Genealogy tip 12—Ancestry research begins with a research question.
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 Quick GenTip 12: Learning Begins with A Research Question.
Genealogy Tip Series
Click on an of the following Genealogy Tips to be taken to the article.
Genealogy Tip 12: Learning Begins with A Research Question
Learning begins with a question, and questions and answers are the foundation for exchanging information. We have many ways to learn, but by simply asking questions, we set the stage for learning and sharing what we know.
Narrow the focus of your questions
It is easy to become overwhelmed by the number of questions that need answers. It’s been my experience that the further I go, the more questions I ask.
The key is to identify one person or a few individuals of the same family. You will find your research efforts move forward faster if you focus on one individual and one question at a time. Use your pedigree charts and family group sheets to help you identify those questions. Make a research plan listing the questions you want to research.
What information do you want? It’s not uncommon to read and hear questions from new genealogists who seem to be asking for the responder to answer every question they will ever need now or in the future about a given family line or individual. The questions you ask determine your research path. Know what you want to learn. Know what information you want to find. The following are examples of the questions I have created to guide my research plan development, personal skill development, and research process:
Library Visit
How do I prepare for a library visit? What does the library have that will help me with my genealogy? What is a good book for beginners? How do I do research at a distance? What are some valuable tips for successful genealogical research?
Searching for Information. What records do I search if I want to find birth records?
Death records? Immigration records? Adoption records? Maiden name? City or parish of a foreign country?
Immigration
How do I locate passenger lists? Where do I find information on immigration and naturalization? What is available on the Internet? Where was my ancestor born? His parents? What language did they speak in the home? What language was their newspaper printed in? Did they immigrate? If so, what year? What language did they speak before they came to the United States? What is their status – AL (alien), PA (papered, or applied for citizenship), or NA (naturalized or received citizenship)?
Ancestor Profile
Where was my ancestor born? Was my ancestor married? Single? Widowed? Divorced? Married more than once? Where do I find vital records? Did my ancestors own a home or rent? Was it a farm or a house? Was it mortgaged or owned free and clear? Homesteaded? How much was the mortgage payment or the rent? What was their occupation, profession, or trade? Did they own their own business or employ others? Work for someone else? What was the type of business or trade?
Locating Record Repositories
What resources are available at the local library? The county or regional library? What about in university libraries and archives? State archives? Local, county, or state historical societies? Is there a local, county, or state genealogy society? What is available to you in the homes of family members?
Using Census Records
Which census were enumerations taken during the life of my ancestor? What maps exist for the period my ancestor lived? Where can I find blank census forms to help me record my information?
Ancestors in the Community
Were there relatives in the community where my ancestor resided? With whom did my ancestor do business? Where did his children find their spouses? Was it an ethnic community? If so, what language did they speak at home? When was the community founded? What records were available? What disasters had the community weathered? How had wars affected the community and its records? What churches were in the community? Are records available?
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
