Planning a Successful Genealogical

Planning a Successful Genealogical

Research Trip!

BJM Genealogical Research Services

President of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists

WSGS Newsletter Editor

1. Preparation is the key to a successful trip!

· Preparation – Do things in advance. You don’t want to waste time at the research location.

· Preparation – Prepare a written itinerary – your daily outline of your trip!

· Preparation – Plan your research goals and to dos.

· Preparation using – Using a microfilm reader, scanning documents, using a CD Rom, USB Drive etc. and even copying documents.

· Preparation: Education yourself – learn about research techniques.

· How to research in the area.

2. Identify your research goals!

· Locations: Get out the atlas, maps, FHLibrary Catalog.

· Identify the individuals/families to research

I want to see a cemetery – where is it, how do I get there

I what to find an obit – where are the newspaper collections

I want to find a will/estate record – what courthouse, archive

3. Update your database – like Legacy, Family Tree Maker, TMG

· Prepare Reports – To dos’, family group sheets, pedigree, timelines

· Prepare Excel Spreadsheets: Deeds, family groups

· Decide which documents to bring scan them into your computer

· Select computer research files to download to your laptop

· Prepare a USB Drive or burn a CD-ROM of your research to take.

· Pocket Genealogist – for your cell phone (might not be allowed in archives). http://www.pocketgenealogist.com/

4. Organize your Email for the trip into an Email folder.

5. Start writing and day dreaming your trip – begin the Itinerary building!

Example: Day 1 Monday (Date): Description

6. Start to identify the websites of the archives to visit and add to your Favorites!

Address, directions to, parking, phone mumber, hours open, days of the week, appointments at other times.

7. Study other websites for links, ideas and more!

· Cyndi’s list for a specific location – i.e. Massachusetts, Ohio

· USGenweb for a specific state and county, click on the links and explore.

· Public Libraries.com to find local libraries

· Think levels: State, Region, County and City

· Family History website for information about visiting, collections and explore the catalog for a location, key word etc.

· Know what is in the FHL before you go to a location.

8. Special Archives – Rules

White glove archive i.e., Newberry Library

Opened only M to Friday, maybe Saturday

Very strict – only water, no food

Allow a pencil

Laptop/Notebook computer and maybe a camera

Loose papers

Restrictions on the special collections

Order only on Friday to be viewed on Saturday

FHLibrary – vault films takes 3 days to come

Email them a list of your vault films about 2-3 weeks before arrival

Access window at the FHLibrary for special requests

9. Archives and obstacles, like no elevator or serious security like courthouses???

Reduce what you take into the archive!

Pack a smaller piece like a shoulder bag!

Lockers – may be small, bring change

Don’t loose the key

10. Think levels when surfing the internet

· Federal – NARA Branch nearby

· Genealogical societies/historical museums – one or the other or they share

· State – Archives with branches, library,

· County – courts, archives, historical and/or genealogical society, museums, and historic sites: Become a member get discounts, car tours

· City – historic sites, museums, public library

11. USA.gov to dig down to find courts houses, and more.

12. Vital Records, Deeds, Probate – Some documents may be in the courthouse

Try: Auditor, County Clerk, Recorder’s office, Health Department,

Check for annexes

Stuck – give them a call

Records may be moved to the state or local archive.

13. Cemeteries Identified

· USGS Website http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html

· Google Earth or an online Mapping site – satellite images

· County Genweb may list cemeteries in the area

· Local Library or Genealogical Society – get directions

· Interment, Rootsweb Archives, Tombstone project (not complete)

· Periodicals – publications of a gen or historical society

· Just use Google or a search engine to find a cemetery – might get lucky!

· Veterans: http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1

· Cemetery Office: Help in locating a grave, check hours

o Be safe, watch out for snakes, dogs and other creatures, don’t go alone, lock your car door.

14. Book Resources to study before you go:

· Ancestry’s Redbook – state info, county maps, easy to find things in it

· Ancestry’s Source book – by topic then state

· Family Tree Resources – by state

o Call to verify information these books gets old

· Books on specific research techniques:

o Your Guide to Cemetery Research -- Sharon DeBartolo Carmack

o Courthouse Research for Family Historians - Christine Rose

o Locating Your Roots: Using Land Records – Patricia Law Hatcher

· More books:

o Massachusetts Genealogical Research by G. K. Schweitzer, PhD, Sc.D 1990

o Genealogical Research in the National Archives by NARA

o New England Court Records – D. Rapaport

15. Mapping Your Trip – check them out for planning your trip.

· Yahoo Maps http://maps.yahoo.com

· Google Maps http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

· Google Earth http://www.google.com/intl/en/earth/index.html

· MapQuest http://www.mapquest.com/

· You can be real detailed or more general in your plans

· Do not rely on GPS only obtain a good state or city street map

Streets and Trips by Microsoft about $60.00 with GPS

16. Budgeting – Guesstimate $$ - Challenge yourself to reduce the cost

· Airfare RT; Lodging; Food; Research Costs; Transportation – Car Rental,

17. Tourist Websites of the State and County

· Visitor and Convention Bureau websites – get free travel information,

· Check the Airport baggage claim for travel info

· Stop at Visitor Centers and load up on maps and brochures, ask questions

· AAA Auto club – order travel guides and maps

18. Airfare – just Google “Airfare” and see what comes up

· Try Expedia, Priceline, Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz

· Go to a specific Airline website like United, Alaska, Delta, Southwest.

· Sign up for Airline mileage points – Airline Credit card – watch the rules

· Sign up for email from an airline for deals

19. Lodging Deals – Google it and see what comes up

· AARP and AAA Auto club in their travel books tells you the $$$

· Bed and Breakfasts – watch out for penalties if you cancel, weekends may require 2 day stays, $45 to $250+, accept checks only, pay in advance.

· Small town hotels are old but can be inexpensive.

· Join the hotel points clubs and get free nights.

· Stay with Relatives – visit a cousin, bring a friend

· Cabins and resorts, campgrounds

20. Car Rental – Google and see what comes up?

· Airport Websites can help with ground transportation and identify car rental agencies they have – especially small towns.

· Better rates the longer you have the car – weekly usually

· Pick up and drop off at the airport may be a little more expensive but more convenient. Be sure you now where to return the car.

· Join a car rental club like Hertz and get preferred status.

Taxi, trams, trains, bus service, subways, metros, shuttles – look for websites

21. Weather check if before you go and to plan what to wear and bring

22. Food – Keep your energy up

· Take a snack along but watch out for airport security

· Get a hotel/motel with continental breakfast, microwave and small refrig.

· Renting a condo – identify the local grocery store

· Special needs – plan in advance –

· Buy a Styrofoam cooler and ice at local grocery

23. Completed Itinerary – has airfare booked, lodging planned and reservations done, addresses, phone numbers, confirmation #’s, hours of archives to visit, maps of time and distance from the airport to the hotel, hotel to archives to visit, town to town.

24. Things to take on your trip

Travel folder with itinerary, reservations etc.

Maps, airfare, and more.

Research binders or folders

Laptop – back up research on USB drive or CD-ROM

Cell phone – add phone numbers of hotels, contacts etc.

Change and checkbook

Create a packing list in Word to use over and over again of things you need.

In addition: Addresses, email address, computer logins

Pet and house sitting instructions, Tell another person where you are

25. Journal your trip – Your research trip is a source of your research

· You will forget!

· Your research trip is a source.

· You could Blog it!

· At the end of each day type the days events into your journal:

· What, where, when and how and more

· Use Word or some other software to keep track of the days events.

· If you prefer write it out, outline the days events

26. After the trip – You are not done yet! DON’T POSTPONE THIS!

· Edit your trip journal, add photos if you want.

· Get your film developed, download your digital photos to your computer

· SOURCE THE RESEARCH and add it to your database, don’t wait or you will forget.

· File the research for easy retrieval

· Evaluate the results of the trip and make adjustments

HAVE FUN and enjoy!