10 Questions to Ask Before You Visit a Research Facility

It's fun to sit on my couch in my pjs and search for my ancestors, but when I can find the time I always prefer the firsthand thrill of the hunt - talking to relatives, poking around in cemeteries and courthouses, and walking the streets and land where my ancestors once stood. Before planning a trip to the State Historical Society, the Family History Library, the National Archives or the local courthouse, however, I always do my homework. There is nothing more frustrating as a genealogist than to drive two hours for a day at the State Archives only to find out they are closed this week for renovations, or that the records you need are in off-site storage and can't be retrieved for at least 3 days (yes, I learned this the hard way!). Prepare for your genealogy research trip in advance with these 10 Tips for On-Site Genealogy Research. In addition, checking off these 10 Questions to Ask Before You Visit a Research Facility  in advance of your visit will help you to avoid frustration and increase your research time. Time for me to check out the Yvelines Archives before my research trip to France next month!