Getting The Most Out Of YOUR Genealogy Toolbox

You often hear of adding to your “genealogy toolbox,” but what do you do with what you’ve already got? I’m guilty of it and I know you are, too. Going to genealogy classes, webinars, and institutes collecting the syllabus, and then doing nothing with it.

Perhaps you purchased a new book and it has been on your shelf for the past year, unopened. Well, this is the year that habit comes to a screeching halt.

In this blog post, I’ll show you the value of looking at what’s already in your genealogy toolbox before adding to it.

My Confession

I have attended several institutes and many (many!) webinars. I wrote about my Advanced Genealogical Methods course from January 2023. You can find that here. 

The information that came out of those classes was tremendous/overwhelming, yet my binder of notes sits on my shelf untouched. Why is that? It’s two feet from my desk, so it’s accessible. It’s well organized, so it’s easy to look through.

I think we all get in the habit of moving on…the next record, the next webinar, the next shiny thing that catches our eye.

I want to slow down and put what I’ve learned to the test. That includes opening course binders on my shelf and syllabi stored on my computer. If this is you, let’s do this together. First up is reference material.

Reference Material

If you’ve ever gone to a conference or institute, you know how much printed or digital information you get in a short amount of time.

Here are 8 tips to get the most out of what you bring home:

1. Review and Organize: Sort through your handouts, notes, and materials. Organize in a way that makes sense to you.
2. Condense Key Information: What are the key points and actionable items from the material? Summarize important details into a condensed format for quick reference.
3. Digitize for Accessibility: Scan or digitize handouts and notes. Having digital copies allows for easy access and searchability.
4. Create Annotated Notes: Add annotations or additional information to your notes. Go through your notes to make sure you are clear on the concepts.
5. Cross-Reference Resources: Link conference materials to existing resources in your genealogy collection. Doing this will reinforce the topic and keep all your resources together and handy.
6. Try New Strategies: Apply new methodologies or techniques to your current research.
7. Follow-Up Research: Explore references, recommended books, or databases mentioned in the materials.
8. Create Actionable Tasks: Turn insights from the materials into actionable tasks or research plans. Set goals to put this action list to the test.

Webinar Syllabi

Are your physical or digital folders a place to store class material that never sees the light of day again? Now is the time to go through them and see what they can offer in terms of your current genealogy research.

Here are 8 tips to get the most out of webinar syllabi:

1. Scan for Key Topics: Quickly skim through the syllabus to identify the main topics and subtopics covered, helping refresh your memory of the webinar’s content.
2. Focus on Notes Pay attention to any notes or highlights you made during the webinar to revisit key points.
3. Highlight Resources: Did the syllabus suggest any books, websites, or databases to explore? Make a list so you won’t forget what they are.
4. Follow-up Research: While listening to the webinar, is there a topic you want to research further? Use the syllabus as a guide to remind you of that.
5. Review Examples and Case Studies: Revisit examples or case studies presented in the webinar to understand how they were used. How can you apply those techniques to your research?
6. Concepts: Connect concepts discussed in the webinar to other items in your genealogy collection. Does this syllabus repeat what you already have? Or is brand new information?
7. Check Additional Resources: Look for any additional resources shared after the webinar, such as supplementary articles, PDFs, or links that could provide more information.
8. Compare with Updated Knowledge: If it’s been a while since attending the webinar, compare the concepts discussed with any new information that’s available today.

Books

Have you ever purchased a book twice because you didn’t know you had it? Even your book collection needs attention every so often.

Here are 8 ways to keep your book collection neat and tidy:

1. Create a Digital Catalog: Use apps like Goodreads or LibraryThing to maintain a digital inventory of your collection. Add books as you get them and update their status to track what you’ve read, want to read, or own.
2. Sort by Genre or Category: Arrange books by genre, author, or topic to make it easier to locate specific books.
3. Use Shelving Systems: Organize books within a topic alphabetically or by size using adjustable shelves to accommodate different book sizes.
4. Implement a Tracking System: Use a spreadsheet or journal to record book details, such as purchase date, price, and condition. Regularly update this information to keep a record of your collection’s growth and value. Evernote would also be a good choice for this.
5. Donate or Sell Unwanted Books: Look at your collection regularly and remove books you no longer want by donating them to libraries or selling them.
6. Establish a Borrowing System: Keep track of borrowed books by maintaining a lending log or using digital tools to keep track of who borrowed which book and when.
7. Consider a Color-Coded System: Arrange books by color for an easy-to-locate display. It can also make your office look nice!
8. Regular Maintenance: Schedule routine cleaning and dusting of your bookshelves to keep the collection in good condition.

Pinterest

Pinterest can be a big black hole for me. I LOVE to pin! If you do too, check out my blog post on 10 Ways Pinterest Can Help Your Genealogy Research.

Here are 8 tips on how to keep your Pinterest pins organized:

1. Create Specific Boards: Make individual boards for different themes or interests, such as “Military Research,” “Genealogy Organization,” or “Finding Females.”
2. Use Descriptive Board Names: Make your board titles clear and descriptive, giving a quick idea of what the board contains.
3. Regularly Edit and Remove: Schedule a time (monthly, quarterly, etc.) to review your boards and remove outdated or irrelevant pins to keep them up-to-date.
4. Arrange Pins Strategically: Arrange pins within each board in a way that makes sense to you. Move them around so the pins you use or want to look at are at the top.
5. Use Sections within Boards: Use sections within boards to group your content. You could have a Military Genealogy board with sections for Civil War, World War I, etc.
6. Add Detailed Descriptions: Provide short, clear descriptions for your pins, making them easier to understand at a glance.
7. Create Private Boards: Make private boards for pins that are personal or in progress, keeping them separate from public boards. When you create the board, choose the “Secret” option. This allows you to gather ideas or content privately before sharing them.
8. Use Keywords and Hashtags: Incorporate relevant keywords and hashtags in pin descriptions to make them easier to search.

Finally

As you go through your reference materials, syllabi, books, or Pinterest boards, ask yourself if this material is still helpful. Is it a core concept that you now know well? If yes, then you don’t need to keep it around. If not, make sure to name it in such a way you can find it again…easily. Make it a habit to visit your genealogy toolbox often. Make use of what you have before you go searching for the next best thing.

Genealogy tip: If you’re having a hard time remembering to revisit all you’ve accumlated, make an appointment with yourself. Take 30 minutes each week and see what you have that could help your current genealogy project. Mark that time on your calendar and keep the appointment!

If your genealogy project is stalled or you want some help getting started, schedule a 30-minute, free call. I might be able to help!