Pennsylvania Research Blog

Global warming has left the building… I repeat, global warming has left the building — at least this winter in Pennsylvania, anyway!

After just digging out from under two feet of snow, we are watching the skies for another helping of mother nature’s whitest which — depending on the source — could be 18 to 24 more inches. So… what better topic to ponder than “six genealogy tasks you can do while snowed in.” Here are our list toppers, what are yours…?

6. Find permanent homes for those stickless sticky notes, scribbled index cards, torn printouts and crumpled photocopies. Even if you choose to go with a system as simple as one file folder per ancestor, create an organizational strategy and stay with it.

5. If you regularly ask yourself questions like “What was that web site where I found the photo of Great Aunt Sara?” and “Where is that email address for that researcher who’s working on my Smith line?” then I’ve got two simple words for you: address book. Doesn’t matter if it’s hard copy or virtual — just use it, and not just for phone numbers. Be sure to include email addresses, URLs, and fax numbers. Add other important details such as your library’s hours of operation or hints about why you’ve included an individual in your directory. The less time you spend looking for this information, the more time you spend researching.

4. How much time have you spent re-reading an already studied census page, county history, or church record? If there is one rule that holds true for every genealogical researcher it is this: you will NOT remember that thing that you didn’t write down because you were absolutely, positively sure you’d remember it without writing it down. Take the time to make a written record of every source you know you’ve checked — and every source you plan to check.

3. If you’re a fan of the TV show “Monk” you know that the answer he so agonized over (and wasted so much of his life chasing) was sitting on the bookshelf in his living room all along. The answer was right in front of him. Is your genealogical answer right in front of you…? Have you revisited your research lately to find out? If not, there’s no better time to review your own work than during the peaceful silence of a snowfall.

2. Men (wrongly accused or not) are notorious for not asking for directions. Do you know where you’re going with your research? Have you identified precise goals such as “find GGGG-granfather’s will” or “find great-grandmother’s cemetery stone?” If not, you’re just as likely to remain lost as that stubborn man (or woman!) who refuses to ask for help.

1. Pour your beverage of choice, pull out your updated address book, and start calling parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — even old friends. Do they know about your passion for genealogy? Have they conducted research of their own? Do they have stories to share, or details that can help with your research? Even if the answer to ALL of these questions is “no” — we can think of no better way to spend a snowy day than chatting with friends and family. After all, genealogy isn’t all about the past — it’s also about enriching and appreciating the present.