I’m taking my own advice. In a previous blog post, I discussed the process of revisiting notes and syllabi from past institute courses and webinars and applying those concepts to my genealogy research. All these courses form part of my genealogy education plan aimed at improving my skills. In this blog post, you will learn the essential skills required to upgrade key areas of your research and how powerful they can be.
Are you ready to take your research skills to the next level? Do you see yourself as a beginner or intermediate genealogist/hobbyist but want more?
Here are eight ways to up your game when it comes to your genealogy research.
Remember Where You Started
Don’t lose sight of your early development when progressing to more advanced skills. The basics are always a good foundation, so keep them in the back of your mind when learning new things.
This may also involve revisiting past research. It’s important to reevaluate everything related to your subject to ensure nothing was overlooked the first time.
Names and Dates vs Stories
As a beginner, you want to go back as far as you can in your family tree as fast as you can. You are a name and date collector.
Learning how to collect data is important, but as a more advanced researcher, you must
- look at the evidence you’ve found
- analyze its source
- correlate the information with other sources you have
- resolve any conflicts you find.
In essence, you need to follow the Genealogy Proof Standard. you can read more about that from the Board for Certification of Genealogists website here.
Research Questions and Planning
Making a plan before we start researching is the sign of a more advanced genealogist. We don’t just look at our tree, and decide on an ancestor to research. We are methodical in who we want to know more about, slowing down to write out a thoughtful plan. And this all starts with a complete research question.
A genealogy research question should always be in the forefront of your mind during a research session. It needs to be a complete question with identifying characteristics that make the subject(s) unique.
Example: Who is the father of Jane Smith, born on 4 May 1851 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and married John Doe on 8 August 1870 in North Carolina?
There may be plenty of Jane Smiths, but hopefully only one will have John Doe as a husband with that birth and marriage information.
Using Sources Efficiently (and Citing Them)
Beginners usually know that vital records and census records are basic to good genealogy research. That doesn’t change when you learn more advanced skills. But beginners don’t cite their sources and if they do it’s with the bare minimum of information.
With more advanced skills, you need to learn how to write a good source citation…the who, what, where, wherein, and whereis of the source. This topic is a blog post all on its own. To learn more, read Mastering Genealogical Documentation by Thomas W. Jones.
Elizabeth Shown Mills’ book, Evidence Explained, is also a great resource to learn how to write citations effectively and consistently. Many advanced genealogists keep a template of commonly used citations to keep their work consistent. Others are so well versed, they write each one from scratch.
Analysis and Correlation
Analyzing your source, information, and evidence is key to making sure what you’ve found is worth keeping. Is your source from an original record or is it a derivative, like an index? If you have nothing but indices, you need to locate those original records.
Is your information primary, which means the informant was there at the event to report on it? Or is it secondary where the informant was providing second-hand information? Primary information is preferred over secondary.
Is the evidence direct or indirect? Direct evidence is information that directly answers your research question all by itself. For example, when was Jane Smith born? A birth certificate answers that directly – you don’t need anything else. Indirect evidence is like putting together pieces of a puzzle. It’s information that does not directly answer your research question, but in combination with other pieces of information points to an answer.
I used indirect evidence to prove the mother of my 2x great-grandmother, Suzanne Krewson Bothel. No document directly told me her mother’s name, but marriage records, census records, tax records, baptism records, and more all came together to point me in the right direction.
Write Up Your Work
Writing a conclusion is the last step of the Genealogy Proof Standard. It is one of the biggest keys to being an advanced genealogist.
In a previous blog post, I wrote about 7 Reasons to Stop Genealogy Research and Write. Writing is the only way to get your research out of your head and on paper/computer for others to enjoy or learn from. Writing is also key to making connections in the data you’ve collected to give you new clues or perhaps even answer your research question.
Move From Basic Records To More Complex Ones
If you’re only dealing with census and vital records, you’re a beginner. More advanced genealogists look at tax lists, church records, deeds and land records, probate and estate records, military records, etc.
But don’t assume that these new record sets are challenging. While it may require some time to become familiar with them, once you do, you’ll uncover answers you never thought possible.
Historical Context
As a beginner, we don’t stop to think about what was happening in the world during our ancestor’s life. An advanced genealogist takes historical context into account when putting their lives together. Did they live during wartime or the Great Depression? What events in history would have shaped who they became?
This is also where you add more stories about your ancestors. Knowing how your ancestors lived their lives helps to fill out their story.
Finally
The more genealogy research you do, the more you will improve. Are you able to learn from your mistakes? To become an advanced genealogist, it is essential. Making mistakes is among the most effective ways to learn, but you must avoid repeating them to advance your skills.
Genealogy tip: What kind of genealogist do you want to become? If you want to possess advanced skills, you’ll need to plan for it – in education, experience, and time.
On your way to advancing your skills, you may need some help in figuring out your research. Schedule a free, no-obligation call today.
