Includes Gale Professional Collection, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Gale Genealogy Connect, Gale Business Collection, and Artemis Literary Sources.
Planning is one of the MOST IMPORTANT steps to take during a research project.
Taking the time to plan your research, your keywords, and your sources may seem like a waste at first, but as you search and complete several iterations and add to your plan, it will become invaluable in saving you time and energy later.
You may want to create a research log, this helps you retrace your steps and/or explain how you came to find a piece of information. Many times searchers assume that they will remember, but find they have no idea how they found a source when they look at it days, weeks, or even months later.
Re-thinking your research and research strategies is normal and encouraged! Don't feel discouraged or "stupid" if you need to change your plan.
Whether you use pen and paper, worksheets, or electronic or online systems, taking notes is very important in genealogy.
When you start a search, always note:
As you take notes:
For example:
James married Rosaria in 1908:
Mistakes are easily made in Genealogy. Always double-check your information and don't take everything at face value.
How to verify: