date of search-the research log is in order of date searched rather than my ancestor’s life chronology.

Thomas MacEntee uses a detailed Excel spreadsheet, which he is happy to share via a download (you will need to scroll down his long list of resources until you find the one titled ‘Genealogy Research Log (Excel download)’…Īnd for me, I’ve gone for a table in a Word document, which combines a number of the common elements of the examples mentioned previously and includes: Kerry Scott also uses Evernote, but says that “the platform isn’t important the discipline of recording all of your research is what matters most”. One of my students recently adapted Janine Adam’s format, but used a notebook and wrote by hand because she didn’t always have easy access to a computer but could always guarantee she had a notebook with her. She believes that “making it easy enough so I’ll actually do it trumps making it more complete”. Janine Adamsuses Evernote to keep what she calls an informal research log. There’s no single correct way of keeping a research log, just the way that’s right for you (although there are some essential ingredients common to most of them).įamily Search has a downloadable PDF that you can print out or fill in on the screen. Apart from what was already on my family tree, I essentially had to start from scratch.īy now, though, I’d heard about research logs and decided to keep one. When I came back to it, I had a vague recollection of who I’d previously discovered, but I’d forgotten exactly what I’d found and where I found it. Then I changed computers about the same time that I stepped away from researching that branch of the family for a while. I downloaded a plethora of images and saved them in a folder on my computer somewhere. This was particularly true with my Irish ancestry after discovering Irish Genealogy, a wonderful free resource offering digital copies of birth, death and marriage records. I had been researching my ancestors for about fifteen years, having a grand old time uncovering all sorts of details about generations past-discovering not only a few skeletons in the closet and a number of missing ancestors, but correcting a few errors in the family tree along the way.

I do now, but only after learning the value of them the hard way-by not having one. Are you researching your family history? If so, do you keep a research log?

Onenote vs evernote for genealogy