By Kate Shilling — 9th October 2022
As anyone who has attempted to scale the mysterious, never-before-climbed branches of their family tree will attest, a strategic method of research is critical to success.
A haphazard approach will inevitably leave you swinging in the wind, entangled in twisted boughs and tenuous branches, lost in a forest of elusive ancestors without a map to guide you.
We know it’s hard to resist charging headlong into your family history research – the excitement of unearthing fascinating historical characters and family secrets is highly addictive. But it pays to take a breath and spend some time planning before you begin to ensure the highest chance of success in your family history quest.
Start by establishing an overall goal, such as
- Create a family tree
- Have a family reunion
- Write an accurate memoir
- Find out more about a particular ancestor
- Make a land rights claim
- Connect with your community, culture and country
Next, identify the first problem that you wish to solve. For example, “Where was my great-grandfather born?”
Next, decide upon the first, easiest step you can take towards solving this mystery. This may include looking up immigration records or exploring the details on the birth certificates of his children. It can be helpful to make a note of everything you already know about this person – his full name, date of birth and known relatives.
Your next strategy point could be to pinpoint where the relevant records will be found. For example, knowledgeable relatives, the National Archives, historical society or public library. It’s important to delve into the range of family history sources available and figure out which ones are likely to hold the information you are seeking.
At this stage of your research plan development, have a go at writing down everything you already know. This will help you build your hypothesis.
Some of your family history questions will be complicated and may require several phases of research. This is where your strategy becomes the most useful tool on your journey, helping you to stay focused and stop you from becoming overwhelmed as you seek to answer one question at a time.
Remember, you can always ask for help. Genealogists and librarians can offer excellent advice on how you can move forward and make those key ancestral breakthroughs. Joining family history groups on social media is wonderful for sharing ideas and insights. Groups of this kind can be incredibly helpful when you get stuck.
As you build your research strategy, include a Family History Holiday as part of your plan. Visiting places of ancestral significance is often the key to unlocking the secrets of your family tree. At Family History Holidays, we do the hard work for you, connecting you with local genealogists and historians who can reveal relevant places of interest. These could include historic cemeteries, churches, schools and meeting places.
A Family History Holiday is more than a fun weekend away. For many people it becomes the most meaningful escapade of their lives, providing many 'aha' moments as they walk in the footsteps of relatives from the past who played a critical role in shaping their present life.
