You’re on a mission. A mission to uncover your family’s past. But here’s the thing: bad sources can derail your entire research. Rookie mistake. Let’s fix that.
Time to separate the pros from the amateurs. Ready?
1. Cross-Reference Multiple Records
One record? Amateur hour. You need multiple. Now.
Birth certificates. Death records. Marriage licenses. Census data. Cross-reference them all. Look for patterns. Inconsistencies? Red flag. Dig deeper.
Don’t trust. Verify.
Here’s the deal: People lie. Records get damaged. Mistakes happen. Your job? Connect the dots.
Example: Great-grandpa’s birth year doesn’t match across documents? Time to play detective. Check siblings’ records. Look at marriage dates. Do the math.
Pro tip: Create a timeline. Plot every piece of information. Watch the story unfold.
Remember: Consistency is king. But perfect consistency? Suspicious. Life is messy. Your research should reflect that.
2. Evaluate the Source’s Origin
Sources aren’t created equal. Know the hierarchy.
Original records? Gold standard. Derivative sources? Proceed with caution. Authored works? Skepticism is your friend.
Always ask: Where did this come from? Who created it? When? For what reason?
Time to level up your source evaluation game.
- Original: the original form of the record created at the actual time of the event–or not long after.
- Derivative: the copied, aggregated, or derivative version of original records. Derivative sources are usually created well after the actual event. For example, an index of vital records. Note that a ‘copy’ does not refer to a photocopy of an original record.
- Authored works: the published research already conducted on the person/family/area of interest.
Here’s the truth: Each type has its place. But originals? They’re your foundation. Build on rock, not sand.
3. Assess the Informant’s Reliability
Who’s talking? It matters. A lot.
First-hand accounts trump hearsay. Every. Single. Time.
Great-aunt Mildred’s stories? Entertaining, sure. But verify. Always verify.
Remember: Even eyewitnesses can be wrong. Critical thinking is your superpower.
Let’s break it down:
- Primary: information/facts given by someone who was actually at the event. For example, the cause of death given by the medical examiner would be primary information.
- Secondary: information given by someone who was NOT physically at the event. This is information they may have heard or read elsewhere– it is hearsay. For example, the birth date of the deceased given by a spouse. Their spouse was not physically at the birth.
- Indeterminable: information given where the informant or how the informant knows the information cannot be determined.
Ask yourself: How close was this person to the event? What was their relationship to the subject? What was their mental state?
Pro move: Create an informant chart. Track who said what. Watch patterns emerge.
4. Check for Citations in Online Family Trees
Online trees. The wild west of genealogy. Proceed with caution.
No sources cited? Red alert. Move on.
Remember: A tree is only as good as its roots. Demand evidence.
Here’s your game plan:
- Find a tree with sources. Jackpot.
- Don’t stop there. Follow the breadcrumbs.
- Track down original sources. Verify yourself.
Think like a scientist. Replicate results. If you can’t? It’s just a fairy tale.
Bonus tip: Build your own tree. Cite everything. Be the change you want to see in the genealogy world.
5. Analyze Historical Context
Context is king. Ignore it at your peril.
Time travel. Mentally. Understand the world your ancestors lived in.
Ask:
- What were the laws?
- Social norms?
- Record-keeping practices?
Example: No marriage record from 1700s colonial America? Normal. Church records might hold the key.
Remember: Your ancestors weren’t time travelers. They lived in their time, not yours.
Pro move: Create a historical timeline alongside your family tree. Watch how world events shaped your family’s story.
6. Utilize the Genealogical Proof Standard
Amateur hour is over. Time to go pro.
The Genealogical Proof Standard. Your new best friend.
Five steps:
- Exhaustive research. Leave no stone unturned.
- Complete, accurate citations. Document everything.
- Analyze and correlate. Connect the dots.
- Resolve conflicts. Address contradictions head-on.
- Write a soundly reasoned conclusion. Prove your case.
This isn’t a suggestion. It’s your new religion.
Remember: Genealogy without proof is mythology.
7. Seek Out Primary Sources
Transcriptions are training wheels. Time to take them off.
Primary sources. Original documents. The holy grail of genealogy.
Why? Simple. Fewer hands touching the information. Fewer chances for errors.
Your mission:
- Identify relevant record types
- Locate repositories
- Plan your attack
- Go hunting
Remember: Every transcription, every index, every abstract? It’s just someone’s interpretation. Go to the source.
Pro tip: Learn to read old handwriting. It’s your superpower.
8. Verify Family Lore and Published Genealogies
Family stories. Published genealogies. Treat them like rumors. Intriguing, but unproven.
Your job? Separate fact from fiction.
- Step 1: Document the story. Every detail.
- Step 2: Break it down into testable claims.
- Step 3: Hunt for corroborating evidence.
- Step 4: Evaluate your findings.
Remember: Absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence. But it’s a start.
Pro move: Create a “Family Lore Verification” project. Track your progress. Celebrate your wins.
9. Consider Conflicting Evidence
Contradictions. They’re not roadblocks. They’re opportunities.
Embrace the chaos. Resolve the conflicts.
Your strategy:
- List all conflicting information
- Evaluate each source
- Consider motivations behind each claim
- Look for patterns in reliable sources
- Form a hypothesis
- Test it mercilessly
Remember: The truth is often messy. Your job is to make sense of the mess.
Pro tip: Document your reasoning. Future you will thank present you.
10. Employ DNA Evidence
DNA. The game-changer. The truth-teller. Your secret weapon.
Paper trails can lie. DNA doesn’t.
Your action plan:
- Test yourself
- Test older generations (while you still can)
- Upload to multiple databases
- Learn to interpret results
- Combine with traditional research
Remember: DNA isn’t a magic bullet. It’s a powerful tool in your arsenal. Use it wisely.
Read 9 Ways DNA Results Can Supercharge Your Family Tree Research
Pro move: Organize DNA matches into clusters. Watch family lines emerge.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. Ten ways to level up your genealogy game. No more amateur hour. You’re a pro now. Act like it.
Remember: Every claim needs proof. Every conclusion demands evidence. Your ancestors deserve nothing less.
Now get out there and make history. Literally.
