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Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls: Difference between revisions
Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls (view source)
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f. Enter new [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|source footnotes]] for every piece of data on a source, even if that event already has a note. | f. Enter new [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|source footnotes]] for every piece of data on a source, even if that event already has a note. | ||
g. Add a preliminary assessment of the of the data and its reliability to the end of each source footnote.< | g. Add a preliminary assessment of the of the data and its reliability to the end of each source footnote.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
h. Print the updated family group record. | h. Print the updated family group record. | ||
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15. '''''Organize, review, and evaluate the evidence.''''' Summarize the problem. Rearrange relevant sources in a different logical order. Review old sources for overlooked clues. Separate what you assume from what you know. Sort and weigh the evidence. Analyze information for relevance, directness of the evidence, believability of the source, likelihood of the event, transcription errors, accuracy of data, and consistency with other facts. Write a formal research report to clarify your thinking. Write why you searched where you did, what you found or did not find, what that means, construct a [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|well-documented]] family group record, and list what should be searched next, why, how long that will take, and the likelihood of success. | 15. '''''Organize, review, and evaluate the evidence.''''' Summarize the problem. Rearrange relevant sources in a different logical order. Review old sources for overlooked clues. Separate what you assume from what you know. Sort and weigh the evidence. Analyze information for relevance, directness of the evidence, believability of the source, likelihood of the event, transcription errors, accuracy of data, and consistency with other facts. Write a formal research report to clarify your thinking. Write why you searched where you did, what you found or did not find, what that means, construct a [[Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)|well-documented]] family group record, and list what should be searched next, why, how long that will take, and the likelihood of success. | ||
16. '''''Use forms to create new brain connections and raise questions.''''' Create in-out lists to help track each piece of family land. Compare changes in census answers over the years. Ask questions beyond the detail that is obvious. Suggested forms: Holes to fill in a person's life, Source citations that need completing, Facts that need better evidence, Facts that seem questionable, Ancestral associates and their roles.< | 16. '''''Use forms to create new brain connections and raise questions.''''' Create in-out lists to help track each piece of family land. Compare changes in census answers over the years. Ask questions beyond the detail that is obvious. Suggested forms: Holes to fill in a person's life, Source citations that need completing, Facts that need better evidence, Facts that seem questionable, Ancestral associates and their roles.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> | ||
=== Expand the number of sources used. === | === Expand the number of sources used. === | ||
17. '''''Be thorough.''''' Be prepared to search ALL the records of your ancestor, ALL his kin and associates, during ALL periods of their lives, in ALL the jurisdictions where they lived, and ALL possible repositories. For example, use all types of census schedules including local copies where they exist. Analyze all the tax records, land and property records, mortgages, each and every variety of estate probate papers. Study surrounding entries looking for neighbors and associates. Find every document available.< | 17. '''''Be thorough.''''' Be prepared to search ALL the records of your ancestor, ALL his kin and associates, during ALL periods of their lives, in ALL the jurisdictions where they lived, and ALL possible repositories. For example, use all types of census schedules including local copies where they exist. Analyze all the tax records, land and property records, mortgages, each and every variety of estate probate papers. Study surrounding entries looking for neighbors and associates. Find every document available.<ref>Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.”</ref> Think about and watch for associated papers created at the same time as the ones you have already found. | ||
18. '''''Substitute record types.''''' Stay focused on one question, but change the record type you search to find the answer. See the “[[United States Record Selection Table|Record Selection Table]]” on the Wiki (or just before the "Map of the United States" in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/Guide/Usout.asp#map_of_the_united_states ''United States Research Outline'']) to identify alternative record types you could use to find answers to your genealogical question. | 18. '''''Substitute record types.''''' Stay focused on one question, but change the record type you search to find the answer. See the “[[United States Record Selection Table|Record Selection Table]]” on the Wiki (or just before the "Map of the United States" in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/Guide/Usout.asp#map_of_the_united_states ''United States Research Outline'']) to identify alternative record types you could use to find answers to your genealogical question. | ||
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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.< | 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 & Other Records" (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & 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 & Correlation” (lecture presented in Course 4 Advanced Method-ology & 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.''' === | ||
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.< | 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 & 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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== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
== Related Content == | == Related Content == | ||