Principles of Family History Research: Difference between revisions

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| link1=[[:Category:Research Process and Instruction|Research Process and Instruction]]
| link1=[[Research Process|Research Process]]
| link2=[[:Category:Basic Research Process|Basic Research Process]]
| link2=[[Use the Information|Use the Information]]
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| link3=[[Evaluate the Evidence|Evaluate the Evidence]]
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<font size="+1">[[Identify What You Know|STEP 1: Identify What You Know]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Identify What You Know|STEP 1: Identify What You Know]]</font>  


:Use Appropriate Forms  
{{Block indent|Use Appropriate Forms }}
:Recall Information  
{{Block indent|Recall Information }}
:Gather Family Information  
{{Block indent|Gather Family Information }}
:Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources  
{{Block indent|Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources }}
:Record Useful Information  
{{Block indent|Record Useful Information }}
:Organize Your Records<br><br>
{{Block indent|Organize Your Records<br><br>}}


<font size="+1">[[Decide What You Want to Learn|STEP 2: Decide What You Want to Learn]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Decide What You Want to Learn|STEP 2: Decide What You Want to Learn]]</font>  


:Identify Candidate Families for Further Research  
{{Block indent|Identify Candidate Families for Further Research }}
:One Family at a Time  
{{Block indent|One Family at a Time }}
:One Research Objective at a Time  
{{Block indent|One Research Objective at a Time }}
:Select the Easiest Research Objective  
{{Block indent|Select the Easiest Research Objective }}
:Prepare a Research Log<br><br>
{{Block indent|Prepare a Research Log<br><br>}}


<font size="+1">[[Select Records to Search|STEP 3: Select Records to Search.]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Select Records to Search|STEP 3: Select Records to Search.]]</font>  


:Identify a Category of Sources  
{{Block indent|Identify a Category of Sources }}
:Choose a Record Type  
{{Block indent|Choose a Record Type }}
:Select Specific Records  
{{Block indent|Select Specific Records }}
:Describe the Records on a Research Log<br><br>
{{Block indent|Describe the Records on a Research Log<br><br>}}


<font size="+1">[[Obtain and Search the Records|STEP 4: Obtain and Search the Records.]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Obtain and Search the Records|STEP 4: Obtain and Search the Records.]]</font>  


:Obtain the Records  
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:View the Records  
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:Search the Records  
{{Block indent|Search the Records }}
:Record the Results<br><br>
{{Block indent|Record the Results<br><br>}}


<font size="+1">[[Use the Information|STEP 5: Evaluate and Use the Information.]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Use the Information|STEP 5: Evaluate and Use the Information.]]</font>  


:Evaluate the Evidence  
{{Block indent|Evaluate the Evidence }}
:Transfer the Information  
{{Block indent|Transfer the Information }}
:Organize the New Records  
{{Block indent|Organize the New Records }}
:Share the Information  
{{Block indent|Share the Information }}
:Mormon Genealogy
{{Block indent|Restart the Research Cycle<br><br>}}
:Restart the Research Cycle<br><br>


<font size="+1">[[Principles of Family History Research For Further Reading|For Further Reading]]</font>  
<font size="+1">[[Principles of Family History Research For Further Reading|For Further Reading]]</font>  
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*[[:File:Identifying Your Ancestors and Overcoming Hurdles.jpg|Poster: Identifying Your Ancestors, and Overcoming Hurdles]] - a process summary of multiple best-practice FamilySearch articles written by experienced genealogists
*[[:File:Identifying Your Ancestors and Overcoming Hurdles.jpg|Poster: Identifying Your Ancestors, and Overcoming Hurdles]] - a process summary of multiple best-practice FamilySearch articles written by experienced genealogists
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{{H-langs|en=Principles of Family History Research|pt=Princípios da Pesquisa de História da Família|fr=Principes de recherche en Histoire de la Famille}}
[[pt:Princípios da Pesquisa de História da Família]]
[[ru:Принципы_исследований]]
[[fr:Principes de recherche en Histoire de la Famille]]


[[Category:Research Process and Instruction]][[Category:Basic Research Process]]
[[Category:Research Process and Instruction]][[Category:Basic Research Process]]

Latest revision as of 02:52, 20 August 2025

Libri books2.jpg

Genealogical or family history research is the process of searching records to find information about your relatives and using those records to link individuals to earlier and later generations.

This article describes a process for doing genealogical and family history research. In addition to following a process, research includes knowing about the different types of records that have the information you seek. For discussions of specific records to use in your research, see the "Topics" on this wiki for the country, state or province of interest. You may also find information about records in the genealogical handbooks.

This article is intended for persons who are interested in learning more about family history research. For a brief overview of the research process, see A Guide to Research.

Table of Contents

STEP 1: Identify What You Know

Use Appropriate Forms
Recall Information
Gather Family Information
Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources
Record Useful Information
Organize Your Records

STEP 2: Decide What You Want to Learn

Identify Candidate Families for Further Research
One Family at a Time
One Research Objective at a Time
Select the Easiest Research Objective
Prepare a Research Log

STEP 3: Select Records to Search.

Identify a Category of Sources
Choose a Record Type
Select Specific Records
Describe the Records on a Research Log

STEP 4: Obtain and Search the Records.

Obtain the Records
View the Records
Search the Records
Record the Results

STEP 5: Evaluate and Use the Information.

Evaluate the Evidence
Transfer the Information
Organize the New Records
Share the Information
Restart the Research Cycle

For Further Reading

How to ask questions

Using This Article

This article explains the basic steps of the research process. Figures illustrate the text while blue boxes provide important background information. Key points (maxims) are highlighted. A short bibliography of books about research methods under “For Further Reading” is at the end of this outline. The appendix includes a useful summary diagrams of the research process and record types.

See also