Advice #5: Document! Document! Document!

Documentation of sources is key to successful research!

Document:

1] Write the date, location and source of each document you find, be it probate, deed, vital record or map. Write the info on the back of each document.

2] Identify photos! On the back or on a note card write who or what is in the photo, when it was taken, by whom it was taken [if possible], who provided the photo.

3] Family trees: identify the source of each birth, marriage and death date for each person on the tree.

4] Local histories, genealogies, etc.: Make a hard copy of each page, write the title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number. Better yet, copy the title page!

5] Family lore and interviews: Write down who said, when they said it and who told it to them.