Building Your Genealogy Research Strategy: A Global Guide

Embarking on a journey to uncover your family history can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, without a solid research strategy, you might find yourself lost in a sea of information, facing dead ends and wasting valuable time. This guide provides a comprehensive framework for building an effective genealogy research strategy, applicable to anyone tracing their roots, regardless of their geographic origin.

Why You Need a Genealogy Research Strategy

A well-defined research strategy is essential for several reasons:

• Efficiency: It helps you stay focused on specific research questions, avoiding aimless searching.
• Accuracy: It encourages systematic analysis of evidence, reducing the risk of errors.
• Organization: It promotes clear record-keeping, making it easier to track your progress and share your findings.
• Cost-effectiveness: It helps you prioritize resources and avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Overcoming Brick Walls: When you hit obstacles, a well-thought-out strategy guides you toward alternative approaches and resources.

Step 1: Define Your Research Goal

Before you start digging into records, clearly define what you want to achieve. What specific question are you trying to answer? For example:

• "Who were my great-grandparents on my mother's side?"
• "Where in Ireland did my ancestors originate?"
• "What occupation did my ancestor have in 19th-century Germany?"

A well-defined research goal provides focus and helps you evaluate the relevance of information you find. Be specific and avoid overly broad questions.

Step 2: Gather Known Information

Start with what you already know. This includes:

• Personal knowledge: Information you remember or have been told by family members.
• Family documents: Birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, immigration records, wills, deeds, photographs, letters, and family bibles.
• Oral histories: Record interviews with older relatives to capture their memories and stories.

Organize this information carefully. Create a timeline for each ancestor, noting key life events and locations. This will serve as the foundation for your research.

Example: Let's say your goal is to find the parents of your great-grandmother, Maria Rodriguez, who you know was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1900. You have her marriage certificate from 1920, which lists her age as 20, and a family photo album with some unlabeled pictures.

Step 3: Identify Relevant Record Types

Based on your research goal and the information you already have, identify the types of records that are likely to contain the answers you seek. Common record types include:

• Vital records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates. These are crucial for identifying parents, spouses, and dates of events. Availability varies significantly by country and time period. In some countries (e.g., many European nations), civil registration began in the 19th century, while in others (e.g., some regions of Africa and Asia), it may be more recent or incomplete.
• Census records: These provide a snapshot of a population at a specific time, including names, ages, occupations, and places of residence. The frequency and content of censuses vary by country. For example, the U.S. census is taken every 10 years, while other countries may have different intervals.
• Church records: Baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded by religious institutions. These are often valuable sources for earlier periods when civil registration was not yet established, especially in Europe and Latin America.
• Immigration and emigration records: Passenger lists, naturalization records, and border crossing records. These can provide information about an ancestor's origin, destination, and date of arrival in a new country.
• Military records: Enlistment papers, service records, pension applications, and casualty lists. These can reveal details about an ancestor's military service, including dates, units, and battles.
• Land records: Deeds, mortgages, and tax records. These can help track an ancestor's property ownership and movements.
• Probate records: Wills, inventories, and estate administrations. These can provide information about an ancestor's family relationships and possessions.
• Newspapers: Obituaries, birth announcements, marriage notices, and other articles. These can provide valuable details about an ancestor's life and activities.
• City Directories: Provide addresses and occupations of residents within a city during a specific time period.

Example (Continuing from Maria Rodriguez): Based on your goal of finding Maria's parents, relevant records in Argentina would include:

• Birth records (registros de nacimiento) from Buenos Aires around 1900.
• Potentially marriage records of her parents, if they married in Buenos Aires.
• Census records from the Buenos Aires area around 1895 (to see if Maria is living with her parents).
• Church records (parish records) if she was baptized in a local Catholic church.

Step 4: Identify and Access Resources

Once you know what records you need, you need to find out where they are located and how to access them. Consider the following resources:

• Online genealogy databases: Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, Findmypast, and others offer digitized records and search tools. These are valuable starting points, but keep in mind that their coverage is not exhaustive. FamilySearch is a free resource, while others usually require a subscription.
• National archives: Many countries have national archives that hold a wealth of genealogical records. Examples include The National Archives (UK), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in the United States, and the Archives nationales in France.
• State and local archives: These often hold records that are not available at the national level, such as county court records and local census records.
• Libraries: Public and university libraries often have genealogical collections, including books, periodicals, and microfilm.
• Genealogical societies: Local and national genealogical societies can provide valuable resources, expertise, and networking opportunities.
• Church archives: Many churches maintain their own archives, which may contain baptism, marriage, and burial records.
• Historical societies: These organizations focus on preserving local history and may have genealogical resources.
• Government agencies: Vital records offices, immigration agencies, and other government departments may hold relevant records.
• Professional genealogists: If you are struggling to find information, consider hiring a professional genealogist who specializes in the region or record type you are researching.

Example (Continuing from Maria Rodriguez):

• FamilySearch: Check for digitized birth records from Buenos Aires.
• Argentine National Archives (Archivo General de la Nación): Investigate whether they have digitized or microfilm collections of birth records from Buenos Aires. You may need to visit in person or hire a local researcher.
• Catholic Church Archives in Buenos Aires: Identify the parishes in the area where Maria was likely born and inquire about their baptismal records.

Step 5: Analyze and Evaluate Evidence

As you gather information, it is crucial to analyze and evaluate the evidence carefully. Not all records are created equal. Consider the following factors:

• Primary vs. secondary sources: Primary sources are created at the time of the event by someone who witnessed it (e.g., a birth certificate). Secondary sources are created later or based on information from other sources (e.g., a family history book). Primary sources are generally considered more reliable.
• Original vs. derivative sources: Original sources are the original documents, while derivative sources are copies or transcriptions. Errors can occur in the copying process, so it is always best to consult the original source if possible.
• Reliability of the informant: Consider the relationship of the informant to the person or event being recorded. A parent providing information for a birth certificate is likely to be more reliable than a distant relative recalling events from many years ago.
• Consistency of information: Compare information from different sources to identify any discrepancies. If there are inconsistencies, investigate further to determine which source is most likely to be accurate.
• Corroboration: Look for multiple sources that support the same information. The more corroborating evidence you have, the more confident you can be in your findings.

Example (Continuing from Maria Rodriguez):

You find two potential birth records for Maria Rodriguez in Buenos Aires around 1900. One lists her parents as Juan Rodriguez and Ana Perez, while the other lists her parents as Miguel Rodriguez and Isabel Gomez. You need to analyze the evidence to determine which record is more likely to be correct.

• Check the original images of the birth records for any clues about their reliability (e.g., neatness, completeness, legibility).
• Compare the ages of the parents listed on the birth records to the ages they would have been in 1900.
• Look for other records that might corroborate either set of parents, such as census records or church records.
• Examine the handwriting and signatures on the record, if available, for consistency with other records you have for known relatives of Maria.

Step 6: Organize Your Findings

Keeping your research organized is crucial for avoiding confusion and ensuring that you can easily retrieve information when you need it. Consider the following methods:

• Genealogy software: Programs like Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, and RootsMagic allow you to create and manage your family tree, store records, and generate reports.
• Online family trees: Websites like Ancestry.com and MyHeritage allow you to create and share your family tree online.
• Paper files: Create separate files for each ancestor or family group. Store copies of records, notes, and correspondence in these files.
• Digital files: Scan or photograph records and store them in a well-organized folder structure on your computer. Use consistent naming conventions for your files.
• Citation management: Keep track of the sources you used for each piece of information. This allows you to easily verify your findings and avoid plagiarism. Software like Zotero or Mendeley can be helpful for managing citations.

Step 7: Document Your Research Process

Documenting your research process is essential for several reasons:

• Reproducibility: It allows you to retrace your steps and verify your findings.
• Collaboration: It makes it easier to share your research with others and collaborate on your family history.
• Credibility: It demonstrates that your research is thorough and reliable.

Include the following information in your research log:

• Research question: The specific question you were trying to answer.
• Date: The date you conducted the research.
• Resource: The source you consulted (e.g., website, archive, book).
• Search terms: The keywords you used to search for information.
• Results: A summary of the information you found.
• Analysis: Your evaluation of the evidence and your conclusions.
• Next steps: What you plan to do next in your research.

Step 8: Overcoming Brick Walls

Every genealogist encounters brick walls – situations where you seem to have exhausted all available resources and cannot find the information you need. Here are some strategies for overcoming brick walls:

• Re-evaluate your research goal: Is your question too broad or too specific? Can you break it down into smaller, more manageable questions?
• Review your existing evidence: Have you overlooked any clues in the records you have already found?
• Consider alternative spellings and name variations: Names were often recorded incorrectly, especially in older records. Try searching for variations of the name you are looking for.
• Expand your geographic scope: Your ancestor may have lived in a different location than you initially thought.
• Consult with other researchers: Join online genealogy forums or attend meetings of local genealogical societies. Other researchers may have insights or resources that you are not aware of.
• Hire a professional genealogist: If you are struggling to make progress, consider hiring a professional genealogist who specializes in the region or record type you are researching.
• Utilize DNA testing: DNA testing can provide valuable clues about your ancestry, especially if you are trying to identify unknown ancestors or trace your family's origins.
• Think Outside the Box: Explore less common record types such as trade organization records, school records, and fraternal organization membership lists.

Step 9: DNA Testing and Genealogy

DNA testing has revolutionized genealogy research. There are three main types of DNA tests used in genealogy:

• Autosomal DNA (atDNA): This test traces your ancestry from both your mother's and father's sides. It is useful for finding relatives within the past 5-6 generations. Major vendors include AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage DNA, and FamilyTreeDNA (Family Finder).
• Y-DNA: This test traces your direct paternal line (father's father's father, etc.). It is useful for tracing surname origins and identifying distant male relatives. Only men can take this test. FamilyTreeDNA is the primary vendor for Y-DNA testing.
• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): This test traces your direct maternal line (mother's mother's mother, etc.). It is useful for tracing the origins of your maternal line. Both men and women can take this test. FamilyTreeDNA is the primary vendor for mtDNA testing.

When using DNA testing for genealogy, it is important to:

• Understand the limitations of each test.
• Interpret your results carefully. DNA matches do not always indicate a close relationship.
• Combine DNA evidence with traditional genealogical research. DNA testing is a tool to be used in conjunction with records and other sources.
• Consider ethnicity estimates with caution. Ethnicity estimates are based on statistical probabilities and can vary significantly between vendors. They should not be taken as definitive statements of your ancestry.
• Privacy considerations: Be aware of the privacy policies of the DNA testing company and understand how your DNA data will be used.

Global Considerations for Genealogy Research

When conducting genealogy research internationally, it is important to be aware of the following factors:

• Language: Learn the language of the country you are researching or hire a translator.
• Record availability: The types of records available and their accessibility vary significantly by country.
• Cultural differences: Be aware of cultural differences in naming conventions, record-keeping practices, and family structures.
• Political boundaries: Political boundaries have changed over time, so be sure to research the historical context of the region you are researching.
• Religious practices: Religious practices can affect record-keeping. For example, in some cultures, baptisms are the primary source of birth information.
• Historical events: Wars, famines, and other historical events can affect the availability of records and the migration patterns of populations.
• Digitization efforts: The extent of digitization of genealogical records varies by country. Some countries have made significant progress in digitizing their records, while others have not.

Conclusion

Building a solid genealogy research strategy is essential for uncovering your family history. By defining your research goals, gathering known information, identifying relevant record types, accessing resources, analyzing evidence, organizing your findings, and documenting your research process, you can increase your chances of success and avoid getting lost in the vast world of genealogy. Remember to be patient, persistent, and adaptable, and enjoy the journey of discovering your roots. With careful planning and diligent research, you can unlock the stories of your ancestors and connect with your past in meaningful ways.