Genealogy Research Tips from CCNGS Members

One of the great benefits of joining CCNGS is the ability to meet and collaborate with other genealogists in the Las Vegas area. Here are some words of wisdom and practical advice from several of our amazing members as you begin (or continue) your family history research:

Getting Organized

• Keep a research log with date, what you searched for, where you searched, a one-liner on what you found, and of when you updated your tree or any other records with that info. Excel works great for this, but apps can have a space for notes as well if that's what you prefer. I prefer Excel because very often my finds relate to multiple people and records. - S. B.

• Use your research log or to-do list to capture what to do now AND what to do later. Keep that file open to capture spur of the moment points to prove. Stay focused and avoid chasing rabbits! - C.J.V.

• When labeling files on the computer, always structure reference dates with year first, then month, then day, so that, when sorted by name, your files naturally fall into chronological order of the reference date. - S. B.

The Family Tree

• Never add anything to your family tree fact timeline until you have been able to verify it with a public record.  Everything else goes into a note, or, if you feel you must put it into the fact timeline, make sure to add a note stating that it's unverified. - S. B.

• Don’t stop at your ancestor. Look at their brothers, sisters, and other family members. News articles may mention their link. - Jamie B.

What’s in a Name or a Date?

• Be sure when searching for an ancestor that you find the correct person. Make sure the first, middle, and last names match and the birthdate and place are reasonable. Don’t make the mistake of accidentally putting a stranger into your family tree. - Karen S.

• Pay attention to dates. Many names are generational and repeated through generations. It is important to look closely at dates. - Susan H.

• Do not get stuck on the exact spelling of names when reading census (and other) records. - Bettie R.

DNA Testing

• If you’re just getting started with DNA testing and don’t know which test to purchase, there are several good options available. If you want the largest number of possible matches, consider testing with AncestryDNA as they have the largest database of test takers. You will have the option of downloading your results and uploading them to several other sites. Watch for sales around holidays, such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, National DNA Day (April 25th) and Christmas. - Kelley B.

• DNA testing can solve major family history mysteries and bring possible new ones to light. Remember you may uncover something that has long been buried. Just be prepared to discover the unknown. - Kharisma R.

• Testing yourself (if you are male) or male relatives with a Y-DNA test can show your paternal line much further than an autosomal test. A mtDNA test can do the same thing for anyone (male or female) on their maternal line. - Kharisma R.

Before it’s too Late

• DNA test the “old” folks in your family and set yourself as a manager of their results. - Bettie R.

• I wish I had interviewed my parents and grandparents on all our family members stories for documentation. - Peggy H.

Engage Your Family

• For a neat way to involve family members and increase the level of their interest in your family history work, consider keeping a data file of the people in your family tree sorted by important dates like births, deaths, and anniversaries, and get in the habit of sending your family members a quick email or note (or post if you have a family blogsite) on the anniversary of that date with any interesting info you have on that person -- info they may not have previously known. Including any relevant pictures or screenshots of documents helps immensely...gives them something to look at, and ensures that your family understands the value of the work you are doing. - S. B.

• For family history content before family members die, think about setting up monthly conference calls w an older family member as the guest. Invite all members of the family to join in at their leisure. Prepare a list of questions to ask your guest, and record the call. Make to leave time at end for any questions from the family. Disseminate to all your family members a link to the call recording once it is finished, so that those who missed can hear -- and then download the audio or audio/video files to your genealogy files so you have it for posterity. If it's not private, consider uploading to your online family history tree. - S. B.

Need Help?

• Join a genealogy group to gain information, education, and resources to help with your search. - Carol C.

• One thing that I wish I would have known about sooner is the FamilySearch Research Wiki. It is my favorite guide to finding the locations of records in the places where my ancestors lived. - Kelley B.

• If you hit a ‘brick wall’, ask for help in the genealogy room at the library. - Valerie S.