| Introduction to Genealogy | |
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How many times have you grabbed a book from a library shelf, checked the index for your surname and then put it back without making any notes? Can you name all of the Internet databases that you have searched for your surname? If yes, then great! But if you are like the majority of us who have wasted time duplicating our own research then this lesson is for you.
Research
Logs It is very important in genealogy
research to keep track of the resources you investigate, even those that yield
nothing of value. A research log or research calendar can help you organize your
finds, decide on the next steps and eliminate duplicated research. You can
maintain your log by surname, by individual, by geographic area or whatever
organizational method you find the most effective. Each log usually
provides space for the date in which you searched the source, the location of
the source, bibliographic information for the source and a small section for
notes and/or results. Here are several research
calendars/logs to get you started. They are available for free download and each
is in a different format, so if one will not open or print for you, then try
another: Research
Calendar Research
Log Research
Calendars Research
Log
A Microsoft Word for Windows document file from Family Tree Magazine.
A PDF document file from the U.S.-based Ancestors television series. You will
need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file. If you do not have it, you
can download it here.
For Word Perfect versions 7.0 & 8.0 from Ancestor Detective.
An html version from the LDS Church.
Correspondence
Logs Remember
those letters and queries we discussed on the previous page? A correspondence
log is a record of the letters you have written and the replies received. It
typically includes a blank for the surname at the top and room to record
information for each letter sent concerning that surname. You don't even have to
use a fancy form to track your correspondence, but be sure that for each letter
you write you make a note of the date sent, to whom it was sent and a summary of
your request. Then, once you receive the reply, you can make a note of the date
the reply was received and the results (positive or negative). It may seem easy
enough to keep in your head as you are just getting started, but considering
that replies to genealogy queries can take anywhere from a week to six months
you will probably lose track over time. Here are a
few free examples of correspondence logs to get you started: Correspondence
Record Correspondence
Log Correspondence
Log Next page > Computer Software
A nice PDF document file from amateur genealogists, Mary & Duane Bailey.
This free form from Family Tree Magazine is compatible with Microsoft Word for
Windows 97 and 2000 as well as WordPerfect
Another nice PDF format correspondence log from Ancestry.com.
