Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

My (very informal) research log

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A few commenters have asked me for samples of my research log. I hesitate to supply it because mine is so informal and not necessarily a good example for others to follow. But in the spirit of helping others, I offer it up.

I keep my log in Evernote. I have a notebook there called “2017 Research Log” and each time I do some research I try to create a log entry. I create a new note in the aforenamed notebook and head it with the date. Then I just type notes that I think might be useful in the future. I try to include what I was looking for, what I found and what next steps would be.

Here’s why it works for me:

  • First and foremost, it is easy for me to keep up. I just jot some notes to my future self and don’t get hung up on filling out a complicated spreadsheet or making sure I have every bit of information. For me, making it easy enough so I’ll actually do it trumps making it more complete.
  • It’s searchable, so I can easily search by person or surname. I could tag it by locality, family line or other category, though so far I haven’t done that.
  • Did I mention it’s easy?

Here’s a screenshot of a recent entry that’s fairly representative.

My genealogy research logI used to use a template in Evernote, one that I created when I was partnering with the dear departed Springpad. (I put that template at the top of this post; click on the image to make it bigger.) But I find I do better writing free form–I think it brings more information out of me.

Earlier this year I was experimenting with using the Log function in Reunion, also writing free-form notes, but I’ve discovered I prefer Evernote. I use Evernote on a daily basis for various aspects of my life and business, so I’m very comfortable with it.

I should mention that one downside to using Evernote as a research log is that it’s not sortable. It is searchable and taggable, but I can’t sort it like I could a spreadsheet. So far that hasn’t been an impediment to me.

I don’t think there’s any one right way to do a research log, but I’m pretty sure there are better ways than mine. But it’s working well for me at the moment.

If you are a spreadsheet person and aren’t intimidated by the opportunity to enter a lot of data, by all means check out Thomas MacEntee’s amazing research log spreadsheet.

Also, if you haven’t already feel free to join my Genealogy Research Loggers Facebook group for more conversations about research logs (as well as some samples from others).

For detailed information on how I organize my own genealogy research (including my research log), check out my Orderly Roots Guide, How I Do It: A Professional Organizer’s Genealogy Workflow, available for $19.99.

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?

Take another look at your documents

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A recurring theme I heard at RootsTech this month was the value of taking a second (or third) look at the documents you’ve found. I know that I almost always see new things when I do. I think that’s because I’m becoming a better genealogist. And I’m learning more about my family, so my eyes are open to more clues.

When I was flying to RootsTech, I re-read the divorce case documents I’d received in January for my 2nd great grandfather, George Washington Adams (1845-1938) and his second wife, Della (1870-1943). I’d read the whole divorce file at least once before but it wasn’t until this re-reading that I realized that the couple had had a daughter who was born and died between the 1910 census and the time of the divorce in 1920.

Since I noticed that little detail, I was able to find her death certificate at the Family History Library (with the help of my friend and professional genealogist Maria Tello). I was so glad I’d taken a few minutes to re-read that document in preparation for my trip to the Family History Library.

In her RootsTech session, Digging for Details: Getting the Full Story, Jen Ballwin of FindMyPast spoke about the value of mining every single detail from a document. She said that you should “treat each document like it’s the only document you’ll ever find on that ancestor.” I think that’s great advice. If you haven’t already been doing that, you’d be well served if you took the time to go through your documents again and record every teeny detail.

That might feel like an overwhelming proposition (I know it does to me). But like everything else that’s overwhelming, the key is to break it into small parts.

Since my plan is to focus on just one family line in 2017, I’ll see if I can’t spend some time re-examining all the documents I have for a particular ancestor when I’m researching him/her. I think the exception will be those documents that I’ve already abstracted and transcribed. That process gives me the chance to be really thorough and I find that details come jumping out at me. So I’m pretty confident I’ve mined those well.

It can be really tempting to limit ourselves to looking for new documents and checking documents off a checklist as we find them. (That checkmark makes you feel so accomplished!) But if we don’t make the most out of the information contained in the documents we find, we’re not doing ourselves any favors. Go ahead, take a second look!

Illustration by Kate Ter Haar via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.