ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
Planning a Genealogy Research Visit
2
Before you leave – Research the repository:
3
Complete all possible research in online repositories
4
Make notes of incomplete online collections
5
Visit the website for the repository
6
The Family History Guide
7
FamilySearch : Research Wiki
8
Google
9
Search the repository’s catalog to identify specific holdings, including call numbers, collection names, box numbers, and folder numbers
10
Read the repository’s finding aids
11
Make requests if needed to pull off-site materials so that they will be available for your visit
12
Check for scheduled dates and hours
13
Research the town’s event calendar for events that might interfere with travel or parking
14
Check the finding aids for access restrictions to material
15
Review the repositories rules of usage and email them with any questions
16
Make an appointment with repository staff if that option exists and would be useful for your research
17
Before you leave – Create an itinerary:
18
Schedule repository visits in such a way that you can spend more time at a different one if you finish early at the scheduled one
19
Make room in the itinerary for daily planning
20
Don’t overbook yourself
21
Give yourself some variety to maintain interest
22
Schedule in travel time, meals, and breaks
23
Create a Plan B in case something doesn’t go according to plan
24
Use an app such as TripIt to create the itinerary, to provide access from all devices, and to share the itinerary with family and others
25
Before you leave – Make a packing list:
26
Set up different list templates for air vs. car travel, in-country travel vs. out-of country travel
27
Copy the appropriate template and customize it to add or delete items as needed
28
Use a mobile app specifically for packing (such as Packing Pro for iOS or Packing List for Android)
29
Create categories in the packing app to manage pre-trip activities, clothes, toiletries, essential documents, and electronic gadgets
30
Create a mobile research office:
31
Laptop, charger, and travel bag
32
Paper and pens
33
Mobile devices and associated cables
34
USB flash drives
35
Digital voice recorder
36
Headphones and/or earbuds
37
Projector adapters (if making a presentation at any point)
38
Power converters if traveling out of the country
39
During the trip:
40
Review your research plan each morning
41
Take notes of what you find and what you didn’t find
42
Take notes of relevant conversations with repository staff or other researchers
43
Scan relevant physical documents
44
Record all document information needed for a full citation
45
Make a backup copy of all document scans
46
Take breaks
47
Take notes of research that could not be completed within the available time
48
Thank the repository staff for their help
49
Review your findings at the end of each day
50
Take notes of any ideas that may come to you for future research
51
After the trip:
52
Review your packing list template to see if items should be added or removed
53
Examine your luggage and travel bag carefully to avoid overlooking USB flash drives and other important items
54
Pull together anything that contains information from your trip (both physical and digital)
55
Copy information from temporary storage devices to permanent, backed-up storage
56
Scan and then discard any business cards
57
Scan copies of any handwritten notes and other physical documents
58
Manually back up your computer’s hard drive
59
Schedule a block of time and use it to review everything that you brought back from the trip – do this right away while fresh in your mind
60
Begin a new list of to-dos for your next trip
61
Email the repository staff to thank them
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100