The optimal travel packing list for historical, ancestry, and genealogy research field trips.
The following is a comprehensive packing list I have developed over the last 15 years as I have planned travel for ancestry and historical research field trips. The list will vary somewhat if you go to U.S. destinations versus other countries, usually Europe.
Travel Packing List for Historical and Genealogy Field Trips
Table of Contents
- Travel Packing List for Men
- Travel Packing List for Women
- Optional Packing List
- Travel Packing List for Research Field Trip
- Additional Packing List for Library Research
- Additional Packing List for Cemetery Research
- Additional Resources to Expand Your Knowledge
Pack light and only what you need. You will be grateful every day of your trip for lighter luggage. Review, add, and delete items that will help you
Travel Packing List for Men
This is my personal packing list that I have created for a 10-day trip. I do have variations on this list for the weekend to week-long trips. The difference in the lists is only how many items I take and the time of year.
Shirts:
- Five short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts in a cotton/polyester blend.
- 1 white dress for attending church.
- Arrange mix according to season.
Sweater:
- Warm and dark is best — for layering and dressing up.
Pants:
- Two pairs: One lightweight cotton and another super-lightweight for hot and muggy big cities and churches with modest dress codes. Also covers church attendance.
- Jeans can be too hot for summer travel. Linen is great.
- Many like lightweight pants/shorts with zip-off legs.
- Button-down wallet pockets are safest.
Shorts:
- Take a pair with pockets — it doubles as a swimsuit for men.
Swimsuit:
- Especially for women.
Underwear and socks:
- Bring five sets (lighter dries quicker).
Shoes:
- Take a well-used, light, and fabulous pair with Vibram-type soles and good traction.
- Sandals in case the shoes get wet.
- One pair of dress shoes if I am planning to attend church.
- For winter travel, bring heavy shoes (for warmth and to stay dry).
Jacket:
- Bring a light and water-resistant windbreaker with a hood.
- Gore-Tex is good if you expect rain. Always pack for rain in Britain.
Tie or scarf:
- One tie for church attendance.
- Scarf/bandana
Money belt: Lightweight and low-profile beige.
Money:
- A preferred mix of a credit card, debit card, an emergency stash of hard cash, and a couple of personal checks.
Documents and photocopies:
- Passport
- Airline ticket
- Rail pass or car-rental voucher
- Driver’s license
- Student ID
- Hostel card
- and so on.
- Note: Photocopies and a couple of passport-type photos can help you get replacements more quickly if the originals are lost or stolen. Carry photocopies separately in your luggage and keep the originals in your money belt. In your luggage, you’ll also want to pack a careful record of all reservations (bring the hotels’ written confirmations) and a trip calendar page to keep things up-to-date as your trip evolves.
Small daypack:
- Great for carrying your sweater, camera, literature, and picnic goodies while you leave your large bag at the hotel or train station.
- Fanny packs (small bags with thief-friendly zippers on a belt) are a popular alternative but are magnets for pickpockets and should never be used as money belts.
Camera:
- A digital camera and one high-capacity memory card mean no more bulky bags of film. A mini-tripod allows you to take crisp shots in low light with no flash.
Sealable plastic baggies:
- Variety of sizes.
- Note: They’re ideal for packing leftover picnic food, containing wetness, and bagging potential leaks before they happen. The two-gallon jumbo size is handy for packing clothing.
Water bottle:
- The plastic half-liter mineral water bottles sold throughout Europe are reusable and work great.
Wristwatch:
- A built-in alarm is handy.
- Note: Otherwise, pack a small *travel alarm clock. Cheap-hotel wake-up calls are exceptionally unreliable.
Earplugs:
- If night noises bother you, you’ll love a good set of expandable foam plugs.
First-aid kit.
Medicine and vitamins:
- Keep the medicine in original containers, if possible, with legible prescriptions.
Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses, and prescriptions:
- Contact solutions are widely available in Europe. Because of dust and smog, many travelers find their contacts aren’t as comfortable in Europe. Bring your glasses just in case.
Sunscreen and sunglasses:
- Depending on the season and your destination.
Toiletries kit:
- Sinks in cheap hotels come with insufficient countertop space and anonymous hairs.
- This is no problem if you have a nylon toiletry kit that can hang on a hook or a towel bar. Put all squeeze bottles in sealable plastic baggies since pressure changes in flight can cause even good bottles to leak.
- Consider a vacation from cosmetics.
- Bring a little toilet paper or tissue packets (sold at all newsstands in Europe).
- Fingernail clippers and tweezers (for retrieving lost bank cards) are also handy.
- My Sonicare electric toothbrush holds a charge from home for 30 one-minute brushes.
Soap:
- Not all hotels provide soap.
- A plastic squeeze bottle of concentrated, multipurpose, biodegradable liquid soap is handy for laundry.
- In the interest of traveling friendlier to our environment, I never use the hotel bathroom “itsy-bites,” preferring my bar of soap or bottle of shampoo.
Clothesline:
- Hang it up in your hotel room to dry your clothes.
- The handy twisted-rubber type needs no clothespins.
Small towel:
- You’ll find bath towels at fancy and moderately priced hotels and the cheapest ones. Although $50-a-day travelers will often need to bring their towel, $100-a-day folks won’t.
- I bring a thin hand towel for the occasional need.
- Washcloths are rare in Europe. *quick-drying synthetic towels.
Sewing kit:
- Clothes age rapidly while traveling.
- Take along a few safety pins and buttons.
Travel information:
- Rip out appropriate chapters from guidebooks, staple them together, and store them in a sealable plastic baggie.
- When you’re done, give them away.
Map:
- Get a map best suited to your trip’s overall needs and pick up maps for specific local areas.
Address list:
- A list of email and mailing addresses will help you keep in touch.
- You can send mass emails as you go (bring a shrunk-down printout of your email address book if you can’t access it online).
- Or, if you prefer to send postcards, consider printing your mail list onto a sheet of adhesive address labels before leaving.
- You’ll know exactly who you’ve written to, and the labels will be perfectly legible.
Postcards from home and photos of your family:
- A sealable plastic baggie of show-and-tell pictures is always a great conversation piece with Europeans you meet.
Small notepad and pen:
- A tiny notepad in your back pocket is a great organizer, reminder, and communication aid (for sale in European stationery stores).
Journal:
- An open book to be filled with the experiences of your trip will be your most treasured souvenir. Attach a photocopied calendar page of your itinerary. Use a hardbound type designed to last a lifetime rather than a spiral notebook.
Travel Packing List for Women
The list will vary somewhat if you go to U.S. destinations versus other countries, usually Europe. Pack light and only what you need. You will be grateful every day of your trip for lighter luggage.
Clothing
- 1 pair of walking/comfortable shoes
- 1 pair of sandals (weather permitting)
- 1 rainproof jacket
- 2-4 pairs of shorts/capris/skorts
- 2 pairs of pants (one dressy, one casual), 1 belt
- 1 swimsuit (packed in a plastic bag)
- 5 pairs of socks (cotton blend)
- 5 pairs of underwear (silk, lace, or micro-fiber dries quickest)
- 1 extra bra
- 4-6 shirts (long/short-sleeved, various colors)
- 1-2 light cardigans for layering
- 1-2 skirts (wrinkle-resistant)
- 2 dresses (optional)
- 1 hat
- scarves (to wear with clothing or hat)
- 2 vests (optional)
- 1 pair of pajamas (or long shirt to get you to the bathroom down the hall if necessary)
Toiletries/Medicine
- Body soap/puff (washcloth); most European hotels do not supply washcloths
- Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Brush/comb
- Lotion
- Vaseline (for feet)
- Razor (non-electric)/shaving cream or soap
- Sunscreen, insect repellent
- Prescription drugs (in the original container with your name and your doctor’s name, write down generic name)
- First aid kit/moleskin/blister kit
- Feminine hygiene products
- Deodorant
- Nail clippers/file/tweezers
- Spare glasses and prescription, mini-eyeglass repair kit, or contact lenses and supplies
- Hand sanitizer
- Vitamins
- OTC remedies (whatever works for you): Pepto, decongestants, etc.
- Clothesline, sink stopper, soap
- Baby powder (dry shampoo for hair)
Money and Security
- Money belt: Passport, plane ticket, debit card, credit cards, traveler’s checks, rail pass, driver’s license (if you’re renting a car)
- Security: Bury copies of your passport, plane ticket, and prescriptions in the bottom of your luggage
Necessities for Hostelling
- Pack towel
- Sleep sheet
Packing Essentials
- Pack light, wash frequently and buy it if you need it.
- Your pack should weigh about 20% of your body weight, preferably no more than 20 pounds.
- Limit yourself to one carry-on size bag: 9″ x 21″ x 13.”
- A week before your trip, pack your bag with everything you think you want to take and carry it around for a day. Is it comfortable? Too heavy? Better to know now than later!
Optional Packing List
The following is a suggested packing list that I have used in my travels. Its foundation is from Rick Steves, a well-known travel host for PBS, and I have found Rick Steves’ council and ideas to be on target and well thought out.
The list will vary somewhat if you go to U.S. destinations versus other countries, usually Europe. Pack light and only what you need. You will be grateful every day of your trip for lighter luggage.
Picnic supplies:
- Bring or buy a small tablecloth to give your meal some extra class (and wipe the knife on), salt and pepper, a cup, a spoon, and a washcloth (dampen and store in a baggie for cleaning up).
- A plastic plate is handy for picnic dinners in your hotel room.
2.
Packing cubes:
- These see-through, zip-up mesh containers keep your clothes tightly packed and well organized.
Clothes compressor:
- I like the one by Pack-Mate; this handy invention allows you to pack bulky clothes (like sweaters and jackets) without taking up too much space or creating wrinkles.
- Simply put the item in the bag, roll it up to force the air out through the one-way nozzles, and pack it away.
Nightshirt:
- Especially for women.
Light warm-up suit:
- Use pajamas, evening lounge outfits, instant modest streetwear, smuggling things, and “going” down the hall.
Spot #remover:
- Bring Shout wipes or a dab of Goop grease remover in a film canister.
Sandals or flip-flops
Slippers:
- I bring comfy slippers with leather bottoms on winter trips — great for the flight and for getting cozy in my hotel room.
Inflatable pillow:
- For sleeping on the plane (or “neck nest”).
Pillowcase.
- It’s cleaner and possibly more comfortable to stuff your own.
Hair drier:
- People with long or thick hair appreciate a travel hair drier in the off-season when hair takes a long time to dry and it’s cold outside.
- These are generally provided in $100-plus hotel rooms.
Hostel sheet:
- Hostels require one.
- Bring your own (sewn up like a sleeping bag), buy one, or rent a sheet at hostels (about $4 per stay).
- It doubles as a beach or picnic blanket, comes in handy on overnight train rides, shields you from dirty blankets in mountain huts, and will save you money in other dorm-type accommodations, which often charge extra for linen or don’t provide it at all.
Tiny lock:
- Use it to lock your backpack zippers shut.
- Note that if you check your bag on a flight, the lock may be broken to allow the bag to be inspected.
- You can improve the odds of your lock’s survival by buying one approved by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, the agency responsible for airport security).
- While you’ll unlock the TSA-approved lock with a combination, security agents will be able to open the lock without damaging it by using a unique master key.
Small flashlight:
- Handy for reading under the sheets after “lights out” in the hostel, late-night trips down the hall, exploring castle dungeons, and hypnotizing street thieves.
- Tiny but powerful LED flashlights — about the size of your thumb — are incredibly bright, compact, and lightweight.
Adapters:
- Electrical plugs.
Stronger light bulbs:
- You can buy these in Europe to give your cheap hotel room more brightness than the 40-watt norm.
Office supplies:
- Bring paper, envelopes, and sticky notes (such as Post-Its) to keep your place in your guidebook.
Small roll of duct tape:
Mailing tube:
- This protects the posters and prints you buy along your trip.
• You can trim it to fit inside your backpack (though this limits the dimensions of the posters you can carry).
A good paperback:
- There’s plenty of empty time on a trip to either be bored or enjoy some good reading.
- Popular American paperbacks are available in European airports and major train stations (usually for more than double their American price).
Insect repellent:
- Especially for France and Italy.
Collapsible umbrella:
- I like one that’s small and compact,
- Sturdy and well-constructed enough to withstand strong winds.
Poncho:
- Hard-core vagabonds use a poncho — more versatile than a tarp — as protection in a rainstorm, ground cloth for sleeping, or a beach or picnic blanket.
Gifts:
Travel Packing List for Research Field Trip
It would be nice to walk into a library and find what you want, and you are done. Experience has taught me that I am to expect the unexpected. The list may seem exhaustive, but it is designed to help review your own needs and choose those items you desire to take to make the research trip as effective as possible.
Trust me; nothing is more frustrating than traveling a long distance and not having what you need to complete the research. I remember having a camera battery go dead once, and no store in town carried the battery I needed. Due to travel schedules, it would be two years later before I could complete that particular research project.
The following list is based on the experience of many researchers. Not all items will apply to you, but I hope you find them helpful as you plan your next research trip.
Digital Camera with Built-in Flash
- Digital Camera. I recommend at least a 4-megapixel camera. Note: In libraries, archives, and town halls, ask permission to take photos, and my experience is that you will receive permission 80% of the time.
- Two extra sets of rechargeable batteries.
- At least 512 M of removable storage.
- I carry a total of 3 gigs of storage with me. About 3,000 photos JPG format.
- I have had entire disks which I forgot to clean off or have failed.
- Electric charger for rechargeable batteries.
- Transfer cord that links from camera to computer.
- Car plug extension for chargers (try to get one with 1 or more plug outlets).
- I plug into a 12 Volt outlet (in older vehicles cigarette lighter).
- Camera stand.
- Carrying case.
- Camera manual.
- Tripod.
- Copy stand (cookie sheet with markings) and an extra strip of magnets to perform indoor shooting will provide consistent results.
Laptop
- Laptop or computer
- Not a necessity, but a good idea for those who own or can borrow one.
- Take an external power adapter, spare batteries, and extension cord.
- Remember that foreign countries (Mexico, Canada) may have different voltages than in the U.S. If you go to Europe, you will need to buy a special adapter, or you will not be able to use the computer.
- Considering taking an external hard drive to transfer large amounts of data.
- Take time to build electronic folders on your computer to transfer your data before you leave on the trip. (Electronic folders refer to the place I will transfer data to during the trip from your camera, scanner, etc.)
- I have developed several folders depending upon what I am doing. I have named folders by surname, date of being out on the road, a city I am researching, etc.
- Make sure the software loaded includes:
- Choice of family history software and needed family files.
- Word processing software.
- Digital camera utility software is needed to transfer images.
- Carrying case.
- Backup disks of favorite software if you need to reinstall software while on the road.
Cell Phone with Key Call Numbers Stored into Database/Memory
- Rechargeable cord.
- Earphone cord.
- Extra phone cord.
- Extension cord from phone to computer if you use your phone to connect to the internet in emergency cases.
Scanner/Camera Support Software
- Scanner support software.
- Photo/image editing software.
- Internet software to connect to email, etc.
- DVD/CD burning software.
- Carrying case.
- Note: Do not take a scanner when traveling via airplane, and the scanner will get banged up in transit. If you need a scanner on a trip when taking a plane, consider buying a low-end model once you get there for under $100.00 and leaving it behind as a gift when you come home.
Audio Micro Digital Recorder to Record Thoughts or Interview Persons
- You can record entries too long to type or that cannot be copied.
Research Folder
- Develop a folder that has all the necessary information you need at your fingertips about your trip. For example:
- Goals and objectives for the trip.
- Acquisition goals.
- Travel plan and approximate times for each phase of research.
- Appointment calendar.
- City, county, state maps.
- Key contacts, addresses, phone numbers.
- “Map quest” maps of destination.
- Internet printouts that include addresses, phone numbers of the library, historical societies, city offices, etc., that you will be visiting.
- Printouts from catalogs of critical documents you seek to view/film.
- Internet printout of things to see.
- Packing list so you can recheck what you brought and not leave anything behind.
Scanner
- Electrical cord.
- Cord for transferring images from scanner to computer.
- Note: When researching courthouses and libraries, we usually keep the computer and scanning equipment stowed safely in the car in a large insulated lockbox and only bring them in if needed.
Necessary Clothes
- Extra pair of old shoes for muddy, cow-occupied fields.
- Long pants to protect legs from tall grass, briars, climbing fences.
- Extra clothing for when you get wet or soiled.
- Hat to protect from the sun.
- Sunglasses when you are outdoors.
- Bug repellent.
Emergency Food for When You Can’t Leave the Research Work
- Energy Bar
- Water.
- $15 -$20 for meals.
- Money for lunch! Time stands still for the engrossed researcher, but the brain still needs food to sustain the substantial energy required by intensive research.
Larger Padded Carrying Case
- To secure equipment that doesn’t require protection.
Hard-shelled Suitcase - To protect the camera and other digital equipment in their bags.
Mapping Program
Example: Hardware, combined with its Street Atlas USA mapping software, takes advantage of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Especially when you’re going to multiple places over several days that may be hard to find, rent or have a GPS installed in the vehicle, such as Neverlost.
This is extremely helpful when finding cemeteries and other locations of genealogical interest.
Research Resources
- Pedigree charts for the families you are researching.
- COPIES (originals stay at home).
- Blank charts for new information.
- Family Group Sheets for the families you are researching
- COPIES (originals stay at home).
- Blank charts for new information.
- Census forms, blank preprinted (available for 1790-1930).
- I.D., photo ID.
- Library and archives, etc., information.
- Location.
- Hours and days open.
- Exceptional staff or departments to see.
- Charts of Dewey Decimal/Library of Congress subject classifications so you can readily locate your subject.
- Maps.
- Town, county, state, or regional as needed.
- Research log.
- Soundex codes for surnames you are checking in the census.
- Surname list.
Additional Packing List for Library Research
The following are just a few more items that I have found helpful when I conduct library research.
- Envelopes of varying sizes to put materials as you receive them throughout the day/trip, so you don’t misplace/mislabel critical information. For example:
- #10 (Business size) letter envelops for 1) Removable camera storage 2) Cassettes 3)Letters/notes you may need to write when persons are not home
- Catalog envelops 9.5” X 12” for 1) Documents 2) Photos 3) Artifacts
- File folders, empty, for information found on each surname.
- I prefer expanding file folders; they are enclosed on all three sides, making it more difficult for papers to fall out.
- Note pads (8.5” X 11”) with lined paper.
- I like the note pads to be predrilled 3-hole punched, and it makes it a little easier to put them in a 3-ring binder for safekeeping during the trip and at home.
- If you don’t like the predrilled paper, consider carrying a desired size small paper punch. Punches come in 1-hole, 2-hole, or 3 hole punches.
- Post-It-Notes.
- Pencils with erasers or 2 mechanical pencils with extra lead.
Consider a couple of colored pencils for highlighting for different types of notes.
Consider also taking a small hand-held pencil sharpener. - pens.
- Consider a couple of colored pens for writing down different types of notes.
- Note some archives/libraries will not allow you to use pens. Make sure you have pencils available.
- Erasers, Art gum.
- Money for parking meters and copy machines.
- Assorted change (dimes and quarters).
- One-dollar bills.
- If extensive copying is anticipated, get rolls of dimes or quarters from the bank before going to the library or archives. Consider using a digital camera to capture the images of books and documents.
- Also, consider carrying a money pouch. Divide the cash you are carrying and put it into different places, so if the luggage is lost or stolen, you are not left with anything.
- Several sheets of colored paper (yellow, pink).
- Helps when reading faint writing on microfilm reader screens.
- Ruler.
- 6″ or 12,” depending on your preference.
- Clear or colored plastic.
- Some people may prefer a small tape measure.
- Flashlight if the records are under the stairs or in the attic.
- Calculator.
- Total up costs, distances, ages, etc.
- Magnifying glass.
- Special gloves to handle fragile documents.
Additional Packing List for Cemetery Research
Many of the items above will also be helpful in doing ancestry research when visiting cemeteries. The following are just a few more items that I have found helpful.
- Clothing, proper
- Hat to shade from the sun
- Sturdy shoes (flip-flops and sandals are not a good choice)
- Socks and long pants, with a long-sleeved shirt (protection against sun and ticks)
- First aid kit
- Include an allergy kit if you are allergic to bee stings, etc.
- Depending on the area, you may want to include a snakebite kit.
- Gloves, gardening, if you have to clear a gravestone by pulling grass.
- Insect repellant.
- Mirror (to shine light at headstones, to make inscriptions more legible).
- Plastic garbage bags to kneel on if you have to pull grass from around a headstone.
- Rice papers and crayons to make rubbings of inscriptions. Before undertaking rubbings, be sure to get permission from the person or organization responsible for the cemetery.
- Shovel a small, portable auto shovel if your car gets stuck.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Trowel for clearing away grass around cemetery markers.
- Umbrella in case of rain or shade from the sun.
- Sponge and a small container for water.
- Inscriptions can be easier to see when dampened with a sponge.
- Chalk can be handy to outline some of the letterings.
- Chalk easily washes away without damaging the headstone.
- Miscellaneous
- Canvas bag to carry research tools listed.
- Notebook, loose-leaf.
- I like the D-ring binders. Papers lay flatter and are less likely to bend unnecessarily when I close the binder.
- Postage stamps.
- To mail any letters/notes that might need to be written on the spot.
- Electrical bar strip with at least 4 outlets.
- Camera cleaning kit.
- Extra DVDs (large storage media) for data storage when the external hard drive is unavailable.
- Quart and Gallon size ziplock bags (keep equipment dry).
- See-through mesh cases to hold cords and misc.
- 3X5 cards or flip pad for writing/notes in the field.
- Handy backpack or fanny pack with multiple pockets to store and keep your hands free.
- Stapler and staple-pulling device (tiger jaws).
- Miniature staplers are available.
- Scissors (Small).
- Handy for trimming photocopies.
- Protractor.
- Helpful in plotting property descriptions from old deeds.
- Glue stick.
- Kleenex, small hand-size pack.
- Handy-wipes, a small pouch.
- Medications.
- If you are on medication, be sure to take some along. There is nothing worse than getting sick in a strange place.
- Band-aids.
- For minor paper cuts.
- Extra Notes
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
