Family History Basics
Five
"Dos" and "Don'ts" of Genealogy
All of us want to learn more about our roots. But none of us want to waste time
and energy doing it. So how can you discover and preserve the facts on your
family history without getting lost along the way? Here are five simple tips
that will help you avoid common research mistakes:
Mistake
No. 1
Not documenting your research.
If you don’t
keep track of where you’ve been, you’re likely to keep searching
the same records over and over again. Needless to say, this wastes a lot
of time.
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Solution:
Keep a research log.
You can either
download a free research form
from Ancestry.com or create your own. As you explore each new resource,
be sure to write down the name of the database as well as any page numbers.
Also, keep track of the different search terms and word combinations that
you’ve been using.
Mistake
No. 2
Using only one spelling.
If you’ve
been sticking with a single name spelling when searching for an ancestor,
you’ve probably missed out on a lot of good stuff. Always remember
that an ancestor could have used one of several names during his or her
lifetime.
Solution:
Use different spellings and name combinations.
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Try several
variations of your ancestors’ names incorporating middle names,
nicknames, and married names. You can also try changing the spelling slightly
(e.g. “Andersen” instead of “Anderson”). As with
any genealogical search, broadening your search criteria will return maximum
results.
Mistake
No. 3
Accepting fiction as fact.
Never take
anything at face value. Finding your ancestor’s name does not guarantee
that you’ve found the right ancestor. Remember that nothing is truly
fact until you can back it up using more than one resource.
Solution:
Use multiple records and resources.
To verify
your findings, check multiple source documents. If you have a birth record,
for example, you can cross-reference it with a census document. If the
name, age, and birthplace match up, then you’ve probably found the
right ancestor.
Mistake
No. 4
Extracting only part of the record.
You can miss
a lot of important detail by not paying attention to context. Who created
this record? When was it created? Who else is listed on the document?
Solution:
Look at the bigger picture.
Rather than
recording fragments, photocopy the entire page whether it’s a birth
certificate, parish record, or census document.
Mistake
No. 5
Going straight to a country of origin.
Many Americans
are anxious to establish cultural identity, be it Austrian, Italian, or
some other nationality. But searching for an ancestor in the Old World
is almost impossible without a strong base of preliminary research.
Solution:
Follow the trail and move backward.
Rather than
jumping into foreign research, it’s better to begin with recent
information like a last-known residence or a death record. Establishing
a thorough paper trail will help you narrow your research before moving
on to an entirely new country.
Who
are YOUR ancestors? Click here to find out.
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