More Expertise Uncorked

Our top 10 pointers barely scratch the surface of the useful how-tos passed down over the issues. Some other timeless tips we’ve shared:

• Work back in time one generation at a time. Skipping generations can lead to tracing the wrong people.

• Network with others. You won’t find answers only in records—they often come from fellow researchers and distant cousins you connect with through social networking, message boards and e-mail.

• Study social history. Understanding the world your ancestors lived in can help point your research in the right direction, and explain migrations and record gaps.

• Check every available source. Even if the first record you find has the answers you need, keep turning over every rock—you never know which document may contain a detail you’ll need later.

• Seek alternative and substitute sources. Grandpa’s birth record went up in flames with the courthouse? Check to see if another repository has a copy, and look for a newspaper announcement or baptismal certificate that contains the same information.

• Always go to the original record. Errors often sneak into genealogical information transcribed in databases and published in other secondary sources; you might find additional details in the originals, too.  

• Cite your sources. How else will you keep track of where you found what? Documentation prevents you from duplicating your efforts—and shores up the credibility of your work.