In family history research, we begin with the present. The first steps in research include consideration of what is known about the family by observation or from the traditions and stories passed down through the generations. Conversations and interviews with family members, friends, former neighbors, and perhaps people familiar with the history of the local area supplement our own memories. Home sources, such as a military medal, photographs, the family Bible, a grandparent's baptismal certificate, or the patent to your great-great-grandparents' homestead, enhance these recollections and interviews.
Any of these items could hold clues about your family history. Is the medal from the Civil War service of an ancestor? Does a newspaper clipping describe the accidental death of a great-uncle's first wife? Did your maternal line immigrate in 1878, as tradition states, and your paternal line in 1778, as Grandmother was fond of saying?
The clue might be a date inscribed on a wedding ring which leads you to an entry in the session minutes of a Presbyterian church. A memory that the family once lived in upstate New York might later be verified by finding a land deed at a courthouse. First steps involve discovering these clues, organizing them into a coherent pattern, and then following them on what might be the most remarkable and compelling journey of your life: the reconstruction and preservation of your own family's history.
As first steps become a journey, you will extend your searches to libraries and archives, courthouses, and other public record offices. As your curiosity grows, so will the collection of paper you accumulate. Unless you begin with good record-keeping practices, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of information you acquire.
Just as important as taking those first research steps is maintaining a clear record of them. Memories and observations are vulnerable to the ravages of time, and they should be preserved as soon as possible. Begin by writing down what you remember and what you learn. This written record will do more than document and preserve your findings. Completing record-keeping forms, maintaining a log of research activities, citing all sources of information, and periodically summarizing your findings will structure your investigation, enabling you to use your research time more wisely and productively.
There are many forms and organizational systems from which to choose. Some record-keeping systems require handwritten entry notes on preprinted forms. Other systems comprise software designed for use with personal computers. Whether using a computer or entering information by hand, it is critical to link every entry to its origin. This connects your findings to the specific document or other source that provided the information. Examples of this linkage on a manual set of forms and a computer-generated chart are shown later in this chapter.
Two other record-keeping skills assume great importance in genealogical research. The first is that of taking notes clearly and concisely. The second skill is drafting regular summaries of your findings. One basic summary style is to present the information as a timeline of important events. A timeline can help focus on immediate research needs while providing a steppingstone to the long-term goal of publication. A timeline is readily updated and can include specific statements about people, places, and treasured moments.
Another style of summary is the narrative form. A narrative can range from informal paragraphs about a single ancestor to a multi-generational family history suitable for publication. Novices and experienced researchers alike can benefit from creating short narratives at every stage of their work. Techniques for note-taking and methods of summarizing findings are discussed later in this chapter. |