Genealogy tip 28—16 Forms to gather, manage and guide 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 of 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 28: 16 Forms to Gather, Manage and Guide Your Research.
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Genealogy Tip 28: 16 Forms to Gather, Manage and Guide Your Research
Use forms to gather, manage, and guide your research. It doesn’t take long for new genealogists to get out of control when it comes to miscellaneous scraps of paper with indecipherable notes, orphaned photocopies with no identifying marks, lecture and class handouts, copies of emails, bibliographic references, post-it notes, scribbled messages, and torn bits of magazine or newspaper articles. I use a variety of forms to help me stay organized in all phases of my research, and I regularly file these forms for later review and use. The following is a list and description of the most common forms I use in my research. These forms are available for download at my website.
Timelines
It is essential to draft regular summaries of your findings. Two of the forms that summaries can take are the timeline and the narrative. The timeline is a chronological listing of events in a particular person’s life or a period in the existence of a family. The timeline should reflect the research principle that you should work from the present to the past. Thus, a timeline on a particular person should begin with their death and then progress back in time. It may prove helpful to introduce historical events into the timeline, particularly those of regional significance, which may dictate the availability of records (a tornado that destroyed a courthouse, for example).
Narratives
A narrative can be as simple as an informal collection of paragraphs about an ancestor or as elaborate as a multi-generational family history suitable for publication. For most researchers, the more straightforward paragraph narrative is the precursor to publication. You need not be an award-winning author to present your findings in this manner and compose an accurate and concise summary of your research steps and a condensed version of your findings. Consider such a narrative to be a research status report that can help you spot inconsistencies in your evaluations as it highlights potential pursuit opportunities.
Research activity logs
The research activity log, used in conjunction with the timeline, is an efficient way to keep track of the origins of information provided on the family group sheet and in a chronological account. A well-kept research activity log will serve as a quick reference for sources of information, allowing you to see at a glance what work remains to be done. The source numbers cross-reference to the sources used in entering information on the family group sheet and the timeline.
To-do list
Periodically, I will review each folder in a filing system and list items that need further attention or research. I will make one to-do list per folder. On the list, be very specific about the items needed. Also include any clues about the names, time frame, and place. Use this list to search websites and take it on research trips. Include item(s) to search, pertinent dates and names, and film or book numbers.
Cemetery log
A worksheet to take with you when researching cemetery records or to visit a cemetery in person can be very helpful. Cemetery logs can also show families, collateral lines, and friends since many people were buried in clusters.
Research logs
The research log, also called a calendar, is a running list of sources checked; annotations can indicate whether a particular source revealed anything. The log shows all sources checked and acts as a table of contents to the research notes.
Correspondence log
The correspondence log lists all the letters and emails you send and receive, and it includes who the correspondence was to and from, the topic, and the next steps I want to take in the process. Create an electronic or hardcopy file, so you easily retrieve letters as needed.
Pedigree charts
Pedigree charts provide an overview of the family and enable you to track research progress. All information recorded on the sheet (names, dates, and places) should be accompanied by a notation showing how that information was obtained. If names, dates, or places indicated on a pedigree chart are a product of speculation (unproven or undocumented), that fact should be indicated in some way on the chart.
Family group sheets
Family group sheets organize what is known about a couple and their children. Researchers usually use family group sheets—which include spaces for names, parents, dates and places of events, children, spouses, sources, and other information—to help identify particular family members. Sources can be entered on the back of the sheet if the room is limited on the front. Blank sheets can be used as worksheets when researching.
Index notes and handouts
If you attend many society meetings, classes, or lectures, you probably receive many handouts. Since most handouts don’t apply to any specific family, remember what handouts and notes you have. An index, organized alphabetically (if possible), will give you an “at a glance” reference to what sources of information you have.
Marriage log
A marriage log displays information about the bride and groom for a specific location. You can adapt the form to your needs if you wish to cover more than one location on a form.
Migration trail map
Migration trail maps display every place your ancestors lived, which is useful when locating specific locality resources. A migration trail can also lead you to further information about the forces that drove the families to move (war, land opportunities, crop failures, or simply a desire to change locations). It would help if you were sure to check out each stop for collateral lines and extended families.
Relationship chart
If you are confused about how one individual is related to another person or group of people, a relationship chart will tell you their relationship. Several relationship (cousinship) charts are available online, but for multiple relationships, use a genealogy database program to generate a chart. Relationship charts can be beneficial when you have two ancestral lines that inter-marry.
Research log
Research logs can be divided by individual or surname, as you desire. When you research, logs should be taken with you, and every item you search should be entered. This may seem like a lot of work (especially for those resources in which you find no information), but a detailed research log can be used as a roadmap to show you what resources you’ve checked and what results in you found there. You may adapt a research log for use on the Internet; notations of what websites, indexes, and databases you’ve searched can be helpful, as can listing those sites and newsgroups to which you have submitted a query.
Abstract forms for deeds and wills
An abstract form walks you through the task of extracting vital information from deeds and wills by prompting you to note the important information found on these legal documents. An abstract form is worth its weight in gold when you find yourself in a dusty, dimly-lit courthouse basement with a vast deed book on your lap.
Census extract forms
It is easy to miss information after you’ve worn out your eyes staring at census microfilm, hence creating census extract forms. These forms (available for all census years from 1790-to 1940) allow you to note the necessary information and show families and neighbors as they occur on the microfilm. Any notes or comments you may wish to make can be entered on the back of the form.
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
