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Why it is so important to document and organize family history research as you go, a brief explanation of the tools needed, and how to do it. | Why it is so important to document and organize family history research as you go, a brief explanation of the tools needed, and how to do it. | ||
One of the most fundamental and important principles of family history research is to organize and document AS YOU GO! | One of the most fundamental and important principles of family history research is to organize and document AS YOU GO!<sup>1</sup> Good documentation includes: | ||
* [[Research Logs|'''''Research logs''''']]—Fill in the purpose of each search, and source data on logs before looking at the source. After success, list where you file the copy. Log strategies. | * [[Research Logs|'''''Research logs''''']]—Fill in the purpose of each search, and source data on logs before looking at the source. After success, list where you file the copy. Log strategies.<sup>2</sup> | ||
* '''''Family group records'''''—Keep up-to-date with source footnotes for every event. Add all events like census, military service, and migrations to the family group record. | * '''''Family group records'''''—Keep up-to-date with source footnotes for every event. Add all events like census, military service, and migrations to the family group record. | ||
* '''''Photocopies of most sources'''''—If the repository will allow it, ''ALWAYS'' make a photocopy. | * '''''Photocopies of most sources'''''—If the repository will allow it, ''ALWAYS'' make a photocopy. | ||
* [[Organizing Your Files|'''''Well-organized files''''']]—Stay organized by completing paperwork and filing before starting another search.<br | * [[Organizing Your Files|'''''Well-organized files''''']]—Stay organized by completing paperwork and filing before starting another search.<br> | ||
== '''Value of documenting AS YOU GO!''' == | == '''Value of documenting AS YOU GO!''' == | ||
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Documenting as you go also means you explain the purpose of each search BEFORE the search. Write the name of the person you seek, and the event in that person’s life that you want to document. Then it will make sense to return to that source '''''only''''' for other family members. | Documenting as you go also means you explain the purpose of each search BEFORE the search. Write the name of the person you seek, and the event in that person’s life that you want to document. Then it will make sense to return to that source '''''only''''' for other family members. | ||
After an '''''unsuccessful search''''' write '''nil''' | After an '''''unsuccessful search''''' write '''nil''' or '''Ø''' to show you did the search but did not find anything useful. Negative evidence needs to be considered from time to time. Seeing too many nils is a warning it is time to do something different. Documenting as you go after a '''''successful search''''' means you describe on your research log the people and events you found in the source, and list the place where you have filed the photocopy. This turns your log into a table of contents of your sources. | ||
Research logs are also the best place to document your thinking and research strategies. Write lots of comments to yourself about your search strategies, suggestions, questions, and discrepancies you have noticed. | Research logs are also the best place to document your thinking and research strategies. Write lots of comments to yourself about your search strategies, suggestions, questions, and discrepancies you have noticed. | ||
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== '''Footnote Style Guides''' == | == '''Footnote Style Guides''' == | ||
<span>University</span><span> of Chicago</span><span> Press. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=500543&disp=The+Chicago+manual+of+style&columns=*,0,0 ''The Chicago Manual of Style''], 14<sup>th</sup> ed. Chicago:''''' '''''University of Chicago Press, 1993.</span> | <span>University</span><span>of Chicago</span><span>Press. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=500543&disp=The+Chicago+manual+of+style&columns=*,0,0 ''The Chicago Manual of Style''], 14<sup>th</sup> ed. Chicago:''''''''''University of Chicago Press, 1993.</span> | ||
<span>Silicon Valley PAF Users Group. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1232354&disp=Family+history+documentation+guidelines&columns=*,0,0 Family History Documentation Guidelines],'' 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. San Jose, Calif.: SVPUG, 2000-2003.</span> | <span>Silicon Valley PAF Users Group. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1232354&disp=Family+history+documentation+guidelines&columns=*,0,0 Family History Documentation Guidelines],'' 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. San Jose, Calif.: SVPUG, 2000-2003.</span> | ||
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1. Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, “Rules for Good Documentation,” in ''Family History Documentation Guidelines'', 2nd ed. (San Jose, Calif.: SVPUG, 2000-2003), 7. | 1. Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, “Rules for Good Documentation,” in ''Family History Documentation Guidelines'', 2nd ed. (San Jose, Calif.: SVPUG, 2000-2003), 7. | ||
2. G. David Dilts, “Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History,” ''Genealogical Journal ''30, no. 1 & 2 (2002): 3-13. | 2. G. David Dilts, “Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History,” ''Genealogical Journal''30, no. 1 & 2 (2002): 3-13. | ||
3. G. David Dilts, "Organizing the Evidence Using Research Logs and PAF Source Notes," | 3. G. David Dilts, "Organizing the Evidence Using Research Logs and PAF Source Notes," (outline for class taught at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 19 June 2006), 1. | ||
4. Elizabeth Shown Mills, concept taught by during Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 12-17 June 2005. | 4. Elizabeth Shown Mills, concept taught by during Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 12-17 June 2005. | ||
5. Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005), 4M2. | 5. Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005), 4M2. | ||