Organise your Research

Begin with yourself

• Check your own records

• Ask your family what they remember

• Check for certificates for births, marriages and deaths

• Check photo albums

• Make clear notes

• Source your notes as you go

Write your own memories

• Your story is unique and usually untold

• You may think that it is an ordinary life, but the story is well worth the telling…

• A simple way to begin is to use photos and simply add captions to each

• Loose leaf binders and plastic sleeves will let you expand the tale as you remember more…

Label your photo albums now

• Store your photos safely

• If you have magnetic page albums, rehouse your photos now into archival albums such as Albox

• Keep your negatives safe

• Print copies of your photos

• Make multiple copies of back up discs and distribute to family

Assume nothing

• The accepted standard is three proofs of each fact

• Record different dates and details even if you think they are incorrect

• Make notes in your source detail if you have doubts

• Maintain an unbiased outlook

• Don’t make judgements

Work from the known

• Verify

• Get certificates

• Be organised

• Develop a filing system you can follow

• Use genealogy software if you have a computer

• Use family group sheets to record your information

Names

Misspeld Knames, A commun probblem for reeserchors

• Remember when tracing ancestors that names have not always been spelt the way they are today.

One researcher for example, recorded 53 variations of the surname Brittain.

• Also check indexes under both given names, for example, William Henry Jones may have been registered as Henry William Jones.

• Another trick is to put yourself in the place of the person taking down the details, guessing how to spell a name from someone who mumbles, has a cold, looks away or has a mouth full of marbles.

Do Not Rush

If you do, you may become frustrated at the many small set backs that confront the family historian. You may overlook vital information or an area of research and the risk of following ‘the wrong line’ is increased.

• If you reach the proverbial ‘dead end’ with one ancestor, turn to another and come back to the first later.

• Carry out periodic reviews of all data held. A fresh examination may reveal new clues

• Record what you have done even if there was no result. Saves checking the same source again and again.

Visit everywhere

• Libraries – local, state, university, national

• Genealogy groups – local and countrywide

• LDS centres – Kawana, Woombye, Caboolture and more…

• Museums – local

• Cemeteries

• Historical centres

• Family

Local family history groups

• Genealogy Sunshine Coast

• Caloundra FH group

• Cooroy-Noosa

• Gympie

• Queensland Family History Society

Beginners workshops at GSC Resource Centre

• I thoroughly recommend a series of beginner workshops

Where to find information…

• Internet

• Books and libraries - includes family history groups

• Family - valuable clues

• Random sources - includes TV programs, museums, newspapers, people…

Welcome to the digital age

• Get a digital camera

• Cheap and effective to copy records

• Ask permission before using it in museums and libraries

• Be aware of copyright

• Make notes of your sources to acknowledge them

Computers….

• Fantastic resource

• Hazardous if you don’t back up

• Get some advice…particularly for scanning photos and documents

• BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP …

• Some part of your system will fail – it is inevitable…

• Beware of computer crashes and discs that become unreadable

Join a group of fellow researchers..

• You learn from others

• You often meet people researching in the same area

• There are more eyes and ears alert for clues

• It’s a great deal of fun… and you never stop learning

The World Wide Web

• The most extraordinary resource for genealogists

• Direct links to a world wide community of fellow researchers

• Is relatively cheap and effective

• BEWARE unsourced material and poor research

Advertise your interests…

• We have a quarterly journal “Kin Tracer” which we exchange with many other societies

• You can advertise your names of interest and also submit a query for help or information

Contribute if you can…

• Genealogy is built on the efforts of many people who have spent years transcribing information…

• The more people who help to index, copy, sort, file, organise… whatever you can do… will help

to create the tools for research for the future…

• You learn new skills all the time…

Be polite and courteous

• Always thank people for their time and trouble in sharing information

• Exchange information where you can

• HOWEVER – do not distribute information about living individuals to all and sundry

• Do not post such information on the web without permission

Genealogy software – which one?

• Free – download trial versions to get started

• My favourites: Rootsmagic 7; Legacy; Family Historian

What to look for..

• The ability to create GEDCOM files to transfer your information or you want to change programs or share information

• How does it handle photos to create images in your family trees?

• Do you like the style of reports?

• Is it easy to use and understand?

• Can you get support online?

Come and visit us

• Also visit Nambour Library

• Locate the LDS Church in 41 Stark St, Woombye - also in Kawana and Caboolture

Summary

• Begin with yourself and work backwards, one generation at a time.

• Read "how to" books

• Read "guides to sources" to locate records

• Obtain full copies of certificates for births, deaths and marriages.

• Note what was and was not found from documents

• Evaluate the reliability of the record and information

• Record all the information in a systematic fashion

• Double check your information at every step

• Be methodical