| The search for family roots can take you on an | | | | incorrect information. |
| exciting journey of interesting discoveries. But as | | | | Speaking of errors, always transcribe any |
| with any journey, a few precautions could | | | | document exactly as you found it written. If |
| ultimately determine if it's a success or a failure. | | | | there are misspellings, copy them exactly. Making |
| Inevitably, your search for family information will | | | | assumptions about "proper" spelling may actually |
| lead you to search documents at the courthouse, | | | | lead you to finding the wrong information, or |
| cemetery, or some other place with tombs of old | | | | nothing at all. Any assumptions at all are likely to |
| records. Make sure you're searching in the right | | | | trip you up further down the line, so you would |
| place though, finding out which government most | | | | be wise to avoid making them. |
| likely had jurisdiction when your family lived in the | | | | Invest in a good quality magnifying glass while |
| area. Keep in mind boundaries may have changed | | | | you're at it. This will save the strain on your eyes |
| between then and now. Sometimes older records | | | | when you're searching a poorly lit archive and |
| may have been transferred to state archives, | | | | reading handwritten records from ages past. |
| local historical societies, or some other repository. | | | | To keep organized and avoid feeling |
| Do a little extra homework before you travel | | | | overwhelmed, it is a good idea to limit your |
| very far to look up records. It wouldn't be too | | | | searches to a single surname, individual or family |
| great if you traveled all the way across the | | | | when you're just starting out. It may also help |
| country to look up family records that were | | | | you to avoid missing important details due to |
| destroyed in a courthouse fire a hundred years | | | | sensory overload. Write down everything you find |
| ago. | | | | and begin to transfer it to a family pedigree or |
| Keep in mind too that old records are likely to | | | | tree chart. |
| have at least a minor error or two. In some | | | | Don't forget family members. They can be a |
| cases there may be so many errors you won't | | | | genealogist's best friend, and may be the only |
| be able to sort the wheat from the chaff. Books | | | | source for stories and anecdotes which bring |
| containing transcriptions (cemetery, census, etc.) | | | | family history to life. Clues to family history could |
| could be missing vital information, be full of | | | | also be located on the backs of old photographs, |
| transcription errors (or subtle errors you may not | | | | postcards, letters and of course the good old |
| recognize until you've chased a wild bunny trail), or | | | | family Bible. |
| they may have made assumptions leading to | | | | |