Practical Tips for Researching Your Genealogy

Master the fundamentals of genealogy research with proven strategies for documentation, evidence gathering, and collaborative investigation that lead to meaningful discoveries.

In conducting a research on your genealogy, you are bound to come across some tips from experts and other tricks on how to find and obtain the information you need. While these genealogy tips and tricks may be helpful, there are still a few basic genealogy guidelines that you must observe to improve your chances for an effective and meaningful search.

Successful genealogy research is built on solid fundamentals: careful documentation, rigorous evidence evaluation, and collaborative sharing. These core principles separate productive researchers from those who become lost in speculation and dead ends.

On Recording Information: The Foundation of Success

Often overlooked by beginners in genealogy research is the documentation aspect. An accurate log of the information that you have collected will facilitate any cross-referencing later on when you need to verify any subsequent information that may be obtained from other sources. To this end, be sure to record all gathered information together with the corresponding resources you used.

Essential Documentation Practices

Complete Source Citations: Every piece of information in your genealogy research should include:

Source Title: Name of the document, book, website, or record
Location: Where you found the information (archive, library, website URL)
Date Accessed: When you obtained the information
Page/Section: Specific location within the source
Repository Information: Institution holding the original record

Research Log Maintenance:

Search Dates: When you conducted each search
Search Terms: Exact names, dates, and locations used
Results: What you found AND what you didn't find
Follow-up Actions: Next steps identified from each search session

Organizational Systems That Work

Digital Documentation:

Genealogy Software: Programs like Family Tree Maker, Legacy, or RootsMagic
Cloud Storage: Organized folders with consistent naming conventions
Database Systems: Spreadsheets for tracking sources and research progress
Digital Notebooks: OneNote or Evernote for research logs and notes

Physical Documentation:

Filing Systems: Organized by family line or surname
Research Binders: Separate sections for each research goal
Source Photocopies: Clear copies of all original documents
Working Papers: Draft family trees and research notes

On Evidence Gathering: Building Strong Hypotheses

Genealogy research is much like any other type of research; you will have to create your own hypotheses about your family history. This means that you need to develop a theory about your ancestry as you try to connect the bits and pieces of information that you gather.

Avoiding Romantic Notions

However, stay away from entertaining any romantic notion about your blood line as doing so can only be a distraction to your efforts to researching your genealogy.

Common Romantic Myths to Avoid:

Royal Connections: Claims of royal ancestry without documentation
Famous Relatives: Assumptions about connections to historical figures
Dramatic Stories: Unverified tales of family fortune or tragedy
Native American Heritage: Claims without tribal records or documentation
Ellis Island Name Changes: Assumption that names were changed during immigration

Scientific Approach to Evidence

Test every assumption you have by validating each hypothesis against credible evidence. Reject any hypothesis that is unsubstantiated by evidence and move on to the next premise.

Evidence Evaluation Criteria:

Primary Sources: Created at the time of the event (birth certificates, marriage licenses)
Secondary Sources: Created after the event using primary sources (compiled genealogies)
Circumstantial Evidence: Indirect evidence that supports a conclusion
Direct Evidence: Explicitly states the fact you're trying to prove

Hypothesis Testing Process:

Formulate: Create specific, testable theories about family connections
Research: Gather evidence that could support or disprove the theory
Evaluate: Assess the quality and reliability of evidence found
Conclude: Accept, modify, or reject the hypothesis based on evidence
Document: Record your reasoning and evidence for future reference

On Using Original Documents: Seeking Primary Sources

Whenever possible, it is best to use original documents in your genealogy research. There is always that risk of possible alterations in cases of using reproduced documents which, of course, would lead to factual errors. Publications, compilations, communications and other references (electronic or paper) should serve only as guides to direct you to the original source documents.

Understanding Document Hierarchy

Primary Sources (Most Reliable):

Vital Records: Birth, marriage, death certificates
Census Records: Government population counts
Military Records: Service and pension files
Land Records: Deeds, surveys, and property transfers
Court Records: Wills, probate files, legal proceedings

Secondary Sources (Moderately Reliable):

Compiled Genealogies: Published family histories
Obituaries: Newspaper death notices
Family Bibles: Handwritten family records
Cemetery Records: Transcribed tombstone information
Local Histories: Regional and county history books

Tertiary Sources (Least Reliable):

Online Family Trees: User-submitted genealogies
Commercial Genealogy Sites: Trees with unverified information
Family Stories: Oral traditions and memories
Surname Studies: Generic information about surnames

Finding Original Documents

Government Archives:

National Archives: Federal records and military documents
State Archives: State-level vital records and documents
County Courthouses: Local vital records, land deeds, probate files
Municipal Records: City directories, local government documents

Digital Collections:

FamilySearch: Free access to millions of records
Ancestry.com: Subscription-based comprehensive database
Archives.com: Historical records and documents
Google Books: Historical publications and genealogies

On Sticking to the Truth: Maintaining Research Integrity

Restrict all communication regarding your genealogy to factual information only. When sharing information, never mislead other researchers, intentionally or not. Always cite your references when providing information as a fact.

Building Research Credibility

If you pass on unsubstantiated information as factual to other investigators and should your "fact" be disproved later on, you are bound to lose credibility among genealogists. Any assistance from the community would be less likely to come by when you need help in your own search.

Guidelines for Sharing Information:

Fact vs. Theory: Clearly distinguish between proven facts and working theories
Source Attribution: Always cite your sources for any information shared
Uncertainty Acknowledgment: Admit when you're unsure about information
Collaborative Spirit: Share information to help others while seeking help for yourself

Proper Information Qualification

Note any uncertainty you have over a piece of information. In addition, qualify any mention of that information as something "probable" or "possible" and then cite your source as well as the reason you believe that the information may be true. Don't forget, too, to acknowledge any information coming your way courtesy of other researchers.

Language for Uncertain Information:

"Possibly": When evidence suggests but doesn't prove
"Probably": When strong evidence supports but confirmation is lacking
"According to [source]": When relying on secondary sources
"Family tradition states": When sharing unverified family stories
"Circumstantial evidence suggests": When drawing logical conclusions

On Working with Others: The Power of Collaboration

Collaborations figure prominently in genealogy research. There are societies and communities of genealogists where knowledge is shared for the benefit of everyone. On your part, you could publish your findings and make it available to others in the field. You could even submit your research to libraries and other databases. Through it all, be prepared and open to constructive criticism.

Building Research Networks

Genealogy Communities:

Local Genealogy Societies: Regional groups with specialized knowledge
Online Forums: Surname-specific groups and regional research communities
Professional Organizations: National Genealogical Society, Board for Certification
DNA Study Groups: Genetic genealogy communities and cousin connections

Sharing Your Research:

Online Databases: Submit family trees to collaborative sites
Library Donations: Share compiled research with local libraries
Society Publications: Contribute articles to genealogy journals
Presentation Opportunities: Speak at society meetings and conferences

Receiving Help from Others

Similarly, you can help yourself to the information gathered by other researchers. Access their repositories, send queries or request for information. Everybody in the field is willing to help.

Effective Collaboration Strategies:

Specific Requests: Ask targeted questions rather than general inquiries
Information Exchange: Offer to share relevant information in return
Respectful Approach: Acknowledge others' time and expertise
Proper Attribution: Credit researchers who help you

On the Need to Keep an Open Mind: Embracing New Discoveries

The whole process of genealogy research involves the formulation and evaluation of a number of hypotheses and you need to keep an open mind about the whole thing. Be flexible and set aside any preconceived ideas about your lineage.

Flexibility in Research

It is possible that you might chance upon new evidence that would seem to invalidate your previous findings or lead you to another direction. Learn to appreciate the conclusions drawn by other genealogists and welcome their comments about your own progress. Who knows, you just might gain valuable insight on how to proceed with your work.

Maintaining Research Flexibility:

Question Assumptions: Regularly reassess your conclusions
Welcome Corrections: View conflicting evidence as learning opportunities
Explore Alternatives: Consider multiple possibilities for each connection
Adapt Methods: Change research strategies when current approaches aren't working

Learning from Setbacks

Common Research Challenges:

Brick Walls: When progress stalls despite extensive searching
Conflicting Evidence: When sources provide contradictory information
Missing Records: When documents have been lost or destroyed
Name Variations: When ancestors used multiple names or spellings

Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles:

Lateral Research: Study siblings, neighbors, and associates
Cluster Genealogy: Research entire family groups together
Alternative Sources: Explore non-traditional record types
Professional Help: Consult with professional genealogists for complex problems

The Rewards of Methodical Research

You will find that genealogy research can be rewarding, fun and interesting. It only requires from you truthfulness, flexibility, and an open mind. Do not be selfish with your information; share with others and receive their inputs without being hypercritical. Neither should you take offense on their remarks.

The Collaborative Spirit

You can liken your research to solving a jigsaw puzzle -- given more ideas and help, the faster you can fill the blanks to create a beautiful family picture.

Long-term Benefits of Proper Methods:

Reliable Results: Conclusions you can trust and defend
Efficient Progress: Systematic approaches that prevent wasted effort
Community Respect: Recognition as a credible researcher
Legacy Value: Research that benefits future generations
Personal Satisfaction: Confidence in your discoveries and conclusions

Building Your Research Foundation

Successful genealogy research is built on these fundamental principles: meticulous documentation, rigorous evidence evaluation, collaborative sharing, and intellectual honesty. When you commit to these practices from the beginning of your research journey, you set yourself up for discoveries that are both meaningful and trustworthy.

Remember that genealogy is not just about collecting names and dates—it's about understanding the real people behind those names and preserving their stories for future generations. The care you take in your research methods today determines the value and reliability of your family history for decades to come.