Before you set out on your next genealogy research trip be sure to check your supplies to make sure that you don’t miss a single opportunity to uncover your family’s heritage.
We’re all busy and anxious to get started on our journey. But if we are not properly prepared there’s a chance that we might miss a perfect opportunity to witness a new family story or capture a photo that answers a question that has plagued you for decades.
Here’s a list of items that you should have handy each time you set out to a family picnic, reunion or just to visit your hometown:
- Laptop computer – loaded with your favorite Family Tree software and plenty of photos, maps and family history records;
- Digital camera and even a tabletop tripod – record family events and even act as a photocopier when all else fails;
- Digital recorder – use this to record family stories that Aunt Betty tells at every reunion as well as record notes to yourself about events, dates and time, locations, anything that you don’t have time to write down;
- GPS – use this to help you find County Records offices, libraries, picnic locations, cemeteries, even record exact locations of headstones;
- Battery chargers and extra batteries for all of the above devices;
- Be sure to add these low tech devices because you never know when the power will fade:
- Pens and pencils;
- Notepad – a low tech laptop computer;
- Street Maps for the State or Provinces as well as the towns or cities that you plan to attend;
- Research binders with paper copies of Family group sheets, ancestral charts and even your to-do list and research log to ensure you don’t miss a single item on your research list; and don’t forget
- Backpack –big enough to hold all your research tools as well as sturdy enough to allow you to keep up with all the action.
As you can see, the backpack will look very full, but like the Scout’s motto to “Be Prepared” it’s worth it. Try the list out for yourself and be sure to let us know if we have missed anything at all.
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