Genealogy records and research process
Genealogy research is the process of searching for records to find information about your ancestors. This article will help you to learn more about the history of your family. You will know which types of records to use to get the information you seek.
Step 1: Identify what you already know
Start by reviewing what information you already know. Furthermore, record that information on appropriate forms and keep your records organized.
Download a Free Family History Spreadsheet to collect all the data you have and see what is still missing.
By the end of step one, you should have:
Facts and information told by your relatives.
An organized spreadsheet of the data you have.
Step 2: Decide what you want to learn
The most critical element in genealogy is to identify what data you are looking for. Therefore, in your genealogy research, we recommend focusing on the essential data:
Names and last names of your ancestors ;
Dates of births and death of ancestors;
The place they were born;
First and last names of their spouses.
What you want to accomplish may vary, but collecting this information will help. You don’t need to thoroughly document the life of every ancestor you have if this is not a final goal. So carefully select the data of most significant interest to you.
Most genealogy researchers have a final destination in mind before they begin to research. However, to achieve your goal, you should divide it into several specific research objectives. A research objective is a particular piece of information about one person you do your best to accomplish.
A single, clearly defined research objective will:
Focus your efforts, one step at a time, on a single task (such as a name, date, place, relationship, etc.);
Improve your chances of selecting a record that has the information you seek;
Reduce the confusion of trying to work on several objectives at once;
Help you succeed and enjoy your research experience.
To select a specific research objective, you should first identify several individuals you could research. For instance, start with one individual or family in mind and then identify particular questions you want to get an answer for. Next, select one query and set it as the research objective.
Step 3: Select genealogy records
Selecting a record to search is the most complex part of genealogy. What you will need to do is:
Identify a category of sources;
Choose a record type;
Select specific records.
Create a comprehensive list of all possible sources.
This focus is called a record selection strategy. In other words, an orderly approach to identifying the most helpful records for your research objective. At the end of this step, you will have a research log with descriptions of documents you will use to meet your goal.
The most valuable sources for your genealogy research will be the following:
Original records. They provide information about events in a person’s life. These records include birth, marriage, immigration, military service, land purchases, and death. Most also document relationships.
Compiled records. A collection of information about a person, group, or family. Researchers and authors gather information from original and other compiled records. May include international and local sources.
Genealogical records provide vital biographical information on individuals and families.
Background information helps understand the parameters in which records were created and the locations, groups, or subjects used in family history research. In addition, they describe the circumstances of life in a particular place and time.
Step 4: Obtain and search the genealogy records
If you have effectively completed earlier steps, you are now ready for the most exciting and rewarding step in genealogy – finding the data. You may be able to obtain most records from several different resources:
Internet Resources. There are many resources on the internet that you can review from the comfort of your own home. Some are free, and some charge for searching and viewing the images. Online Genealogy Records by Location
Family History Library in Salt Lake City has the most extensive collection of genealogical information in the world. Many of the records you need are likely available through the library and its branch centers.
Family History Centers are located throughout the United States and other parts of the world. These centers allow users to view rare digital images and may have microfilmed copies of family history records.
Other Research Libraries. Major research libraries with significant genealogical collections are found in every country. They include national libraries, private and major public libraries.
Step 5: Evaluate what you have
After you have searched records, you are ready to use the information you found. To make the best use of the data:
Evaluate what you saw;
Transfer the needed information to the appropriate forms;
Organize the new records;
Share your findings with your relatives.
When you complete this final step, you will have all the information on your hands. The best way to neatly organize everything is to put the data on a Genealogy chart also known as a Family Tree.
Check out our Family Tree designs!
