Genealogy 101 workshop: "Who ARE You, Anyway?"
RESEARCH PLANNING
Where to start, what to look for, and how to put a research plan into action.
1. Start with "what you know."
Use a blank Pedigree Chart or Family Group Sheet to begin recording information about your family. Start with yourself, filling in the important dates and places.
Next, move up one generation and fill in what you know. That information will be the foundation of an Ancestor Timeline, which is basically a biography for each person on your family tree. Which form you choose is your preference, but the key is to get the dates and places of your ancestor's lives down in one place in an organized manner.
If you have information for the older generations, add that as well, but don't go nuts; the goal is to sketch out the first few generations and then do the research to verify that what you have is correct.
Next, move up one generation and fill in what you know. That information will be the foundation of an Ancestor Timeline, which is basically a biography for each person on your family tree. Which form you choose is your preference, but the key is to get the dates and places of your ancestor's lives down in one place in an organized manner.
If you have information for the older generations, add that as well, but don't go nuts; the goal is to sketch out the first few generations and then do the research to verify that what you have is correct.
2. Identify "what you don't know."
Step back and look at the big picture of your family. Which dates or places are missing from your charts? Does a particular family member seem interesting or mysterious? From your observations, choose a question you'd like to have answered for "the unknown" and that will be your "research goal."
Time to dig a little deeper! Interview relatives and consult Home Sources (such as family records, letters, birth and marriage certificates) to gather as much information as you can on your family. The goal is to get more of "the known" down on paper for the next step...
Time to dig a little deeper! Interview relatives and consult Home Sources (such as family records, letters, birth and marriage certificates) to gather as much information as you can on your family. The goal is to get more of "the known" down on paper for the next step...
3. Make your Research Plan.
This is where you should spend a good amount of thoughtful time before heading out to answer your "research goal" question. Use a Research Questions worksheet to get an idea of where to look for specific clues to your ancestor's life events.
First, read articles and books or listen to online seminars to gain additional knowledge on your research topic. Learn what sources might have answers to your research question and where to access them. Helpful hint: note general information about each place to visit on a Repository Checklist.
Next, use a Research Toolbox to locate sources from online genealogical and historical websites. You can also learn from other researchers. [The workshop will cover in greater detail how to identify sources and begin your research.]
Once you've compiled the list of where to look for information, you are ready to...
First, read articles and books or listen to online seminars to gain additional knowledge on your research topic. Learn what sources might have answers to your research question and where to access them. Helpful hint: note general information about each place to visit on a Repository Checklist.
Next, use a Research Toolbox to locate sources from online genealogical and historical websites. You can also learn from other researchers. [The workshop will cover in greater detail how to identify sources and begin your research.]
Once you've compiled the list of where to look for information, you are ready to...