GENEALOGY
CAROL DIPIRRO-STIPKOVITS
Research Logs for Genealogy The author's late father-in-law, husband, and his brothers visiting family in Hungary circa 1970 Courtesy of Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits
I
remember sitting at my dining room table on a Sunday afternoon surrounded by my family research. I had accomplished quite a bit of in-person research before going online. A couple weeks prior, however, Ancestry tempted me with an offer that was too good to refuse. There I was, falling down a dark hole… dates, names, dates, names, on and on. My tree populated so quickly and I was so caught up in it that my only goal was to see how far back I could reach. (1646, by the way.) When I finally came up for air, I saw a tree full of people’s names, but I had no idea how or if they were truly connected to me. I recall making the tough decision to hit that delete button and start fresh. The internet has made research as grabbing a spiral notebook, birth and death to distinguish so easy. Trust me, when those little but think carefully about what them. leaves do their dance it’s hard to will realistically work with your Date of search: Record sets are turn away. I decided it was time to research habits. What you choose constantly being updated. If you get serious about how I spent time should be a handy tool you want to searched in 2016, another look in on genealogy research and, just as use. If it’s not simple, you won’t use 2020 might be prosperous. important, use source citations to it. Although our logs may vary, it’s Research question: What event verify my facts. This was the start important that certain information or person do you want to find? Be of my first genealogy research log. is included to be effective. Ask detailed with this question! Research logs save time by yourself: “Will my descendants Place of research: What helping us avoid repetitive searches be able to trace my research steps repository are you doing your and serve as the foundation for with this information?” That’s our research in? List the URL if the next generation of researchers. goal here, convincing them to take searching online. Listen, some months, I can only it on after we’re gone is another Source description: If it’s a find an hour for my genealogy. I conversation! Basically, a research computer database, drill down to don’t want to waste time redoing log should include: the actual record location. Enter searches I’ve already done. There Ancestors’ name and years: the library and call number for are so many choices for keeping Depending on your research a book or microfilm. I suggest a research log, whether paper question, it could be an individual, writing this as though you’ll need or digital. It could be as easy couple, or a family and dates of to send a novice to find the record.
Notes: This is where you note your research journey. What name variations did you try? List the years you looked through and the result of those searches. Results: Whether productive or not, always list the outcome of your search. Negative results can be just as helpful in reaching conclusions. Over the years, I have perfected my own digital log. If I need to leave my research for a day or a month, I can pick right up where I left off when I come back. I also feel more secure about the accuracy of my tree. The dancing leaves are still a weakness, but my research log keeps me honest. Staying focused is hard in genealogy with so many wonderful things to explore and so many temptations put right in front of us. Give a research log a try and watch it transform your family history researching. Happy hunting! FY Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits is a member of the National Genealogical Society and Association of Professional Genealogists. She is a Board member and President of the Niagara County Genealogical Society, guest lecturer and freelance writer. Send questions or comments to her at noellasdaughter@gmail. com.
April 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 11
