<< Genealogy Resolutions 4-7
8. More Than Names & Dates
Sometimes in the rush to get our lines as far back as we can we forget to take the time to learn more about the people our ancestors were and the times they lived in. Take time this year to record family stories, either electronically or on paper before this oral history is lost forever. Go out and find at least one additional record on each of your direct ancestors, choosing a record which will hopefully tell you more about them than you already know. Census records include interesting information such as your ancestors' occupation, education level and property value. Wills and probate records can provide you with all sorts of fascinating information including debts, friends and even the bed covers and pots and pans your ancestors owned. Tax rolls, immigration records and land records are other good sources for information about the lives of your ancestors. You can also chart your ancestor's life against a historical timeline and learn more about wars, plagues, crop shortages, big storms and other noteworthy things your ancestor may have experienced.
Related Resources:
Adding the "History" to Family History
Using Timelines as a Genealogy Aid
How to Find & Use Old Newspapers for Genealogical Research
Try Historical Reenacting
9. Put Your Research To Good Use
The biggest thrill for me in researching my family's history is in sharing the things I find with others. Your family members may be more interested that you realize and would probably love to receive copies of old family photos, printouts of the research you have done or a book of the collected memories and stories of your relatives. It doesn't need to be professional and it doesn't even need to be complete (when is your genealogy research ever complete?). Even a quick email every now and then to update people on new findings will be very much appreciated and may even spark new findings and memories.
Related Resources:
5 Top Ways to Share Your Family History Discoveries
10 Steps to Writing Your Family History
How to Create a Family History CD-ROM
5 Ways to Chart & Display Your Family Tree
10. Volunteer to Help Others
Think back to when you were a beginning genealogist and how difficult it was for you to learn proper research methodology and documentation techniques. Remember also all of the help and expert advice you probably received from other genealogists as you were learning the ropes. Look at this new year as the perfect time to return the favor. Many libraries, including Family History Centers, welcome volunteers to help newcomers in their genealogy departments. There are a lot of online sites where you can volunteer your time to look up records or take photos of tombstones for researchers who can't make the trip to do it themselves. You can also help answer questions by joining a mailing list geared toward "newbies" or by answering questions in forums or chats. No matter how you decide to help, you will be rewarded with that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from helping others. By introducing newcomers to the kindness which is inherent in most members of the genealogy community, you will be encouraging them, in turn, to become involved. As the popularity of genealogy grows, so will the records made available to us, either online or through preservation initiatives in libraries and archives. Therefore, the help you give to each individual researcher also helps us all.
Related Resources:
Perform a Genealogical Kindness
Genealogy Libraries
Genealogy Volunteer Opportunities
Inside a Family History Center
These ten resolutions are all suggestions only - there are many others which may be more appropriate for you based on your own unique research circumstances. The point, however, is to use this year as an opportunity to make changes and improvements in the way you approach your research. Genealogy is a scientific research field as well as an enjoyable hobby which means you should strive to get and stay organized, pay attention to the quality of your sources, stay on top of changing techniques and standards and use excellent documentation procedures. But don't forget about the reason you are doing this in the first place! Make sure you take time to enjoy learning about your family's heritage and share the fun with others. Just do the very best job that you can and the rewards will come.
