The following is a brief recap of all the insightful information she has learned through personal experience. She shared her knowledge on how to prepare and organize before the trip in order to maximize your time at each location on the road. Her four main steps are:
#1 - Determine where you want to go
Track your route on a map to find the most efficient route. Gather all the addresses of each location you will be visiting and enter them into a GPS tracking system, if you plan to use one.
Research the state, county and town where your ancestor(s) lived (www.familysearch.org/wiki) to determine the libraries, repositories and archives available and what records can be found at each one. This step will help you determine your route and know exactly where you need to go.
#2 - What is your research goal
Determine which ancestors you want to find records on. Debbie prepares her list by creating a spreadsheet. She begins listing her research goals beginning with the first stop on the map and continuing until the last one. Prior to creating this list she makes contact with each library, repository or archive to see how their records are organized (example: by county, event, etc.), so that she can set her research goals in accordance with the method each one uses.
She also suggested a couple of organization tools that have been beneficial for organization and note keeping when she visits each location. Instead of hauling in a large notebook of records, these apps allow her to organize the information, access it anywhere and sync it with her cell phone, ipad and laptop computer.
Two organization apps: EverNote and OneNote.
Two storage solutions: Drop Box and Google Drive
She also suggested a couple of organization tools that have been beneficial for organization and note keeping when she visits each location. Instead of hauling in a large notebook of records, these apps allow her to organize the information, access it anywhere and sync it with her cell phone, ipad and laptop computer.
Two organization apps: EverNote and OneNote.
Two storage solutions: Drop Box and Google Drive
(To learn more about each, click on the name above)
Hint ~ One of Debbie's hints when visiting cemeteries is to create a spreadsheet listing every ancestor buried in a specific cemetery. The spreadsheet includes the address of the cemetery, as well as GPS coordinates or grave location for each ancestor that she can find the information on. This reduces the amount of time spent in the cemetery office or walking around the cemetery searching for headstones.
Hint ~ One of Debbie's hints when visiting cemeteries is to create a spreadsheet listing every ancestor buried in a specific cemetery. The spreadsheet includes the address of the cemetery, as well as GPS coordinates or grave location for each ancestor that she can find the information on. This reduces the amount of time spent in the cemetery office or walking around the cemetery searching for headstones.
#3 - Prioritize your research
Indicate on your spreadsheet which ancestors information is the most important to you in the event you don't have enough time to cover them all. She will "bold" the names of the ancestors or records that are most important.
Hint ~ Another excellent hint suggested by Debbie is to include the call numbers for any books that you want to look at. You'll save time by not having to look them up in the library.
#4 - Contact the library, repository or archive before leaving on your trip
Prior to leaving on your trip send an email or call each library, repository or archive to verify their address, times of operation, the documents available, if appointments are required, what parking is available (garage, lot, metered, etc.), what kind of electronic devices are allowed, if wifi is available, what the cost of copies are, and if thumb drives (for scanning) or sd cards are allowed.
In closing, three main themes came across in Debbie's presentation:
* The importance of establishing your research goals prior to your trip.
* Organizing the information you're searching for on each ancestor by creating spreadsheets or lists with the pertinent information.
* Being considerate and appreciative with the employees and/or volunteers at each location you visit.
Thank you Debbie for sharing your extensive knowledge of genealogy with us!
Prior to leaving on your trip send an email or call each library, repository or archive to verify their address, times of operation, the documents available, if appointments are required, what parking is available (garage, lot, metered, etc.), what kind of electronic devices are allowed, if wifi is available, what the cost of copies are, and if thumb drives (for scanning) or sd cards are allowed.
In closing, three main themes came across in Debbie's presentation:
* The importance of establishing your research goals prior to your trip.
* Organizing the information you're searching for on each ancestor by creating spreadsheets or lists with the pertinent information.
* Being considerate and appreciative with the employees and/or volunteers at each location you visit.
Thank you Debbie for sharing your extensive knowledge of genealogy with us!
