| Document everything when you are searching | | | | you will read a letter saying, "Grandpa was a good |
| your family tree. That means even notes you | | | | gardener, not a weed in his patch," said his |
| take while interviewing relatives. Record your | | | | granddaughter, Rebecca on January 5, 1910. Put |
| sources when copying records from the | | | | these all in a plastic holder and keep them in order. |
| courthouse or whatever public building you use. | | | | You will be very grateful for these hints later on |
| Take a sheet of paper and write the surname in | | | | in your research. |
| large letters on the top and then put all notes for | | | | After saving these notes and documents, |
| that surname on that sheet of paper. Get in good | | | | compare them for accuracy. Dates and names |
| habits now and document your sources. | | | | may not be recorded accurately on certificates |
| You may receive a phone call from a relative and | | | | and official documents. You may be surprised at |
| she may tell you a lot of juicy goodies about | | | | how your name is spelled on different records, |
| someone. Get your titled sheet of paper and | | | | even on a census. People make mistakes. |
| write those down along with the name of the | | | | Many genealogists in the thrill of the search fail to |
| relative who told you these things. You may | | | | document their sources, me among them. |
| reconsider when writing the family history but a | | | | Promise yourself you will start documenting every |
| least for now, you have those notes documented. | | | | bit of information you dig up about your family. |
| Put the name of the caller, date and particulars, | | | | Remember that typed, written or copied notes |
| whether believable or not. | | | | may contain errors. If you obey these rules, you |
| You might label a sheet as copied from the family | | | | will produce a genealogy that will please your |
| Bible with the name, date and particulars. Maybe | | | | family for generations. |