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I have been doing genealogy work for a couple of decades now. During that time I have had lots of experiences--some bad but most good. It has also brought me into contact with lots of people, both through e-mail and also in person.
From time to time, newcomers to genealogy ask me for advice on how to do research. There are definitely good practices to follow and pitfalls to avoid. This page presents a list of practical tips on how to make your experience in genealogy a happy one.
Begin with the relatives around you that you know. You might discover that someone else in the family has already begun to collect information which could get you off to a good start.
Ask older relatives for details that they recall. Don't stop with the facts (birthdates, marriages, etc.), but try to get stories about what it was like growing up, memorable events, and so on. Time does run out on the opportunities to get these anecdotes so don't put this off. You will find that it is these stories which add spice to the otherwise dry details of “nothing but the facts.”
Remember that memories of dates and events must be backed up with written documents. You will be amazed how often the date that a relative remembered turns out to be incorrect.
Keep track of the source of every piece of genealogical information you collect. Very often you will find two dates for one event which conflict with each other. You will need to know your sources to help determine which, if either, of the two dates is correct. It is often a temptation to enter as much data as possible without noting the source, but this can lead to problems in the long run when conflicts arise.
Try to verify information with original documents where possible. Transcription errors often show up when consulting documents which are extracted from other documents. Even if you can't speak or read the language of an original document, with some practice you should be able to make out the names and dates. Many documents are becoming available on microfilm or as scanned images. Indexes are a great way to find where the information on a particular individual is located, but should not be relied on for the details themselves.
Find a genealogy computer program that will meet your current and future needs. Although there are a few good freeware/shareware options, investment in a good commercial package will pay off in time saved as you maintain your research.
Do not import data from others into your database without careful scrutiny of the details and quality of research. People have a variety of methods on entering data and their method may not be very compatible with yours, making it difficult to merge identical individuals later on.
Be ready to encounter a variety of spellings of names for the same individual or family. Personally, I tend to regularize the spellings of names for individuals born in the 1800s but maintain spellings as I find them in documents for those born earlier or later.
Beware of the differences between various handwriting styles. What looks like the month “Jan” in one hand may look like “Jun” in another. Likewise “Mar” and “May” also get mixed up. A “7” with a stroke can often look like a “9” or even a “4”.