Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

Why keep a genealogy research log?

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Why keep a genealogy research log?I’ve been writing about research logs quite a bit these days, particularly about my intention in 2017 to ingrain a habit of logging my research every time I do research. I created the Facebook group Genealogy Research Loggers (feel free to join us) and I really have been trying to be good about using a research log.

Recently, I received a comment on a blog post I wrote about genealogy research logs way back in 2012. Commenter Morag apparently stumbled on that post earlier this month and left this comment:

I don’t understand the value of a research log. Do you have any good posts about that, by you or someone else?

I don’t think I’ve ever written any great posts on the why of a research log. To me the value of keeping track of your research is intuitive and it’s always gone without saying. But then I realized it was a question worth addressing. So I told Morag I’d write about my reasons and then ask the smart readers of this blog to comment with their own perspectives.

For me, I think it’s valuable to write down what I’ve researched at the end of each session for the following reasons:

  • It allows me to take stock of what I’ve done
  • It prompts me to write down next steps (which helps eliminate the paralyzing question of what to work on)
  • It helps me avoid repeating searches I’ve already done
  • It keeps track of things I would otherwise inevitably forget

This thought process begs the question of what a research log actually is. I’m gathering that the term means different things to different people. For me, a research log has always been simply a record of the research I’ve done, coupled with notes about potential future exploration. I don’t store my genealogy data or source citations in a research log. Those I keep in my family-tree software, Reunion. I keep my research log in Evernote, using a very simple template I created or sometimes just a free-form note. It’s informal and not shared with anyone. I have also been experimenting with using the Log feature in Reunion for a particular research problem, but I think I’ll go back to Evernote for everything.

I’ve learned through the Genealogy Research Loggers Facebook group that different people are comfortable with different formats, and I think that’s great.  I think the best research log format is one that is simple enough that you’ll actually use it and complex enough to provide you with the information you need.

But getting back to the original question, why do you think it’s important to keep a research log? Please share!

Kiss me, I’m Irish!

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DNA test. Now what?Last year on St. Patrick’s Day, I wrote a post about my DNA ethnicity results. It seems appropriate to run it again today. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I never felt much of a connection to March 17 until I had my DNA tested through Ancestry DNA. Then I discovered in that test that I’m 38% Irish. (That’s my pie chart in the picture.) I knew that Ireland was in my family tree, but I haven’t researched much that far back to realize that it was an important part of my heritage.

Growing up, Irish roots were never mentioned. All that came up was vague mention of England, though in reality our heritage wasn’t much discussed. That’s probably because there were  no immigrants recent enough for my parents or grandparents’ to have known them. We always just felt American.

When I had my DNA tested, it was in an effort to meet cousins and further my genealogical research. (Understanding those results is an ongoing project.) The ethnicity component of didn’t even enter my mind. But today, St. Patrick’s Day, it feels nice to have a kinship with my Irish forebears, though I’m still learning about who they were.

If you’re curious about your own DNA, Ancestry DNA is having a sale–10% off kits through March 19, 2017.

If you’ve had your DNA tested were you surprised by the ethnicity results?

Introducing the Paperless Genealogy Guide

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Paperless Genealogy GuideI’ve partnered with “Mr. Paperless,” Brooks Duncan of DocumentSnap, to create a guide to going paperless in your genealogy research. I think it will be really helpful for those who would like to go paperless but feel overwhelmed by the prospect.

Brooks and I are presenting a session at RootsTech today (Go Paperless: Streamline and Digitize Your Genealogy) and we worked on the presentation and the guide at the same time.

You can read all the details about the Paperless Genealogy Guide over at DocumentSnap and download it for $9 there.  The guide covers how to name and find your digital documents, along with different types of scanners, and strategies for protecting your precious documents. And it ends with a checklist to walk you through the actions you need to get going.

My genealogy life is much easier now that almost all of my documents are in digital form. I can carry all my research with me, find it easily, read it easily (no more magnifying glass!) and determine very easily what I have and don’t have for a particular ancestor.

If that sounds good to you, hop on over and check out the Paperless Genealogy Guide! It can be yours instantly for $9.

The research log habit: Could you use some accountability?

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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.