Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega explores a question all genealogists face: when, if ever, are you done researching your family history? Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”

Here’s something that should come as no surprise. You could research for the rest of your life and not be “done” with your family history.

There will always be a new database or a newly digitized newspaper. A new research question will make you wonder about that great-great-uncle. There will also be life events that get in the way of your research: marriages and deaths, health issues, caregiving, and work.

Because of all of this, it can be hard to see when enough is enough with your research.

Photo credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html

So, When Is Enough, Enough?

How do we know when our research is enough? That’s a good question and one that doesn’t always have an easy answer.

When you’re done with your genealogy, or a family history project, depends on your goals. For some people, they may be “done” as soon as the genealogy book is completed. Not everyone sees genealogy as a lifelong pursuit, and that’s ok. Genealogy can take up as much time as you allow.

One of my cousins worked on her research for about 10-15 years and then she was done. She didn’t want to do anymore. She never pursued genealogy again. During her active family history research years, she wrote Christmas letters that informed family members about their roots and her findings. She digitized her parents’ WWII love letters. She went on heritage trips to visit the places her ancestors walked. She made copies and passed on her genealogy research to me, ensuring it would be preserved. She didn’t have an online tree. She didn’t write a book. She had some goals; she achieved them and then said, “enough is enough” and never looked back.

When is enough, enough for you? Knowing that will be determined by:

• The projects you have planned.
• The research questions you are asking and answering.
• How far back you want to trace your family tree (there’s no one right answer to this).
• If genealogy is your lifelong pursuit or a short-term hobby

Other factors that determine when you are done may have to do with your health, time commitments, and other interests.

Many family historians hope to create a family tome tracing their family back to the ancestral home or several centuries. While this might be a possible goal it doesn’t have to be your goal. Anything you do to preserve your family history and pass it along to others is worthwhile. You don’t have to write the 1,000-page book (and quite frankly, you might not have many family members who want to read it).

One thing I would caution you: genealogy can easily be something you are never finished with. That’s why setting some goals around what you want to achieve is so important. Otherwise, your descendants will inherit photocopies, unlabeled photos, and half-finished research that they may not have an interest in.

When Is Enough, Enough? The Decision Is Up to You

Really, the decision of when enough is enough comes down to your goals. What do you want to achieve with your family history? Keep in mind that everyone is different and your idea of what is enough is what’s best for you, your abilities, and circumstances.

For me, family history is a lifelong pursuit so I’m not giving it up anytime soon. However, I am putting limits on certain projects. I don’t want a family history book to take 20 years to create, so I am rethinking my projects and what a reasonable end date is. I’m also letting go of some projects. What was important to me as a younger woman is not now. Now I’m focused on digitizing and labeling photos, writing stories about more recent family, and sharing what I know with other family members so that the images and photos are not lost.

Genealogy shouldn’t be a forever project. To pass along something meaningful, you need to set goals and decide what you want to accomplish. We don’t have endless time in this life, so completing a project or two is better than not.

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Note on the header image: old photos and correspondence. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html