WOW: Research Trips

For me, the biggest problem on a research trip is narrowing down my 'to do' list. The last ten years I was teaching, summer vacations were generally a combo of genealogical research and sight-seeing. The genealogy portion of the trip involved researching all of the families in that vicinity. A trip to Jessamine and Madison counties in Kentucky would involve researching six or seven families. That could be a daunting task when you only have a couple of days set aside for research.

Early trips to Salt Lake City usually covered maybe three days to a week. If I had 3 families to research, I did three. If I had ten families to research, I did ten. All of the families were addressed, just not as thoroughly as they should have been. All trips were fairly successful, but were they as successful as they could have been.

Attending the Salt Lake Institute in 2001 really helped me organize my trips. The idea behind SLIG's Problem Solving Track was one week, one problem. Being able to focus on one research topic and outlining it in advance really helped. We have to submit a summary with goals, a research report, research log [sources], timeline and map for the project. The project focus is simple, "Who were the parents of Henry Bream of Fairfax Co., VA?" I reserve the Saturday after SLIG for other research.

So, here are some suggestions for your onsite research trips:
(1) Make a list of repositories you intend to visit. Note each facility's hours, fees and the like.
(2) If the repository has an online catalog, check it for the families you intend to research. Make a list of the books, films, manuscripts, etc. that you want to view.
(3) Make a list of your research goals for each family you are researching.
(4) Take a copy of your current research with you. Make sure you have a list of sources consulted.
(5) Take a break from your research to visit local museums and historical sites to get a feel for the area.
(6) Write a research report/journal on the trip. Add to it each day that you conduct research. That helps you keep track of what you have or haven't accomplished.
(7) Keep notes on what you need to follow-up on. Maybe it will be a return trip, e-mail or letter.