Earlier this week, I blogged about how I’m trying to create a research log habit in 2017. A couple of commenters mentioned that they, too, would like to create a habit of logging their research every session and have found it difficult in the past. One of the commenters, Barbara Schmidt, suggested that perhaps a peer support group would be helpful. I think she might be onto something.
I know first-hand that accountability can be very powerful for creating habits. So I’d love to offer a simple way for readers of Organize Your Family History who are so inclined to get that accountability for creating a research log habit.
Here are a few options. Could you let me know in the comments if you’re interested in participating and, if so, which format you’d prefer? I’ll probably go with the one that gets more votes (unless it’s trumped by an option that is easier and more sustainable for me). If you have an idea not mentioned here, please let me know.
- A monthly accountability blog post from me in which people can check in via the comments all month
- A weekly post on the Organize Your Family History Facebook page in which folks check in
- A closed Facebook group where people post when they’ve used their research log. That could also be a place where people bounce around ideas for research log formats.
- I pair you up with one other person with whom you can become accountability partners and communicate privately
- Another option I haven’t thought of but you have
If this appeals to you, please comment on this post and let me know what option would work best for you (or if you have a better idea). In the next week or two, I’ll set something up. Unless, of course, no one is interested.
Newspapers– Where would you go to find obituaries in a small town; Have had limited success. Especially in the early to mid 1800’s.
Bill, I hope you saw Maria’s comment below. I’ve found local genealogy library’s in the area of my ancestor’s small towns in Kentucky and they have vertical files of clippings and so forth. It’s also a good idea to check the Library of Congress’s newspaper archive, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/newspapers/) if you haven’t already.
I’ve also had luck at state historical libraries/societies.
I’d be happy to help out with your Facebook group, since using a Research Log, is a deep ingrained habit for me. I would be happy to post a page or two as an example. And just to chime in on Bill Daniels question, try a local museum or library, they often keep copies of old newspapers.
Maria, that’s so kind of you, thank you! Let’s see what shakes out here and I’ll definitely be in touch about your participating. I’d love to see a page or two of your research log!
I like the closed fb group idea but could also go with the two dot points above it. Accountability is required
Thanks for weighing in, Therese. Stay tuned!
I like the idea of a closed fb page
A closed FB group is my vote
I like the FB group myself so that I could learn from others
I second this for the same reason.
I just started the process of selecting a research log format. (I’m re-doing my family history and adding citations.) I would welcome the opportunity to hear from people who have successfully used a particular format. A fb group sounds good at this point, but I feel sure there will be many details suggested in future comments.
Closed fb group
Hi, Janine. I also like the idea of a focused FB group on research logs.
I also have a couple thoughts that relate to this topic. The first relates to using our genealogy software, whatever it happens to be, to log our research and our to-do items. I’ve been using the Tasks tab for each person in FTM for this, and find it very helpful. I can look at my overall Tasks list in the Plan section for things I need to do and track. I also use the Notes tab for each person to save comments on my research–sources I’ve looked for and not found, types of evidence I’ve found to answer certain research questions, etc.
I still have the issue of a very long overall Tasks list that I’ve accumulated over many years without good habits for getting at it systematically because of my tendency to jump around from one interesting part of our family tree to another, often sparked by a message from a possible cousin, a new record collection that comes online, or an article or blog post I see. This may be my biggest challenge.
I would also add that it’s really important to log research done that has come up empty or produced incomplete or puzzling results, not just records found.
My other thought comes from my participation in ProGen Study Group 31, which started last June. The study group focuses on reading, assignments, and group feedback and discussion regarding the text “Professional Genealogy” edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. An important outcome of my participation has been that I’m developing a better habit of defining each research question on which I need to work, then preparing my initial research plan based on that question, and then working through the Genealogical Proof Standard including doing relatively exhaustive research, analyzing evidence I’ve found, reconciling conflicts in evidence, etc., all the while keeping a log and evolving my task list. This is proving very helpful to me and substantially changing how I go about logging my research. I’d be interested in knowing how others are approaching this and seeing how research logs might be redesigned to support this process. I wonder if Tom Jones addresses this in “Mastering Genealogical Proof,” which I’m currently reading.
Thanks!
Lesley, thank you for your note! It prompted me to look at Reunion, the software I’ve been using for five years, to see if their is a Journal area. Lo and behold there is! They call it Log and I could use it as a research log and/or for genealogy tasks. These are things I’ve been using Evernote for. I need to give some thought to whether it’s worth switching it up, but I’m so glad to have the option. Thank you!
I appreciate your input on what you’re learning in your ProGen Study Group. I really admire the rigorous standards of professional genealogists and take inspiration from them.
It’s looking like I’ll be starting a closed FB group for research loggers and I hope you participate!
Hi, we can get so bogged down on the appropriate citations. I have talked with several PhD. and published (NEGHS) genealogists, as well as fellows (FGSA) who have all said that life’s too short to be so tied to the citations and the style. Some use Chicago others use Shown Mills. It’s up to you. As a professional genealogist (AG), I only cite work that is going into a client report or research log. For my own, personal research, I just put in the links, (which I would cite, if sharing it), because my objective is not spending copious amounts of time making citations to perfection, but to make the discoveries I need! Just another thought.
I love your perspective, Maria! Knowing that you, a professional genealogist, don’t feel you have to have perfect citations in your personal research is very liberating and I appreciate your sharing.
My feeling on citations for my own research (I don’t research for others) is that I want the citation to be good enough that I could find the source again. I worry that links might break, so I typically fill out the source form in my software so I capture the pertinent data and also include a link. But I don’t get caught up in perfectionism when it comes to sources, as long as I feel I could find the source again if I needed to.
I’ve actually been giving this thought as I go through the process of attaching images to all my sources in my software…some of those early source citations were pretty sketchy!
My vote is for a Facebook page — either your current one or a closed one. I am getting close to finishing my digitization project of my research notebooks so “research logs” are next on my to do list.
A closed FB page gets my vote. I’m relatively recent to genealogy and I need accountability. I “played” with my family history on Ancestry through the years, but since I’ve retired, I’m taking it seriously, which means starting over at the beginning. I love your blog and comments. Thanks and Happy New Year!
I really appreciate all the responses I’ve received! Thank you! It looks like a closed Facebook group is the clear favorite. This week I’ll figure out the logistics of making that happen and I’ll post here. In the meantime, keep thinking about your research logs!
I vote for a closed FB group. I also used Reunion and have started using Logs as a Research log.
I woukd be interested in a closed FB group and hopefulkg be able to get going on a research log. I too feel bogged down trying to get my citations exactly right.
I would like to see a facebook group.
I would like to see a Facebook Group.
I am a newbie but please count me in. I have so much to learn.
I love the idea of a closed facebook group.
you are welcome 🙂 great to see a turnaround so quick! I tend to either the closed FB group or really being paired or teamed up. On a second note I am not so sure about the FB group as there is a risk that is just “another one”. And nobody is checking if I really did anything. So I vote for being teamed up. I am facilitating some peer support groups myself for other topics (mainly working out loud) so happy to volunteer if Central European Time fits any schedule 🙂
Barbara, look what you started! I think we’ll go with a FB group (I’ll post about it tomorrow) and see if it works. Since you came up with the idea of accountability and you’d like to be teamed up with someone, I’ll find someone for you to be teamed up with.
I love all the ideas. It looks like the majority of people are going for the Facebook page and that is all good.
I struggle constantly with citing my sources, but am getting better at it. (I am so proud of myself for that…LoL) I just use an Excel Sheet which I have rows for everything about my ancestor (name, nickname, dob, census, parents etc.) and the columns for the data. I add the citations at the end of each row for the sources. I will then print out a page and put the sheet into that ancestors file. It is also saved in my Drive.
Debbie,thanks for sharing your system! Please do join us on the Genealogy Research Loggers group if you’re so inclined!
Thanks Janine!! I would love too!!
I don’t think I’ve seen your request to join. Just click on this link, the click “Join Group” and I’ll approve you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/GenealogyResearchLoggers