|
Last
updated 1 August 2006 |
| Dos
and don'ts when family history researching- There are a lot more do's
than don'ts |
| 1 |
Do write
things down in record offices etc. do it in a form of hand writing that
can be read when you get home |
| 2 |
Do write
things down in note books not on scraps of paper which after a three day
research trip to a far away record office can blow across the car park
when the car door opens and disappear forever |
| 3 |
Do write
name address and phone number in note book so when you loose it there is a
chance it will get returned |
| 4 |
Do assume
that you have made mistakes due to old age, hangover or dyslexia |
| 5 |
Do assume
that the original record may be wrong due to the clerk having old age,
hangover or dyslexia |
| 6 |
Do record
in full any document references and where you were when they were recorded
along with date |
| 7 |
Don't
believe anyone who sends you data unless they and you can verify the
source |
| 8 |
Don't
believe the Internet |
| 9 |
Don't
believe indices |
| 10 |
Do buy an
extra bookcase and filling cabinet before all available worktops in the
house are overwhelmed with paper as 2. above. on the assumption that it
isn't lost or blown away before getting to the worktop |
| 11 |
Do Back up
computer data on a regular basis, but don't back up latest database that
is corrupted on top of last good backup |
| 12 |
Don't
allow anyone with the same surname especially children to
"upgrade" the computer hardware or software |
| 13 |
Don't
assume that hard disks last forever |
| 14 |
Do when
visiting a record office with a spouse/partner assume that they may spend
the day duplicating what you are doing |
| 15 |
Do when
visiting a record office with a spouse/partner sit as far apart as
possible; this minimises fights although increases the chances of
14. above |
| 16 |
Do when
visiting a new record office with a spouse/partner for the first time sort
out the route in advance and assume navigation will be done by you; this
generally relates to 15. above |
| 17 |
Do when
visiting a record office with a spouse/partner assume that they may be
researching something totally unrelated that you are unaware of |
| 18 |
Do when
booking a motel on a motorway remember (a.) which hotel chain it is in and
(b.) which motorway it is on; see 15 above |
| 19 |
Do when
booking bed and breakfast remember (a.) which town it is in and the
address. (b.) the phone number. (c.) if you used a guide book for several
booking in the past the marks on the pages all look the same; see 15.
above |
| 20 |
Don't give
up, it is good fun and the above 19 points are part of it.! |
