Learn Genealogy - Research Notes - Episode 6

[@susansilver853]

"Honor Your Ancestors With Great Research Notes" is such an encouraging challenge. I am starting to keep great research notes. Thanks for all you do, Connie.

[@GenealogyTV]

Fantastic Susan

[@rebeccaabetterlife996]

I like to write it out on paper, so I have tons of notes written out. And on my laptop, I folders for each of the family names. Now following the information you gave on this video, this will definitely help me as I grow my family tree. Thank you.

[@MsCybervamp]

Hi Connie... thanks for all the great info. I had not thought about the footnotes staying on the same page and how helpful that would be. I haven’t started research documents yet but I am going to do so. I will be using your tips. 😊

[@BrandiFink]

Do you add images to your research notes? I LOVE your template. I'm using the Google Docs version. I also use Snagit, and I'm wondering if putting snips of the census records below each entry would be a good idea, or is it too much? If I want to include images of documents, should I put them at the end of the report like a gallery, and just add (See Figure #) after the timeline entry? How do you handle that? For some ancestors I have other documents in addition to census records like WWII draft card, newspaper articles, marriage license, etc. What's the best way to handle them with the research notes? (I have them in my software, Ancestry, and FS, but I want a simple way to share my research findings with family who doesn't really know how to navigate online trees.) Thanks! I love your videos!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you Brandi. The research notes are for you... to help you get back to your research quickly. The Research Notes are a timeline with abstracted detail. So if the image helps you the add it. Otherwise, if it needs to be analyzed you want to do that in a separate document. I talk about this in several lessons at the Genealogy TV Academy. That might help you if you're interested in a deeper dive. genealogytv.org/about-genealogy-tv-academy/

[@GenealogyTV]

Great question. May I use it in a short video?

[@BrandiFink]

@@GenealogyTV Thanks! I've been trying to consolidate my research because it's so spread out over different platforms and programs. But I think you're right. Adding the images might be too much for my purposes. I *did* extract the info, which was super helpful. I didn't notice a date discrepancy in his military records until I took the time to extract the data. 🙂 And I do like the Google Doc comments. I can keep my ideas for future research there until I can put it on my spreadsheet for my research plan/log. What's your preference for analyzing images? I've tried Evernote and OneNote, but I'm not really sold on either one yet.

[@BrandiFink]

@@GenealogyTV Oh sure! I've got lots of questions, and I love your videos! lol

[@dianebrandt8839]

I have recently joined GenealogyTV Academy and am going through the courses. I would really like to see handout re: research Logs as I begin to "clean up" my genealogy. I can't seem to find itl. I thought in the beginning there was a list somewhere of all the handouts. but maybe there aren't any for You tube videos? I am currently watching Learn Genealogy - Research Notes - Episode 6. Thank you for all you do!

[@GenealogyTV]

Hi Diane. Handouts began in the summer of 2020, so older episodes don't have handouts.

[@dianebrandt8839]

@@GenealogyTVthank you for responding. Are most of academy courses older than 2020? I guess I assumed I would have access being a member.

[@staceyduffy6688]

Oh where was this video when I started this journey 2 years ago?!?

[@GenealogyTV]

I can't tell you how many times I hear that same comment. Thanks for watching.

[@tristanmills4948]

A good example of birth dates not necessarily being fact - my grandfather's birth was never registered, and different dates are given by his parents in different places. Even official documents differ. We note what day he celebrated, and the other dates. At least its only a two day window.

[@catherinelamb8210]

A comment and a question - First thanks so much! There are so many resources/people for learning genealogy, but I’ve decided you are the best! Love your style and presentation. Question - when i research an ancestors FANS would I add that information to my ancestors research notes? Or give them their own. I worry my brain won’t make connections if i have separate documents. (Signing up to support the channel now)

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks Catherine for the support. I keep individual research notes on direct line ancestors or anyone that needs that extra attention/research. So for Friends, Associates, and Neighbors (FAN Club) I typically make reference to them within the direct line ancestors' research notes. If I'm researching, say a sibling of a direct line ancestor, I will keep individual research notes for them, then copy and paste references that are important to my direct line ancestor into his/her research notes. Sometimes I'll have a couple different sets of research notes open as I'm researching.

[@Isleskye]

I may be missing some thing. Help me out please. Why would we not just use our desktop genealogy program say FamilyTreeMaker or RootsMagic to keep our research notes for people by events, facts and notes instead of using a Word Processing program? The desktop program can manage all the notes, timelines and footnoting for us record and event by record and event. FamilyTreeMaker is the best for syncing with Ancestry imo. It’s drop dead easy because it handles two way syncing with Ancestry. Enter a fact manually into the gen program? Or importing from a non-Ancestry site? Yep, these programs can access and search FamilySearch, FindMyPast and other genealogical databases and will sync or import these findings on to your desktop program. Then it will tell you your computer is more up to date than your Ancestry tree so you better sync it with Ancestry.com to be even steven all around. Click the link and in seconds your done. FamilyTree Maker even tells you in color if it’s a good or a bad time to sync based on how busy Ancestry’s servers are at the time. Green is go, orange is careful, red is not wise. Its pretty brilliant. Each program mentioned as well as Legacy Family Tree can generate all sorts of dandy reports for families and individuals with facts/events sorted chronologically (or as one chooses) with footnotes placed wherever the user directs. All the programs I’ve tried generate decent to very good timelines. But nowadays Ancestry can produce timelines as well. Each genealogical desktop program allows users to create Notes logs, To Do or Task Lists. Research Logs: I honestly haven’t checked in a long while but most desktop gen programs in the past have been weak as to Research Logs. I should have checked tonight but did not. Too lazy. Each desktop program mentioned can backup trees, reports & whatever to backup services such as Google Drive or DropBox for ready internet access retrieval when one is away from their home and their main computers. So am I nuts to think using a program that works almost effortlessly with Ancestry and most database giants to search, obtain, record, keep, manage and report my research findings is pretty wonderful? Besides, I can’t see that any of us should rely on Ancestry alone to safeguard our tree. Too risky in my mind. Ancestry is financially over extended. What if it fails? What happens to our trees? Remember AOL? Me thinks we should protect ourselves by keeping control of our trees and our data by keeping local and cloud backups. Sorry for the excessive length...

[@GenealogyTV]

Hi Simona... The short answer is, you should do whatever works best for you. However, I like to keep research notes as demonstrated in this video for a variety of reasons... One, I can control where and how they are located/archived. If the software company fails (and Family Tree Maker nearly did), then I have my notes on my computer and my cloud back up. Don't get me wrong, I love Family Tree Maker and still use it. Once I started learning how to create professional research notes, I've done it this way ever since. I do copy and paste those notes into my Family Tree Maker notes area every so often... as another layer of back up. I agree that FTM can be easy to sync... but I've had issues with it in the past too that was a nightmare to fix. Again, that is one reason why I keep my notes in a standard Word doc. Also, when I'm dead and gone, my descendants can find my notes, photos and evidence, in a document files easier than in software they don't own. Something I do really like about FTM, is the ability to keep some notes, documents and photos private, if you don't wish to sync them when you sync to Ancestry. The other thing I use most often is the planner. So when I'm working on an ancestor and realize I need to look up a document at say the NC Archives, I can add that. Then the next ancestor a week later, I discover I need to look something up at the NC Archives I can add it to the list. Then when I'm going to the NC Archives, I can sort and print the list of everything for the NC Archives only, for all ancestors, that I need to look up while I'm there. Lastly, to your point, we need to protect the research we've done for years... and thus have our own documents, cloud backups, and yes... companies can fail... but I do use Ancestry as my third back up and main tree. :) Thanks for the comments... sorry it took so long to get back to you. Connie Knox

[@darlenesye1609]

@@GenealogyTV "...when I'm dead and gone,...Document Files Easier Than In Software They Don't Own." ...or a software version that is too old to be understood by any version more current. There is the Best reason to use them if for none other. 🤩

[@rosiecevasco8784]

Thanks, Connie, for all you do. I have learned so much from you. Forgive me if you have already answered this question, but how do you handle research notes for women whose surname changes at marriage? Do you keep all the notes for their entire lives in the notes under their maiden names or do you start a new set of notes under their new surname(s) and therefore in different folders?

[@GenealogyTV]

One research notes document per ancestor by maiden name. Name it SURNAME First Middle - Research Notes. File everything the same way in individual file folders with the same nomenclature. Name all the files the same way. Makes it super easy to find things. on Files put a year at the end of the file name for the year the document was created.

[@rosiecevasco8784]

@@GenealogyTV Thank you! I'm doing "Verify" from your other video and catching up all the research notes I never did, with a thought to your 100 year rule and who might pick up my research after I'm gone. Such wonderful, practical information, Connie. Thanks again.

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Great information. I need a tutor.

[@GenealogyTV]

You might consider the Genealogy TV Academy. It's not one on one coaching but you can learn a lot and attend live Zoom meetings where you can ask questions. You can learn more here genealogytv.org/about-genealogy-tv-academy/

[@lauraa9848]

Thank you for your incredibly helpful videos! Question regarding documenting my sources so that others can retrace my steps: What do I do if my source is an original document, such as a letter that I have in my possession that is not online? I hope this question makes sense! Thanks again.

[@GenealogyTV]

You still wanna document the sources to work it originally came from, and then also add a secondary source that it’s in your personal possession. I hope that answered your question. That’s called stacking sources. Check out Elizabeth Shown Mills Book called Evidence Explained If you want to learn about professional source citations.

[@maureentaphouse5206]

As some one who has always liked my paperwork organised logically at home and at work I have a question. I only started this process a few years ago on a sporadic basis keeping the info on Ancestry and additional findings on FMP as my relatives are almost exclusively in the UK. I've just bought Family Tree Maker so that I can transfer everything onto my MacBook . The aim is to have a copy to give to my sister. Surely for my personal needs it would be sufficient to include all the facts on the FTM program rather than creating additional work ? Any comments on this thought would be appreciated.

[@GenealogyTV]

Hey Maureen. Research Notes are important to help us make sure we have all the documents and sources in chronological order. This helps us understand what is missing. More importantly is because, when we get stuck... and can't find that next ancestor, referring back to the details abstracted into our research notes are often the key to finding the answers. It's in the details, where you'll see the answers to your research question.

[@sandybr325]

Where would we record information gotten from someone who is related to or knew the person you are researching? For example, I had a conversation with a relative to find the correct resources such as his father had a younger sister.

[@GenealogyTV]

In your Research Notes for that ancestor - Year - Subject - Transcription - and Source (in footnotes) with how you can find that person again. I would not post that online for privacy reasons. If you don't keep research notes, I have a ton of videos on how to keep great research notes.

[@mysterj1]

This might very well be the best advice I have come across in my 15 years of research. I have kept my compiled research either in FTM or in a Word form that I found and modified for my own use. I love the idea of using Word’s footnotes for citations!

[@GenealogyTV]

It’s worked for me for a long time.

[@GenealogyGrandmother]

I am at a point in my 40+ year genealogy adventure where I know all these mistakes I've made but need to wrap it up due to age. You've pointed out so many things I wish I'd done differently and I appreciate that. My question is and has been a constant issue with me; Do I compile a family (mother, father, children) into a coherent story with all the facts to make it interesting OR tell each individual's facts and stories? I am struggling with this decision. Thank you for all you are teaching.

[@GenealogyTV]

I like doing individual mini stories. They could collectively make a book. I typically share the many stories on Facebook user groups specific to each surname.

[@barbaragrandon6387]

We love your videos! Thank you for being so concise and clear. Question: we each have the ultimate goal of capturing all of our research we keep (and will now organize intentionally) into book format for our families. Do you have a video on this or recommendations on what app to use? Is Word a good option? Thank you Barbara.

[@GenealogyTV]

I use Word because it can translate to any format you want to publish to later on.

[@dennisammons9176]

Hi Connie...Do you keep research notes on everyone in your tree?

[@GenealogyTV]

Only direct line ancestors, those that are important to solve a problem... and FAN club members of direct line ancestors, if you're familiar with that strategy.

[@sba0529]

This is perfect! I think this will help me greatly as it is so straight forward and easy. Thank you! I really like information you give us, it’s so easy to follow.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes... make sure you see next week's episode too... it's more about Research Notes.