sites such as Virtual Cemetery or Dead Fred.
When you take the time to prepare for your field research adequately, you will find tremendous success better insight into the next steps you need to take in your research on the Internet and the field. I have prepared additional resources that you can download from the companion website, including a suggested genealogy packing list, personal packing list, and related resources.
Author Schreiber Personal Field Research Experiences
I’d like to share a few experiences that provide insight into the value of field research and planning.
John Lee in Knoxville, Tennessee
It was 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee. I had driven just under 500 miles from Washington, DC, the day before to meet John, a distant cousin. We were both decedents of Permitt Lee, who had lived in the 1700s. I descended through his daughter Sarah, and John descended through his son Sam. We had corresponded over the previous three months and agreed to meet.
Upon meeting each other, I presented John with a binder of all the research I had on the Lee family, and John provided his research on the Lees that stayed in the Knoxville area. Following a few minutes of discussion, we spent the next several hours touring the area, learning more about the Lee family’s presence in the area then and now.
The first stop was a street named Sam Lee. As we drove around the area, we saw that many mailboxes had the Lee name. We viewed a small cemetery behind a very simplistic white church. In the cemetery, John showed me family headstones. He also indicated that almost all of the persons in the graveyard were family members who had married into the Lee family. When Permitt left Knoxville, several of his sons stayed in Knoxville and had posterity spanning 200 years of history in Knoxville.
We took photos of some of the gravestones. I felt the need to see if we could locate a plot map for the cemetery showing who was buried where. Where to begin? There were few cars next to the church, so we started there. We went into the church, followed the fresh smell of brewed coffee, and found the pastor and others in a prayer meeting. I interrupted the meeting and learned that the church was no longer involved with the cemetery, but they did give us directions to the home of the cemetery sexton/caretaker.
John and I spent the next two hours seeing the land and exploring the area. We drove about a mile from the church to Coon Lane and found the cemetery’s caretaker. He allowed us to photograph the plot map, which was little more than a paper with hand-drawn squares and names within the squares. Upon returning to the cemetery, I used the map to find family graves and identify graves with no headstone. Knowing that many of those buried in the cemetery had intermarried with the Lee family, I chose to take pictures of all headstones and later use census records to help tie family connections.
As the day progressed, we visited lands once owned by Permitt Lee and discussed the family history and gossip. As I left, John provided me what would later become an essential clue in searching Permitt Lee—namely that his grandmother had told him that she had always been told that the Lees were from Shropshire, England.
Lessons learned:
Otis, Kansas-Aunt Katie has the Record
Following the passing of my stepfather, Mel Wagner, I desired to learn more about his family and lineage. It took six months to locate a daughter from a previous marriage. She shared with me that she had heard that an “Aunt Katie” somewhere in Kansas had a family record, but she wasn’t sure how to locate her.
After another three months of searching, I could finally locate her and set up a telephone interview. In the telephone interview, Aunt Katie shared with me that she was living in a nursing home, that she was in her late 80s and the last living survivor of her generation, and that her son had the record she had created about the family. I contacted the son and other family members to discuss the records and see if I could get copies, which were promised several times in nine months but never sent. After my last call with one of the Wagner family members, I felt the need to travel to Kansas and see if I could secure the records. At this point, I didn’t even know what the records were, what they contained, or even their actual value as a historical/genealogy research record. It was a most unusual feeling, similar to when I left home and knew I had forgotten something and needed to return. I knew from experience that when those feelings come, I needed to act now and make arrangements to visit Kansas within that same month.
Of all Mel’s family members I had spoken with, his cousin Dwight had been the only one willing to help me learn more about the family. I made travel arrangements and flew into Wichita, Kansas, followed by a three-hour drive to Rush County to meet with Dwight at 10:00 a.m. that Saturday morning. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Mary, Dwight’s wife, who told me that her husband had an emergency and needed to help their son fix his car.
For the next five hours, Mary shared some of the family history work with me. We ate fresh baked cookies and watched TV. I wondered whether I had done the right thing by coming to Kansas. About 4:00 p.m., Dwight came home and offered to show me the family homestead in Otis, Kansas—population just under 400 people, settled by Germans from Russia in the late 1800s.
When we arrived in Otis, we went to the cemetery. It was a simple cemetery surrounded by wheat fields that seemed to roll on for miles. Overhead, hundreds of geese honking as they made their way to their winter homes. We got out of the car and began to find family members’ gravesites. Dwight shared an experience in the early 1980s when he felt very depressed and lonely. He sought professional counseling, at which time he was given direction to resolve feelings of loss that were not resolved since he was a boy. The suggestion he received was to go to the gravesite of his grandfather and father and speak out his heart. There was a break in his voice and a tear from his eye as he reached that point. Then I felt a warm presence as if we had others in our presence that we could not see. I looked at Dwight and asked, “What are you feeling right now?” His response was, “My family, they are here with us.” The family was there. The purpose of why I came was obvious; I knew I had done the right by coming to Kansas. I knew that I would leave with the record.
Upon leaving the Otis Lutheran Cemetery, Dwight took me to tour the fields the family had farmed for 150 years. After that was scheduled a first-time meeting with Aunt Katie and her son at a restaurant in a neighboring town. Upon greeting Aunt Katie, I received the warmest hug, as if I were her flesh and blood. Her son, courteous at best, wasn’t much warmer than a Kansas blizzard. During dinner, Aunt Katie talked about Mel, her family, and the roots of generations past. During the dinner, the son suggested that it was getting late and he needed to return Aunt Katie to her home.
My chance to see the record was slipping away. There wasn’t going to be a “right” time to ask, so I reached out and gently held Aunt Katie’s hand and said, “It’s been wonderful to meet you and learn about the family. Would you be willing to show me the record about the family you have prepared?” Just as I finished, Aunt Katie’s son started to speak up, at which point, she replied, “Yes, it’s at my son’s home. Let’s go there now.” Her son just gave me a look that let me know he wasn’t happy.
I was allowed to view the record I had heard about at home. It was a simple, spiral-bound notebook that a student would use in school. It contained a hand-written record of each family member, including names, birth dates, death dates, and notes about family members. It was a labor of love. Katie told me that she had spent many hours searching out gravestones and making calls to put the record together. In addition, Aunt Katie showed me five scrapbooks she had kept about her family during her life.
I was overwhelmed with what was before me—a family record that might all be thrown away at her death. It was in my hands. I then looked Aunt Katie in the eye and asked if I could copy the record before returning home. She responded by asking, “Why do you want the record? You are not a member of our family.”
Then, I thought, “Aunt Katie, Mel is a kind gentleman, and he is the type of father I wish I had growing up. He played an important role in my mother’s life and made a difference in my life.”
She smiled and said, “Welcome to the family. We are glad you came, and we are glad that we got to know you. You can copy the record.” Her son spoke up immediately and said, “No, you are not getting the record.”
Aunt Katie spoke to her son directly and firmly. “Yes, he is going to get the record. And if you want to stay in my will, you will let him have the record.” Her son looked at me and said curtly, “There is a Safeway around the corner, and they have a copier. Let’s go now.”
It was 9:30 p.m. The store closed at 10:00 p.m. The copier was out of toner, and it only took dimes. During my coping, the son made it clear that this was the only chance I would have to copy the record because the very next day, he was going to have power of attorney with his Mom and would not allow any further information to be given. At 10:02, 150 pages later, the copying was complete. The record contained 500 names and has been the foundation for linking Mel’s family back nine generations to Russia and Germany.
Lessons learned
- Field research is required.
- If one family member doesn’t help, find a family who will.
- When prompted to search or act on a family line, do it.
Arizona War Memorial
During a family trip to visit Hawaii, we took the opportunity to visit the Arizona Memorial. We learned from others that it would be wise to start early if we would beat the crowds to the Memorial. We arrived at 8:30 and were able to get tickets for the 9:45 a.m. program. During our hour wait, we took the opportunity to review the many exhibits throughout the courtyard. The highlight of the wait was listening to a volunteer who had been at Pearl Harbor. He told us of his experience that morning of the attack and what it was like to have been there. During the attack, he had been part of the Island defense. He mentioned that his outfit and several other groups had conducted anti-aircraft drills the day before the attack. When the drills were over, they put the guns away. If only the Japanese had come the day before. He brought to life the experience of Pearl Harbor and the hours shortly after the attack.
Visiting the Memorial was a very somber experience. At the start of the show, we watched a twenty-minute movie that set the stage for the attack and highlighted the details of the attack in the film. Our group climbed aboard a boat that took us out to the Memorial following the film, where we spent fifteen minutes. Over 1,100 men were interred within Arizona. On the list of names of persons killed in Arizona, we found the name that had the same last name. My first thoughts were that it was not a member of our family.
Upon returning home, my son inquired whether the individual was related. As a research exercise, I suggested that the two of us research precisely who he was. We researched census and military records and consulted other genealogists. Yes, the person was a relative; t was a branch of the family for which we could not find connections. One clue on a wall was the link to a missing branch.
Nebraska & Kansas Trip 2
On an earlier field research trip, I had come to Kansas searching for a record that my stepfather’s aunt had prepared. This trip was scheduled for Nebraska and Kansas to expand on the information and research I had completed during that time, and I had spent two months setting up appointments and learning where I could expand my research.
My first stop was Lincoln, Nebraska, to visit with the Germans from Russia Society. While there, I was introduced to an extensive library of research—compiled by members of the Society since its founding—that is only accessible by visiting the library in person. With the librarian’s aid, I was able to find documented research that greatly expanded my research. I was also able to receive recommendations from other genealogists with that I could collaborate. Before coming to the society headquarters, I searched their website extensively and contacted others, but coming to Nebraska revealed nothing like a researching person.
That night, I drove several hundred miles to Russell, Kansas, to be in a position to have a full day of work, achieving the other goals I had for Nebraska and Kansas.
On Saturday morning, my priority was to go to Otis, Kansas, and film the gravestones of the Methodist and Lutheran cemeteries. In my research, I learned that sixteen families had immigrated from Russia, all related. As I reviewed the family names in the Lutheran Cemetery, 85 percent of the names were related to original immigrants. Only 25 percent of the Methodist cemetery was related to the surnames. I spent about six hours filming the gravestones.
Later that day, I was scheduled to meet the Schweins from Ness County, learn about my stepfather’s mother’s side of the family, and learn its history, farmed, lived, went to church, and where they were buried. This trip was well planned, and I could extend and expand my research from the information I found, saving hundreds of hours of work.
Lessons learned:
- Return to the source, place, or person only after you have had a chance to understand what you found the first time.
- Society websites only post a small portion of available resources.
Whether you are planning a half-day, day, week, or month-long historical research trip, care and preparation in your planning will enrich and enhance your opportunities to successfully prioritize and accomplish your goals.
