There are two types of genealogy researchers. Of course there's the dedicated and perfectly organized researcher who can locate and produce any file in a matter of nanoseconds. Unfortunately I don't fall into that category. I regularly lose files, my coffee cup, and occasionally the neighbor's cat under the stack of papers piled on my desk. We're the "creative" researchers who dig in when the mood strikes (after two months of searching for the information we've already gathered). And yes, we need some help!
Regardless of which category you fall into, using good research techniques can save you a lot of time, money and frustration.
Some might suggest the "creative" genealogy researchers hire a professional. Certainly that is an option, but it takes the fun out of the discovery. Not many of us will choose a professional unless we get stuck.
Get It Together
The alternative to hiring a professional is to get organized. The further you get into your research the more intricate your filing system will need to be. To get started, a filing cabinet drawer with hanging files, a large 3-ring binder, or expanding organizer and some labels will help you keep things traceable. What works for you is the most effective method, so personalize it.
Gather your Tools
There are literally thousands of Web Sites and data bases on the Internet. Just try using a search engine to trace a family name. You'll come up with an overwhelming number of listings that are totally irrelevant to your search. Rather than sort through the massive pages of irrelevant material, you need to find a search engine like Ancestry.com or OneGreatFamily.com that is geared specifically for genealogy research.
Genealogy software is also a great way to keep your work organized and on track. Software like Family Tree Maker allows you to create colorful charts, include pictures and print you family's history in a book format to share with relatives.
Don't forget that genealogy magazines are a great way to keep up-to-date on the latest Web Sites, databases, and software coming out for genealogy researchers.
Use Soundex to Limit Frustration
Soundex is, in my opinion, one of the greatest inventions in regard to genealogical research. One of the biggest obstacles researchers face is spelling variations. Soundex categorizes names by alphanumeric codes according to sound rather than spelling.
Even first name spellings weren't standardized until recent history. Imagine the impact of low education levels and Americanization of foreign names on the spelling variations. A simple word like Grover could sound like Grober, Grower, Krover, Krober, Crower, or Crober to an uneducated ancestor.
Before you go too far into your research, it may save a lot of time and frustration to get the Soundex code to the name of the person you are searching for.
Use a Timeline
A timeline is basically history in a nutshell. A timeline can be as broad as world affairs or as narrow as what happened in a small community. The value of the timeline is that it gives insight into what was going on around the lives of an ancestor, which in turn might lend a clue as to where an ancestor may have disappeared to. A war, famine, mass exodus, etc. in the region in the time frame we are researching may give valuable insight to the everyday cares and lifestyle as well.
Share Your Story
Does your family have an emigration story? Share the story with others on the forum and connect to others with emigration stories. Valuable break-through information may be just a click away!
