I love attending genealogy conferences and learning about new opportunities to learn more about my ancestors. I sat in on some of the National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair and learned about new-to-me records I might explore for information on my ancestors. I got really excited about the possibilities. And then I was struck by revelation:
I will benefit more from processing the information I’ve already found than from seeking out new information.
I’m speaking personally, of course. For me, I think one way I can avoid being blindsided by overwhelm in my research is by focusing on the (not-unsubstantial) documents I’ve already found. I want to examine and evaluate them, keeping track of the clues contained in them and taking note of new avenues of research. I’ll keep a list of these next steps and I’ll try very hard not to explore them until I’ve caught up with what I have on hand. If I just keep gathering new documents without taking the time to analyze and benefit from them, I’ll constantly feel behind. That’s not how I want to feel about my genealogy research!
I’ve done a pretty good job of collecting military and pension files for some of my ancestors. I’m going to make processing them a priority. So far, here’s what I have:
- Three Union Civil War pension files, which are various stage of processing, from almost complete to barely started
- One Confederate Civil War pension file I have (from the Alabama archives)
- A Civil War Compiled Service Record for one ancestor I downloaded years ago that I didn’t do much with
- A newly acquired military record for my great grandfather’s service in the Philippine Insurrection
In addition to processing those documents, I’d like to continue systematically checking my source documentation.
If I focus on these resources I’ve already gathered through the end of the year, I feel like I can start 2017 with a sense of accomplishment and a fabulous to-do list of things to research. So much of the fun of genealogy research is the thrill of the hunt. But if I take the time to analyze the clues I find, the hunt will be even more thrilling.
Photo by walknboston via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.
I could not agree more. Sometimes, I think I have become more of a student of genealogy than a doer of it.
Thanks, Jan! That’s an interesting statement. I think I know what you mean.
Oh Yes!! I have found myself so overwhelmed at times, and I have been doing this for 42 years! Actually the advent of new information has grown tremendously since we entered the internet age. I hope to see you again at RootsTech, I too, will be presenting!
I look forward to seeing you at RootsTech, Maria! What’s your session and what time and day? If it’s not opposite mine, I’ll plan to sit in on it!
“I will benefit more from processing the information I’ve already found than from seeking out new information.” I need to enlarge this statement, print it, laminate it and post it prominently next to my computer!
In fact, I’m seriously considering suspending my Ancestry subscription to force myself to review things I already have rather than continue superficially researching. Glad to know others feel the same way I do!
Glad you found the post helpful, Elizabeth! Suspending your Ancestry subscription is an interesting strategy–I bet it would be very effective!
Agree wholeheartedly. In addition to the reasons you have mentioned, it may also help make your next searching more efficient and effective. I am working through some early Ontario (Upper Canada) land records. Several of my ancestors received grants of Crown land. It makes sense to do up a “to do” list covering the next steps for all of these than to chase leads one at a time.
Pam, thank you so much for your comment. You make a very good point!
“I will benefit more from processing the information I’ve already found than from seeking out new information.” I was struck by this thought early in the year. What good will all my zillions of records be to my family and their families if it’s not written down in some logical way. Now! What are we waiting for? Our work will never be complete.
This summer, I held the actual will of my first paternal ancestor who came here in 1738. It was 265 years old. Two of us struggled to make a transcription of it no one else has. But if I don’t put it into a form future generations can see and understand, it will be lost forever.
Your message should be imprinted in the brain of everyone who is truly trying to be a family historian. Thanks for your comments.
Donn
Donn, thank you so much for your comment and your kind words. It must have been amazing to hold your ancestor’s will in your hands! I’m so glad this post resonated with you.
Oh…. I’m breathing such a sigh of relief and feel the stress easing. I have just attended the 4 day Congress 2018 in Sydney, Australia. I learned so much my head is shill spinning. Felt I needed to implement everything I learned (or forgot). Now I realise I can put that aside and just concentrate on all the information I have already. Thank you ❤️❤️
What a lovely comment, Julie, thank you! Enjoy your research and take your time.