Twigs and trees
Everyone remembers the tale of Hansel and Gretal. Two children go to the forest and leave a trace of breadcrumbs so that they can return. Genealogy research is very similar to this path to the forest, a forest from family trees.
Of course, when it comes to the family’s forest, we need not only a trace of breadcrumbs showing how we got to where we are, but we also want the trail to lead us to what we still have to do. Organization is a breadcrumbs trail, and it goes both ways.
Organization of genealogical research
In fact, the organization goes much further than only the copies of photographs and documents we received that we made. The organization reflects the way we conduct our research. There are three areas in which organization is necessary if we want to improve our research methods and make progress in our family history. We must organize our past studies. We must also organize our current research. Finally, we must organize our future research.
Past, present, and future
Organizing our past research may seem like an insurmountable task. Instead of doing a whole five, ten, or fifteen years of research, take a few minutes every day to work on your genealogy and make a few copies. If you have not yet created a registration system for your documentation, there are a number of systems. Some use binders, while others use file folders. Some of them are organized by family name, while others are organized by family or married couple by genealogy. You want to ask others how they organize their research. Read this thread. There are articles and books, including The Debartolo Carmack Pattern, which organizes your family history search. Ongoing studies can be organized when you enter information on your computer or post it on a sheet of a family group. By quoting the sources that provided you with this information, you determined which records provided the information that you are currently recording. Again, if you didn’t quote sources in the past, then spend a few minutes every evening, citing the sources of the pages that you intend to submit from your past studies. Gradually, you will begin to regain control of your research. Another valuable tool for ongoing research is the research journal. As current research becomes a thing of the past, a research journal helps you remember where you have been. As you work with your current research, you will probably think about the things you want to do, to continue this line or to make records available. You may need to check the death records the next time you are in the Family History Library or in the Historical Society. Although we always think that we will remember it later, we usually do not. Instead of relying on your memory, rely on a notebook, notepad, or note feature in your genealogy program. You can even use your text or sheet distribution program to compile a table of the research tasks that still need to be done.
In conclusion
Just as Hansel and Gretal used small pieces of bread to leave a mark, you can take small steps to restore your research. By submitting what you have already acquired, writing down notes about the things you need to get the next time you are in the library, and citing sources in your genealogy database, all of this will help you understand your path of the family tree among all others trees.
Source: Rhonda R. McClure genealogy.com
Good luck in finding.
