Never Do Genealogy Research in a Vacuum
Researching totally and completely on your own with no input from other researchers can be a most inefficient way to locate information.
A vacuum may well be good for getting dust off the floor but it is not the most productive way to locate ancestors.
Getting By with a Little Help from your Friends - A pal of mine has gotten interested in genealogy.
After a little talking, it turned out we had ancestors from the same county.
He provided me with a couple of names and I went looking in my cemetery books for that county and located a significant amount of details for him.
In studying the surnames he was researching, I noted they were of the same culture that I was.
I checked the microfilm of some French language newspapers I had and located obituaries for just two of his ancestors from the early 1900s.
He also talked over some difficulties she was having with another ancestor and I asked her if she had used the Alabama Marriage Index pre-1860 that is accessible online.
We checked it right at her desk and located the marriage date for her ancestors (TIP: you ALWAYS need to check the original records).
While not all friendship will produce this many results, both parties frequently benefit.
It helps to have someone to ask or to ask someone for ideas or suggestions, although they are not researching the same family.
And sometimes it's best if they aren't.
Someone totally unacquainted with the names and situation can bring a new perspective to the problem and doesn't have any assumptions about the family unit being researched.
The majority of your fellow staff members won't share your concern in genealogy.
Genealogical Societies - A respectable place to meet individuals who do share your interest, is at your local genealogical society.
Attending such meetings may be good and informative, even though your ancestors are not from the area where you currently live.
Some societies have "work sessions" or "bring your own problem" often times at their meetings in lieu of a speaker.
Just don't forget that if it takes you 30 minutes to explain your complaint that's too long.
You want to interest the other person, not bore them to tears.
Also refining your trouble could even cause you to resolve it yourself.
Local society meetings can be a good way to get research ideas and assistance.
Just remember that fellow members might not be able to help you specifically and can't do your research for you.
Conferences & Workshops - Attending conferences and workshops is another good idea.
There may well be speakers talking about research in the areas where you are having difficulty or with the kinds of problems you are encountering.
While the announcer probably won't be able to supply you with an hour-long discussion of your complaint, their presentation should provide helpful clues and suggestions.
It might be possible to speak with them after their presentation.
Handing them 40 sheets of computerized printouts and saying, "look at these," is likely NOT worthwhile.
Pointed, specific questions have the best chance of getting specific, useful answers.
It might be useful to write your question down before you go to the workshop.
Do not expect one lecture or seminar to make you a specialist in a given topic or geographic locality, many lecturers have spent years refining their own research skills.
If they are not able to resolve your question specifically, ask if there is a guide or reference that may be of use.
Nearly all presenters have their favorite reference and source books they use to double check themselves when they write or prepare lectures.
Take a Class - Another networking option is to take a class or to attend one of the few institutes offered across the nation.
Even experienced researchers can benefit from a class that might seem "basic.
" Many of these institutes have social time, during which most attendees carry on discuss genealogy.
There are genealogists with a number of years of research experience and no formal class work or training, taking a "beginning" class.
That's not to imply that all experienced researchers who've never taken a class need to.
There are many excellent genealogists who are self-trained.
Nevertheless, experienced researchers, particularly when they aren't acquainted with a broad variety of records profit from some type of formal training.
Sometimes, just hearing a different person present material with which we're already familiar may cause us to build up new insights and perspectives.
Different instructors presented the material another way and used a different text.
Even though the same general conceptions were presented, you benefit from the repeated exposure to the material and will in all probability learn more the second time than you do the first.
Again, you might find chance to discuss specific research issues with fellow students or instructors during the training.
Listservs - A new way of connecting with other researchers is to join one of the numerous genealogy listserves that are accessible for free.
There may well be other researchers searching the same people or in the same geographic regions as you.
Their perspectives and expertise might be useful to your own research.
Don't go it Alone - There are times when working on your own is a good thing.
Sometimes isolation is needed in order to fully focus.
Even so, in genealogical research constant isolation is never a great thing.
Frequently you will see it essential to collaborate.
Fortunately, the world wide web facilitates this collaboration and makes it must quicker than before.
It is important to understand that another researcher may have entry to additional records or live in the same area your ancestors did.
Together multiple researchers may be in a position to hire an expert researcher which might be out of reach financially to them as individuals.
Or researchers may like to order records or materials themselves and then share the results with others.
Credit Where Credit Is Due - No one likes to be taken advantage of.
If someone significantly assists you in your research, give them their due.
There are a couple off reasons for this.
The first is simple common courtesy.
The second reason, a little more selfish perhaps, is that if you do not, the individual who helped you once may not be so willing to do so again.
And you never know when they may locate additional facts you don't have.
A vacuum may well be good for getting dust off the floor but it is not the most productive way to locate ancestors.
Getting By with a Little Help from your Friends - A pal of mine has gotten interested in genealogy.
After a little talking, it turned out we had ancestors from the same county.
He provided me with a couple of names and I went looking in my cemetery books for that county and located a significant amount of details for him.
In studying the surnames he was researching, I noted they were of the same culture that I was.
I checked the microfilm of some French language newspapers I had and located obituaries for just two of his ancestors from the early 1900s.
He also talked over some difficulties she was having with another ancestor and I asked her if she had used the Alabama Marriage Index pre-1860 that is accessible online.
We checked it right at her desk and located the marriage date for her ancestors (TIP: you ALWAYS need to check the original records).
While not all friendship will produce this many results, both parties frequently benefit.
It helps to have someone to ask or to ask someone for ideas or suggestions, although they are not researching the same family.
And sometimes it's best if they aren't.
Someone totally unacquainted with the names and situation can bring a new perspective to the problem and doesn't have any assumptions about the family unit being researched.
The majority of your fellow staff members won't share your concern in genealogy.
Genealogical Societies - A respectable place to meet individuals who do share your interest, is at your local genealogical society.
Attending such meetings may be good and informative, even though your ancestors are not from the area where you currently live.
Some societies have "work sessions" or "bring your own problem" often times at their meetings in lieu of a speaker.
Just don't forget that if it takes you 30 minutes to explain your complaint that's too long.
You want to interest the other person, not bore them to tears.
Also refining your trouble could even cause you to resolve it yourself.
Local society meetings can be a good way to get research ideas and assistance.
Just remember that fellow members might not be able to help you specifically and can't do your research for you.
Conferences & Workshops - Attending conferences and workshops is another good idea.
There may well be speakers talking about research in the areas where you are having difficulty or with the kinds of problems you are encountering.
While the announcer probably won't be able to supply you with an hour-long discussion of your complaint, their presentation should provide helpful clues and suggestions.
It might be possible to speak with them after their presentation.
Handing them 40 sheets of computerized printouts and saying, "look at these," is likely NOT worthwhile.
Pointed, specific questions have the best chance of getting specific, useful answers.
It might be useful to write your question down before you go to the workshop.
Do not expect one lecture or seminar to make you a specialist in a given topic or geographic locality, many lecturers have spent years refining their own research skills.
If they are not able to resolve your question specifically, ask if there is a guide or reference that may be of use.
Nearly all presenters have their favorite reference and source books they use to double check themselves when they write or prepare lectures.
Take a Class - Another networking option is to take a class or to attend one of the few institutes offered across the nation.
Even experienced researchers can benefit from a class that might seem "basic.
" Many of these institutes have social time, during which most attendees carry on discuss genealogy.
There are genealogists with a number of years of research experience and no formal class work or training, taking a "beginning" class.
That's not to imply that all experienced researchers who've never taken a class need to.
There are many excellent genealogists who are self-trained.
Nevertheless, experienced researchers, particularly when they aren't acquainted with a broad variety of records profit from some type of formal training.
Sometimes, just hearing a different person present material with which we're already familiar may cause us to build up new insights and perspectives.
Different instructors presented the material another way and used a different text.
Even though the same general conceptions were presented, you benefit from the repeated exposure to the material and will in all probability learn more the second time than you do the first.
Again, you might find chance to discuss specific research issues with fellow students or instructors during the training.
Listservs - A new way of connecting with other researchers is to join one of the numerous genealogy listserves that are accessible for free.
There may well be other researchers searching the same people or in the same geographic regions as you.
Their perspectives and expertise might be useful to your own research.
Don't go it Alone - There are times when working on your own is a good thing.
Sometimes isolation is needed in order to fully focus.
Even so, in genealogical research constant isolation is never a great thing.
Frequently you will see it essential to collaborate.
Fortunately, the world wide web facilitates this collaboration and makes it must quicker than before.
It is important to understand that another researcher may have entry to additional records or live in the same area your ancestors did.
Together multiple researchers may be in a position to hire an expert researcher which might be out of reach financially to them as individuals.
Or researchers may like to order records or materials themselves and then share the results with others.
Credit Where Credit Is Due - No one likes to be taken advantage of.
If someone significantly assists you in your research, give them their due.
There are a couple off reasons for this.
The first is simple common courtesy.
The second reason, a little more selfish perhaps, is that if you do not, the individual who helped you once may not be so willing to do so again.
And you never know when they may locate additional facts you don't have.