Don't stress, use common sense! Podcast #11

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Lois and I published our newest podcast this week! It's our 11th and the first of 2022. 

We wanted to offer some tips and emphasize some concepts that were less methodological and more common sense based and we had a great time brainstorming our list.  

Don't stress, use common sense! 

  • Frequently check your research for reasonable leaks in logic.  
    • Check dates- is mom old enough to have given birth to all of the children? Maybe she is their step-mother. 
    • Names- be sure to keep everyone straight and be careful with family naming patterns. 
  • Don't jump to conclusions!
    • Spelling is fluid
    • Handwriting is subjective
    • Your ancestors name was not changed at Ellis Island, may be the biggest myth in genealogy. 
  • DNA is not genealogy. It is only one piece of the puzzle. One tool in the genealogy toolbox.  
  • Don't believe everything you read and not everything is online.
    • A good researcher, like a good detective mines documents for clues and develops a hypothesis to support what is true and to discount what isn't. 
    • While new records are being digitized at a quick rate, it is a huge and expensive undertaking. You are missing some gems if you don't go local and visit the libraries, archives and historical societies in your ancestors home town.  
  • Document your sources! We can't emphasize this enough.  Legitimate research will always be supported by evidence.  
  • Work smarter, not harder
    • make a plan, develop a research question.
    • keep a log.
    • make a timeline.  
Give our newest podcast a listen and let us know your favorite common sense tips. 

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