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Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls: Difference between revisions
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[[Image: | [[Image:Brick wall 2494.jpg|thumb|right]]Use this checklist of concepts and research techniques to help you solve a variety of difficult research problems. | ||
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== '''Attitude and Solving Common Causes of Problems''' == | == '''Attitude and Solving Common Causes of Problems''' == | ||
Your attitude about tough family history research problems has a big impact on your chances of success. Whether you think you can, or whether you think you cannot—you are right! Develop a relentless “track-‘em-down” attitude pursuing and analyzing all sources.<ref name="one">Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Genealogical Mindset &amp;amp;amp; Principles of Scholarship" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005).</ref> Never give up on the problem, and never give up searching for new ideas and ways of researching the problem. Hunt down the answers no matter what it takes. | Your attitude about tough family history research problems has a big impact on your chances of success. Whether you think you can, or whether you think you cannot—you are right! Develop a relentless “track-‘em-down” attitude pursuing and analyzing all sources.<ref name="one">Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Genealogical Mindset &amp;amp;amp;amp; Principles of Scholarship" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005).</ref> Never give up on the problem, and never give up searching for new ideas and ways of researching the problem. Hunt down the answers no matter what it takes. | ||
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| valign="middle" | 2. Poor research logs. | | valign="middle" | 2. Poor research logs. | ||
| valign="middle" | Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<ref>G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993&amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 30 (2002): 10-11. [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 30 2002].</ref> | | valign="middle" | Partially fill out logs BEFORE looking at each source. This includes each search’s goal (person and event you seek to document).<ref>G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2250993&amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Genealogical Journal''] 30 (2002): 10-11. [FHL Book 973 D25gj v. 30 2002].</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 3. Inadequate research documentation. | | valign="middle" | 3. Inadequate research documentation. | ||
| valign="middle" | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<ref>Carol Harless, et. al., [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82725149&amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''PAF Documentation Guidelines''] (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1 [FHL Book 005.3 H224].</ref> | | valign="middle" | Document and organize AS YOU GO.<ref>Carol Harless, et. al., [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82725149&amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''PAF Documentation Guidelines''] (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1 [FHL Book 005.3 H224].</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem. | | valign="middle" | 4. Stagnant thinking on the problem. | ||
| valign="middle" | Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref> | | valign="middle" | Correlate what you have found. Use new forms to pull out new patterns and force your brain to try something different.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005).</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 5. Failure to put an ancestor in community context.<ref>Mills, “Genealogical Mindset &amp;amp;amp; Principles of Scholarship.”</ref><br> | | valign="middle" | 5. Failure to put an ancestor in community context.<ref>Mills, “Genealogical Mindset &amp;amp;amp;amp; Principles of Scholarship.”</ref><br> | ||
| valign="middle" | Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | | valign="middle" | Trap the answer to the question in a web of associates and neighbors on both sides of the county boundary line.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | Thoughtfully plan how, who, what, when, and where you will do the research to solve the problem. Be flexible if a new find takes you in a new direction.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | | valign="middle" | Thoughtfully plan how, who, what, when, and where you will do the research to solve the problem. Be flexible if a new find takes you in a new direction.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
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| valign="middle" | 7. Researcher ignorance.<br><br> | | valign="middle" | 7. Researcher ignorance.<br><br> | ||
| valign="middle" | Keep asking why the records show what they show (or do not show) and what that implies. Continue your genealogical education the rest of your life.<br> | | valign="middle" | Keep asking why the records show what they show (or do not show) and what that implies. Continue your genealogical education the rest of your life.<br> | ||
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4. '''''Look for alternate spellings and nicknames.''''' Some ancestors are listed by nicknames (Polly for Mary, Bob for Robert), by a middle name, or by initials. See [[Guessing a Name Variation]]. Also search for alternate spellings. Clerks misspell names all the time, and indexers have difficulty reading them. Think phonetically. For lists of possible spelling substitutes see pages 331 and 336 of Kory L. Meyerink, ed., ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records''. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998). ({{FHL|719674|item|disp=FHL book 016.9293 P96m}}). Failure to find a some quirky versions of the individual's name is a red flag that you probably are not being imaginative enough during your searches. | 4. '''''Look for alternate spellings and nicknames.''''' Some ancestors are listed by nicknames (Polly for Mary, Bob for Robert), by a middle name, or by initials. See [[Guessing a Name Variation]]. Also search for alternate spellings. Clerks misspell names all the time, and indexers have difficulty reading them. Think phonetically. For lists of possible spelling substitutes see pages 331 and 336 of Kory L. Meyerink, ed., ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records''. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998). ({{FHL|719674|item|disp=FHL book 016.9293 P96m}}). Failure to find a some quirky versions of the individual's name is a red flag that you probably are not being imaginative enough during your searches. | ||
5. '''''Do not trust indexes''''' ''(that do not answer the main question)''. If he '''should be''' in the index but '''is not''', search the record page-by-page until you find him. Even if you do find him in the index, thumb through the records for places they missed him in the index until you answer the research question.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Land Records" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 15 June 2005).</ref> | 5. '''''Do not trust indexes''''' ''(that do not answer the main question)''. If he '''should be''' in the index but '''is not''', search the record page-by-page until you find him. Even if you do find him in the index, thumb through the records for places they missed him in the index until you answer the research question.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Land Records" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 15 June 2005).</ref> | ||
6. '''''Do not trust copies selected by someone else.''''' If possible, look at the original with your own eyes. | 6. '''''Do not trust copies selected by someone else.''''' If possible, look at the original with your own eyes. | ||
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12. '''''Look for John Doe's death documents.''''' Look for obituaries, church burials, church bell tolling lists, funeral sermon eulogies, funeral home records, funeral cards, tombstones, sexton’s records, insurance, pensions, Social Security, death certificates, family Bibles, wills, estate papers, and land sales papers. | 12. '''''Look for John Doe's death documents.''''' Look for obituaries, church burials, church bell tolling lists, funeral sermon eulogies, funeral home records, funeral cards, tombstones, sexton’s records, insurance, pensions, Social Security, death certificates, family Bibles, wills, estate papers, and land sales papers. | ||
13. '''''Local histories, biographies, and genealogies.''''' Town and county histories often have biographical information about citizens. Look in the[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library Catalog ]Use Place Search from the drop down put in STATE, or COUNTY –then use key word in drop down put in HISTORY for counties, or STATE, COUNTY, TOWN – HISTORY for town histories. Repeat for the topic BIOGRAPHY and again for GENEALOGY. | 13. '''''Local histories, biographies, and genealogies.''''' Town and county histories often have biographical information about citizens. Look in the[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library Catalog ]Use Place Search from the drop down put in STATE, or COUNTY –then use key word in drop down put in HISTORY for counties, or STATE, COUNTY, TOWN – HISTORY for town histories. Repeat for the topic BIOGRAPHY and again for GENEALOGY. | ||
== '''C. More Advanced Research Strategies''' == | == '''C. More Advanced Research Strategies''' == | ||
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These methods may not be needed for every problem, but often help solve tougher research questions. | These methods may not be needed for every problem, but often help solve tougher research questions. | ||
=== Force your brain to think about the problem in new ways.<br> === | === Force your brain to think about the problem in new ways.<br> === | ||
14. '''''Draw a time line''''' showing EVERY documented event in John Doe’s life. Include schooling, wars, censuses, births-marriages-deaths of relatives, emigration, everything! Then work to fill in the blanks. | 14. '''''Draw a time line''''' showing EVERY documented event in John Doe’s life. Include schooling, wars, censuses, births-marriages-deaths of relatives, emigration, everything! Then work to fill in the blanks. | ||
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22. '''''Try an exhaustive preliminary survey.''''' Look in the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list ''International Genealogical Index''], [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees ''Ancestral File''][https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees , ''Pedigree Resource File'',] and[[Family History Library Internet Favorites|''Search Family History Web Sites'']]. Thoroughly search for John Doe’s family in ''every'' source in [[United States Genealogy|United States Genealogy]] and [[United States Biography|United States Biography]] and in Wiki article for John Doe’s state. Look up the family name in the appropriate “Regional Indexes” cited on pages 440-41 in the first edition of Arlene Eakle and Johni Cerny’s [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&fed=false&collectionId=&catSearchType=call_number&searchCriteria=973+D27ts&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= ''The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy''] (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984). [FHL book 973 D27ts]. | 22. '''''Try an exhaustive preliminary survey.''''' Look in the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list ''International Genealogical Index''], [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees ''Ancestral File''][https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees , ''Pedigree Resource File'',] and[[Family History Library Internet Favorites|''Search Family History Web Sites'']]. Thoroughly search for John Doe’s family in ''every'' source in [[United States Genealogy|United States Genealogy]] and [[United States Biography|United States Biography]] and in Wiki article for John Doe’s state. Look up the family name in the appropriate “Regional Indexes” cited on pages 440-41 in the first edition of Arlene Eakle and Johni Cerny’s [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&fed=false&collectionId=&catSearchType=call_number&searchCriteria=973+D27ts&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= ''The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy''] (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984). [FHL book 973 D27ts]. | ||
23. '''''Search more libraries and archives.''''' Research the local county and state historical and genealogical societies, state library, law library, and archives, government documents library, and National Archives. | 23. '''''Search more libraries and archives.''''' Research the local county and state historical and genealogical societies, state library, law library, and archives, government documents library, and National Archives. | ||
=== '''Search records of kin, neighbors, and associates.''' === | === '''Search records of kin, neighbors, and associates.''' === | ||
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24. '''''Find John Doe's children.''''' Thoroughly research the children to find clues about the parents. | 24. '''''Find John Doe's children.''''' Thoroughly research the children to find clues about the parents. | ||
25. '''''Research neighbors and relatives.''''' People move in groups. The neighbor often came from the same place as your ancestor. Plat your ancestor's land, and run the deeds of each neighbor. Find out who the witnesses on documents are.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Rural Strategies: Correlation of Land &amp;amp;amp; Other Records" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 16 June 2005).</ref> [[Research a Family in Community Context|Study a family in community context]]. Study people in the area with the same surname, and with different surnames in the same house. Identify census neighbors at least 12 before/after. Near a county/state line, study families over the line. Comb the area for same first names, origins, or jobs.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Censuses: Analysis, Interpretation &amp;amp;amp; Correlation” (lecture presented in Course 4 Advanced Method-ology &amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005).</ref> | 25. '''''Research neighbors and relatives.''''' People move in groups. The neighbor often came from the same place as your ancestor. Plat your ancestor's land, and run the deeds of each neighbor. Find out who the witnesses on documents are.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Rural Strategies: Correlation of Land &amp;amp;amp;amp; Other Records" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology &amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 16 June 2005).</ref> [[Research a Family in Community Context|Study a family in community context]]. Study people in the area with the same surname, and with different surnames in the same house. Identify census neighbors at least 12 before/after. Near a county/state line, study families over the line. Comb the area for same first names, origins, or jobs.<ref>Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Censuses: Analysis, Interpretation &amp;amp;amp;amp; Correlation” (lecture presented in Course 4 Advanced Method-ology &amp;amp;amp;amp; Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005).</ref> | ||
=== '''Use methodical logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration to shed new light on the problem.''' === | === '''Use methodical logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration to shed new light on the problem.''' === | ||
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26. '''''Create a master research plan.''''' Identify a problem. Set a research goal. Figure out which records are likely to contain answers, and which repositories to use. Track >em down. Write up and share the results. | 26. '''''Create a master research plan.''''' Identify a problem. Set a research goal. Figure out which records are likely to contain answers, and which repositories to use. Track >em down. Write up and share the results. | ||
27. '''''Correlate and integrate records of neighbors.''''' Even "landless" ancestors may be traced by creatively using data about neighbors and correlating it with facts about the problem ancestor. Identify census and land office neighbors. Organize and sort what you know and look for similarities and dissimilarities. Keep asking what your correlated sources imply about subtle relationships, or further records and clues.<ref>Mills, “Rural Strategies: Correlation of Land &amp;amp;amp; Other Records.”</ref> | 27. '''''Correlate and integrate records of neighbors.''''' Even "landless" ancestors may be traced by creatively using data about neighbors and correlating it with facts about the problem ancestor. Identify census and land office neighbors. Organize and sort what you know and look for similarities and dissimilarities. Keep asking what your correlated sources imply about subtle relationships, or further records and clues.<ref>Mills, “Rural Strategies: Correlation of Land &amp;amp;amp;amp; Other Records.”</ref> | ||
28. '''''Study migration patterns.''''' Rivers and mountains channeled migration trails into predictable patterns. When you know where a family settled, you can often infer where they came from. First settlers often named their new town after the place they left behind. | 28. '''''Study migration patterns.''''' Rivers and mountains channeled migration trails into predictable patterns. When you know where a family settled, you can often infer where they came from. First settlers often named their new town after the place they left behind. | ||
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32. '''''Get help.''''' Do genealogical good deeds in hopes that others will someday help you. Write to and join local genealogical and historical societies for help. Place queries in their newsletters. Write to small-town newspaper editors and place a query in their newspapers. Place queries at genealogical web sites on the Internet and repeat from time to time until you get results. If the surname is unusual, telephone people with the same name. Nationwide telephone directories are available on the Internet. Leave a message in a Zip-Lock bag flag by a grave just before Memorial Day. [[Hiring a Professional Researcher|Hire a professional genealogist]]. Pray for help. Submit ancestors for ordinances. | 32. '''''Get help.''''' Do genealogical good deeds in hopes that others will someday help you. Write to and join local genealogical and historical societies for help. Place queries in their newsletters. Write to small-town newspaper editors and place a query in their newspapers. Place queries at genealogical web sites on the Internet and repeat from time to time until you get results. If the surname is unusual, telephone people with the same name. Nationwide telephone directories are available on the Internet. Leave a message in a Zip-Lock bag flag by a grave just before Memorial Day. [[Hiring a Professional Researcher|Hire a professional genealogist]]. Pray for help. Submit ancestors for ordinances. | ||
33. '''''[[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|Share]].''''' Give in order to receive. Contribute to the [https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Family_History_Library#Donations Family History Library’s] , to Family Tree Makers’s ''[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/wftonline/ World Family Tree Pedigrees]'', to the [http://www.everton.com/b/magazine.html ''Everton's Genealogical Helper Magazine'']’s Computer Roots Cellar, to Keith A. Johnson’s ''[http://members.ozemail.com.au/~grdxxx/ Genealogical Research Directory],'' and to family group sheet exchanges advertised in ''Everton's Genealogical Helper Magazine''. Send a copy of John Doe’s family history (include your address) to each county library and to each state and county genealogical society where John Doe lived. Publish an article on the family in their local genealogical periodical. Register your address in directories of members of genealogical Internet web sites and submit your genealogy to their libraries. [[Create a genealogy web page|Put your genealogy on a web page]] and register your site with major search engines and lists. Other researchers will start to contact you and share added details. | 33. '''''[[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|Share]].''''' Give in order to receive. Contribute to the [https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Family_History_Library#Donations Family History Library’s] , to Family Tree Makers’s ''[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/wftonline/ World Family Tree Pedigrees]'', to the [http://www.everton.com/b/magazine.html ''Everton's Genealogical Helper Magazine'']’s Computer Roots Cellar, to Keith A. Johnson’s ''[http://members.ozemail.com.au/~grdxxx/ Genealogical Research Directory],'' and to family group sheet exchanges advertised in ''Everton's Genealogical Helper Magazine''. Send a copy of John Doe’s family history (include your address) to each county library and to each state and county genealogical society where John Doe lived. Publish an article on the family in their local genealogical periodical. Register your address in directories of members of genealogical Internet web sites and submit your genealogy to their libraries. [[Create a genealogy web page|Put your genealogy on a web page]] and register your site with major search engines and lists. Other researchers will start to contact you and share added details. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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*Jones, Thomas W. [http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/fhd/community/cbig/player.html Inferential Genealogy]. (120 minute video online) [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_research_series_online.asp%3FActiveTab=2 FamilySearch Research Classes Online], 2010. | *Jones, Thomas W. [http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/fhd/community/cbig/player.html Inferential Genealogy]. (120 minute video online) [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_research_series_online.asp%3FActiveTab=2 FamilySearch Research Classes Online], 2010. | ||
{{featured article}} | |||
[[Category:Beginners]] [[Category:Research_Analysis]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]] | [[Category:Beginners]] [[Category:Research_Analysis]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]] | ||