Preparing for your Genealogical Research Tour

You’re traveling a long way to do this genealogical research, and it’s a rare opportunity to access invaluable resources and source documents. Preparing well - and well in advance - is highly recommended, so you can capitalize on what may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Beginning at least two months before the proposed trip is recommended. Here are some suggestions how you can prepare at home before beginning your tour with us.

• Decide which lines to focus on
• Prepare for research in the region
• Packing for the journey

Decide which lines and specific problems to focus on

In large part, the choice of lines will have been taken care of by the decisions you’ve already made in setting up your trip to a particular region with us. After my own advance trip to the area to setup your tour, I’ll also be able to give you a better idea of what’s available.

But do spend some time thinking about specific facts you would like to prove or disprove - do you want to learn great-great-grandma LUNELLI’s maiden name? Or locate great-grandpa's tombstone in Dresden, Saxony? Think about and prepare these, so we can focus your research in the region.

While still at home, you can also spend some time on the Internet investigating which lines have the best chance of proving fruitful and what resources might be available in the region.

If there are family history libraries, archives or other relevant institutions in the regions we’ll be visiting on trip, they may offer an online library, where their catalogues can be perused before you depart. This will make your time on site more efficient. Write the libraries that don't have online information to find out about their genealogical collection and hours of operation. Contact any interesting regional courthouses, libraries, parishes and other record repositories you discover to determine their office hours. Will they be open during the period you’re plan to travel or have already booked your trip with us?

In addition, check out any country or regional GenWeb pages to learn more about sources for that specific location. Are there any individuals who will do free lookups for records in the regions you are planning to visit? Getting these lookups done in advance may save time when you get to the actual record site. These sites might even provide links to information about local record sources.

Finally, double-check sources where you live. Does your local library have any indexes or published records for the area to which you are traveling? Searching these indexes before you leave may provide microfilm roll numbers or book page numbers which will cut down on research time on your trip. Your local library may also have a book or two that may be useful in your research - you don't want to travel 2,500 miles and spend precious time there looking for something your local library has. If the LDS church has microfilmed records from the area, you may wish to view some indexes to local records on microfilm at your local Family History Library before your trip, making note of book and page numbers.

IMPORTANT: Please tell me about any libraries, archives or other resources you’ve discovered and would like to visit as you discover them - the earlier I get this information, the better I can integrate these visits into your trip.

Once you’ve done this advance research, there are two different ways you can prepare materials to bring on trip. The first is to print out page after page of the entries in the format displayed by the catalogue or indexes in question. The other way is to create a document in your word processing program, copying and pasting the pertinent details, including the source citation, the call number, and any special restrictions or directions for using the records. If you have a notebook computer, you don't even need to print this out. Simply create the document and have it on your notebook. This way you are not adding any additional weight to your luggage.

Prepare for research in the region

Once you have gone through an online catalogue, sit down and evaluate your lines. Look at the ones you sincerely want to and are prepared to work on. Then look at the others and have a couple of back up options. While we would love for every research trip to be positive, there are times when our ancestors just refuse to cooperate. In such instances, it is nice to have a Plan B.

If you have a notebook computer, then you are not faced with the same problem. After all, you have your entire database with you and you can switch to any other line you want if you need to.

Finally, it is good to know if there are any special rules you need to be aware of when visiting an archive or library. For instance, are you restricted to a pencil and paper or can you bring in whatever you want. Can you photograph pages? Such restrictions will dramatically affect what you take and how you take it. Above I suggested leaving your research list on your notebook computer. If you are prevented from taking the notebook into the research room, then the research list will do you no good as you cannot access it. Instead you would need to remember to print it out before you head out for the airport, unless you will have access to printer at the hotel or wherever you are staying.

If you are planning on taking photographs of tombstones or making tombstone rubbings on your trip, and you have never taken a picture of a tombstone or made a tombstone rubbing, practice on some local stones before you leave. The time to learn is not at a cemetery 2,500 miles from home, on the last day of your trip with a thunderstorm quickly approaching.

Pack for the Journey

Once you have done all your preparations you are ready to go. Remember that if you have a notebook computer and you are flying that you will be required to remove it for scanning as you go through the security check.

Make sure you have any necessary papers with you but keep in mind that your luggage has a weight limit and that airlines do not take kindly to your going over it. Also, I know many people who plan to take their important papers in their carryon luggage so that they don't get lost in transit (this is an especially good idea if you are going to have to make a connection somewhere). There is nothing worse than getting to your final destination only to discover that your papers and research didn't make it. So take your charts with you, but leave your original documents behind. No one will probably steal them, but forgetting them somewhere is a definite possibility. Fill out the family group charts, pedigree charts, and research logs as completely as you can. Traveling a distance to check a source you have already checked is a waste of time.

If you do not travel frequently, it is a good idea to make up two different packing lists. The first is for your clothes and other personal necessities. The other has to do with the research aspect of your trip. Make sure you have the batteries for your camera and a couple of extra pens and pencils. Make certain you have all your genealogical and office supplies you need. There are record repositories that do not allow pens to be utilized in the facility, have plenty of pencils. Either bring a sharpener or use an ever-sharp point pencil (making certain that you have plenty of lead). Have a sufficient number blank charts and forms for use during your trip. Family group charts, pedigree charts, research logs, and abstract and extract forms may prove useful. Unless you are traveling to a major genealogical center, forms may not be easily purchased. Laptop computer users should even have some of these forms handy in case of machine failure.

Above all, roll with the punches. There are always unexpected things that pop up. However if you have done your homework, you will find that you the unexpected doesn't completely throw you off your game and it may often lead to an unexpected breakthrough in your research – if you’re prepared for it and are flexible. Good hunting!