Learn to Research Like a Historian While Building Your Family Tree
Introduction: Why Genealogists Need Historical Research Methods
While genealogy is often seen as a personal or familial pursuit, the methods used to uncover and validate ancestral stories mirror those of professional historians. A good genealogist isn’t just a name collector—they are a researcher, a detective, and a storyteller who uses evidence to build accurate narratives about the past.
Understanding and applying historical research methods elevates your work from guesswork to a credible reconstruction of family history. This article explores the tools, practices, and thought processes that align with academic historical research, tailored specifically for genealogists.
1. Understanding the Basics of Historical Inquiry
a. The Historical Mindset
Historians ask:
What happened?
Why did it happen?
What was the broader context?
Whose perspective is missing?
Genealogists must ask similar questions when analyzing records. For example, why did your ancestors migrate in a specific year? What social or political events might have influenced that decision?
b. Differentiating Between Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary sources: Created during the time of the event (e.g., birth certificates, diaries, court records).
Secondary sources: Created after the fact by researchers or historians (e.g., compiled family histories, published genealogies).
Rule of thumb: Start with primary sources and use secondary ones for context and corroboration.
2. Developing a Research Question and Hypothesis
In professional history research, scholars form a research question and propose a hypothesis to guide investigation.
Example in Genealogy:
Question: Why did James McCarthy leave Ireland in 1851?
Hypothesis: He left due to the Great Famine or to join relatives who had previously emigrated.
This question will guide what records you seek:
Irish emigration databases
Letters or family oral history
Ship passenger manifests
U.S. arrival records
As new evidence emerges, your hypothesis may evolve—which is a hallmark of strong research.
3. Evaluating Source Credibility and Bias
a. Who Created the Source?
Is the record official (e.g., a government certificate) or informal (e.g., a personal letter)? Is the writer reliable or biased?
For instance:
A tombstone inscription might contain errors due to memory lapses.
A birth certificate is more accurate but could still include misspellings.
b. Contextual Bias
Consider how context affects reliability. A census taker in 1880 might misrecord names due to:
Language barriers
Illiteracy
Accents or handwriting
Critical thinking is vital. Ask: Could there be an error or motive behind what was recorded?
4. Using the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)
The Genealogical Proof Standard is a framework adapted from academic standards of evidence and widely used in professional genealogy.
The GPS Includes:
Reasonably exhaustive research
Complete and accurate source citations
Analysis and correlation of the evidence
Resolution of conflicting evidence
Soundly reasoned, written conclusion
When you follow the GPS, you build a case for your findings that can stand up to scrutiny.
5. Creating a Research Plan
Professional researchers never work blindly. Develop a structured plan:
Steps:
Define your question
Identify record types and repositories that might help
Prioritize searches based on accessibility
Log your searches (even the empty ones!)
Reassess and redirect as needed
Example: If you’re tracing an ancestor born in Bavaria in 1820, your plan might include:
Bavarian church registers
Civil registration offices
Historical maps to locate parishes
Military conscription records
A plan saves time and improves accuracy.
6. Understanding Historical Context
A name and a date are only part of the story. A truly meaningful family history requires understanding the world your ancestor lived in.
a. Use Historical Timelines
Overlay family events onto timelines of:
Wars and migrations
Epidemics or famines
Religious or political movements
This reveals why ancestors made certain decisions or moved across borders.
b. Local Histories and Social Norms
Read county histories, immigration records, and historical newspapers. Understand:
Occupational roles
Education access
Religious affiliation
Social customs (e.g., naming conventions or marriage practices)
This insight makes your ancestors’ lives come alive and improves your interpretations.
7. Mastering Archival Research Techniques
a. Know How Archives Are Organized
Many repositories use:
Finding aids: Indexes or descriptions of collections
Catalogs: Lists of documents and materials held
Subject headings: Thematic groupings (e.g., “Emigration—19th century—Ireland”)
Understand terms like “fonds,” “series,” and “subseries” to navigate efficiently.
b. Digital vs. Onsite Research
While online databases are helpful, much historical data is still only accessible in physical archives, such as:
Local courthouses
Historical societies
Church registries
Military repositories
Plan visits when necessary and learn the access policies in advance.
8. Note-taking and Source Citation for Academic Standards
Historians are meticulous note-takers.
Use a Note System:
Date of research
Repository or website
Full source citation
Summary of contents
Personal analysis or hypotheses
Source Citation Format:
Follow styles like:
Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills (gold standard in genealogy)
Chicago Manual of Style (commonly used in history)
GEDCOM-compatible formats for genealogy software
Strong documentation builds research integrity and helps others verify your findings.
9. Synthesizing Evidence and Writing Narratives
Once you’ve gathered evidence, you must interpret it.
a. Correlation of Evidence
Compare records side by side:
Do the birth and census dates match?
Are parental names consistent?
Are there clues in witness names or neighbors?
b. Constructing a Family History Narrative
Use your findings to write engaging, historically grounded stories:
“In 1870, facing land shortages and rising taxes in rural Poland, Józef Kowalski sold his small farm and boarded a steamer for New York…”
A compelling narrative makes your work accessible to non-researchers in the family.
10. Peer Review, Collaboration, and Revision
a. Share for Feedback
Post on genealogy forums or present to a local historical society. Peers can:
Spot errors
Suggest new sources
Offer translations or interpretations
b. Be Open to Revision
New evidence may disprove old assumptions. Just like academic historians, genealogists must accept and correct mistakes to maintain credibility.
c. Collaboration
Family members may hold key information. Reach out to distant cousins, join surname groups, or connect with others researching the same region or family lines.
Conclusion: Merging Genealogy and Historical Research
Genealogy is a powerful way to bring the past into the present, but doing it well requires more than just data collection—it calls for thoughtful, disciplined, and historically informed research practices.
By adopting methods from academic history, you can transform names and dates into full, nuanced life stories. You become not just a keeper of records, but a family historian who honors the truth of the past with precision and care.
The deeper you go, the more connected you’ll feel—not only to your ancestors but also to the complex, rich tapestry of human history.