June 15, 2023
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives three tips for expanding your research on the story of your father’s life. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”
Have you considered revisiting your previous family history research? Maybe you believe that you know everything there is to know about your father, grandfather, or great-grandfather. In reality, there’s always more to learn. Father’s Day is a great time to revisit your previous research and to consider what can be added to tell his story.
How do you start? Consider these three tips.
(1) Create a Timeline
I know. You might be thinking: “I’ve been researching for years, I don’t need a timeline at this point.” However, a timeline benefits your research in a couple of ways. First, it helps you to notice what is missing. Gaps in years can help you identify records that should be searched (such as a state or federal census year). A timeline can help you consider records you may have missed, such as the possibility of his serving in the military during a war. A timeline can also help you focus and analyze what you have and what you are missing.
(2) Have You Utilized Offline Repositories?
We are lucky to live in a time when many genealogical records are available online – but the downside is we often skip what records exist offline. While some records like the census and city directories might be easily found online, there are other records that will require you to either visit in person, hire a researcher, or send in a research request. For example, do you have his birth record (if applicable)? If he served in the military, do you have military records for him? While some of these records may be found online, there’s a good chance that not all of them are. Do yourself a favor and look at your timeline, identify gaps and records, and seek out where those records are found.
(3) What Newspapers Have You Added to Your Search?
It’s easy to search GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives to find articles with his name. Obituaries (both his and family members) are one example where his name might be listed. But what about newspaper articles that do not list him by name but are about events and activities he was a part of? Was he a Mason? What notices about the Masons can you find in his local newspaper? These articles will help you better understand the group and activities he may have been a part of. What articles exist about the high school he attended? What about reports of the battles he fought in? Newspaper articles do not have to name your ancestor in order to be relevant.
What Is Dad’s Story?
Collecting facts is only a part of genealogical research. Telling his story should be the ultimate goal. This involves taking those facts and adding historical context so that descendants understand the time and place. It means gathering records that were created throughout his life. Revisiting our research also requires us to analyze and study what we have so that we can make sure we have gathered the correct records (not records for a similarly named person) and that we have looked for additional records that may have become available more recently.
What is your dad’s (or grandad’s or great-grandad’s) story? Now’s the time to start researching and documenting it.
Happy Father’s Day!
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