RESEARCH MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND SUGGESTIONS

Years after our research begins, we tend to look back and ponder how much further along we might have been—if only we had..... Sound familiar? It happens to the best self-taught researchers. There are many quality reference books available to guide the researcher, but most of us just don't take the time to read those books, until we realize how valuable a few lessons would be—ususlly after we have invested lots of time in the research.

These are my research management techniques and suggestions (not the best answer for everyone), as a quick reference:

  • Purchase and scan the following book and refer to it often: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, 2nd ed. ( Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990).


  • Purchase several spiral notebooks, and use the same type in all notetaking.


  • Use a fine point ink pen and never erase anything (line through mistakes). In some libraries and record rooms you can not use an ink pen, so always have a pencil handy. Obviously, the purpose of this restriction is to prevent permanent marks on records and books.


  • Purchase a computer and a good word processor (MS Word for Windows is my favorite).


  • Learn to use the word processor feature that links files in a master document.


  • Create a file for each year (example: NOTBK97.DOC). The long-hand name is Notebook 97.DOC.


  • Create a file for each month of the year (example: NOTJAN97.DOC, NOTFEB97.DOC. etc.).


  • Each (and every!) time you conduct research, write a research report to yourself within the monthly file.


  • Separate each note or research report with a similar header style and an unique subject line: Header style 1 would be used only for the file name (NOTJAN97.DOC); header style 2 would be for each research report subject line ("example: Rutherford Co. Deed Records, 1820-1850); and any other subordinate style header for important information within the reports (use bold italics style, for example).


  • As you close a monthly file and progress to a following month's file, attach that file to the master document file (by linking the monthly files to the yearly file). In doing this, as you open the yearly master document file you will also open each monthly file linked to the master document file. Here is an example of this: It is the end of March, and you have just begun to write to the file named NOTAPR97.DOC. Open NOTBK97.DOC and in the master document view, merge the NOTMAR97.DOC and link it to the year file (your word processor instruction book will tell you how to do this). You should now have in the year file the following monthly files: NOTJAN97.DOC, NOTFEB97.DOC, and NOTMAR97.DOC. Thus, your files are linked.


  • You can still open and use the monthly files individually, but the linked files make it easier to search for information. An example is the very useful "FIND" feature of the word processor. Suppose you want to find those Rutheford Co. Deed Records but don't remember in which monthly file they were entered? The "FIND" feature can do the searching for you. Just consult your instruction book to learn how to use the feature. It is really very simple and effective to locate any occurrence of a word or number. You can search through your files for every "grant" record you ever copied, every source you cited, etc.


  • Concerning citing sources--that is the most difficult action to committ to habit, but it is essential for a well document research effort. If you don't develope this habit early, you will certainly regret it. If you work 10 years and don't document your work, you have wasted you time. Period.


  • The first thing you should do when you review a source (primary sources are best) is to write down the source citing. If you copy a page from any source, primary or secondary, write the citing on that first page or spend the extra money to copy the source page data. Staple together this and any other page copied from the same source.


  • If you don't already have the habit of properly citing your sources, consult the National Genealogical Society (NGS) for helpful guidance at NGS and search their site for reference material. An excellent place to start is Genealogical Standards and Guidelines. Of particular interest and very useful in citing sources is: Lackey, Richard S., Cite Your Sources, 1980. Reprint ( Jackson: University of Mississippi, 1985). There are other excellent reference sources for citing, namely the coveted book by Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence! Citation and Anaylsis for The Family Historian, published by Genealogical Publishing Company in 1997.


The main point here is to start off on the right foot; develop a useful and supportive research system, and document religiously. Perhaps something written here will help you along the way. Happy tracking, and if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at the email address provided below.