Character Development of a Genealogist

This was such a wonderful article I thought I would share it. The full article can be found in Family Tree Magazine, January 2012, pages 50-51. Go check out the article and go check out Family Tree Magazine either online or in print form.
Character Development
Excerpts from the article by: Desmond Walls Allen
How to become a better genealogist by training your brain to take on these 12 key characteristics of roots research.
  1. Inquisitiveness. A keen inquiring mind and a sense of adventure are essential to putting together pieces of your family history. You can always nurture that inquisitive nature by always asking “Why?”
  2. Critical thinking. Learn to question the validity of the genealogical sources you uncover.
  3. Organization. You need to organize your discoveries so that you can find them again, or else why bother finding them in the first place.
  4. A love of reading. Everything from history books to mystery novels will increase your understanding of information you uncover in your search.
  5. Listening skills. Some people ask a question, but instead of listening to the answer, they concentrate on formulating their next question. Listen for nuances of meaning. Digest the answers to your questions.
  6. Consistency. Be consistent with number formats, place name formats, as well as with your notes. If you always write down the citation for a source before you examine it, you’ll be much less likely to leave the library with a sheet of notes from some unknown book.
  7. Skepticism. Skepticism is one of those traits that defines your level as a researcher. As a beginner, you tend to believe what you are told. After you advance in your research skills, you develop a little skepticism and learn to interpret those family stories.
  8. Courtesy. As in life, courtesy goes a long way in genealogical pursuits. Respect other’s limited time as you search libraries, record custodians and relatives. Express your appreciation for their assistance.
  9. Patience. Practice patience, it will make your search more enjoyable. Be patient as you wait for emails or documents in the mail, and move on to the next thing on your to-do list.
  10. Creativity. Do start with conventional genealogical methods, but when you hit a brick wall; be open to unusual research strategies and hypotheses.
  11. Vision. Think expansively. Being able to see the “big picture” will help you find your ancestors. Your life is involved with groups of people: families, labor organizations, religious bodies, trade unions, retired military associations, social clubs etc. Your ancestors interacted with many other people, too, and the records on those folks may help you find your family.
  12. Outgoing-ness. We are all part of one big worldwide family. Potential cousins are everywhere, as are researchers who know the quirks of local records. Join genealogical societies; seek out researchers on Facebook and Twitter. Read genealogy blogs. Reach out and reap the rewards.
Allen, Desmond Walls. “Character Development,” Family Tree Magazine, January 2012, pages 50-51.


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