The Researcher's Method: Core Techniques for Breakthrough Genealogy

The reality of successful genealogical research is that there is no single "trick" or instant solution to complex problems. Instead, progress comes from adopting a rigorous, systematic methodology—a set of essential best practices that minimize error and maximize the chance of uncovering new evidence.

These guides outline approaches that can solidly anchor your family history work.

Literary Researches, Carl Wilhelm Anton Seiler | Public domain painting - free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

I. The Foundation: Documentation and Learning

A strong foundation prevents future brick walls and ensures your findings are credible.

1. Citing Your Sources (Mandatory)

• Document the precise location and nature of every piece of information. Without proper citation, you cannot prove the origin or reliability of a fact, rendering the research useless to others (and often confusing to yourself later).

2. Deep Local Knowledge

• Learn the Records: Understand the full scope of available records in the area you are researching (e.g., church records, tax lists, probate files, newspapers, land records). Know what exists and where it is located.
• Learn the History: Historical context explains why people moved, what their occupations were, and why certain records were created or destroyed. Understanding local history is key to finding them.
• Use Contemporary Maps: Modern borders and place names often differ significantly from those of the past. Using maps from the correct time period helps accurately locate homes, churches, and geographical references mentioned in documents.

II. The Process: Execution and Record Acquisition

This is the active phase of data collection and evidence gathering.

3. Obtain All Relevant Records

• Always strive to obtain the original record. Do not stop at an index or abstract. The original document (or a high-quality image of it) often contains critical details that were omitted during transcription (witnesses, occupations, exact dates, marginal notes).

4. Use Compiled Sources as Stepping Stones

• Treat compiled sources (published genealogy books, online family trees, commercial indices) as helpful clues, never as established facts. Use them to point you toward the original records, then verify, correct, and cite the primary source.

III. The Quality Check: Analysis and Review

The final, and most critical, phase involves rigorous self-correction and validation.

5. Challenge Assumptions

• Be wary of the word "dit" (alias) in French Canadian research, or common name reuse in any tradition. Realize that assumptions—for example, that the man living next door is the brother, or that the person with the same name is the ancestor—may not be true. The evidence must lead you to the conclusion, not the other way around.

6. Continuous Learning

• Genealogical record sets and techniques are constantly evolving. Continue to learn about new archival methods, genetic genealogy (DNA), record translations, and research standards to break through persistent walls.

7. Proofing and Double Checking (The Gold Standard)

• Proofing: Always check the details derived from one source against the facts established by others. Contradictions indicate an error, either in the record itself or in your transcription/interpretation.
• Double Check: Before concluding a line of research, run a final review to ensure every life event (birth, marriage, death, census presence) is supported by the highest quality evidence and that the documentation is robustly cited.

Full disclosure:

All content is based on information from publicly available sources. No classified or speculative information is used. We do not track or sell any user information or use patterns.

Note on Content & Attribution: The methodological content and external resource lists in this tutorial were compiled based on the extensive research of Mark Rabideau (ManyRoads/Ardens Genealogy) and structured in collaboration with the Gemini AI model to optimize for the Ardens Documentation System.

This site uses Machine-Intelligence (aka. AI) to assist in content development and maintenance.

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.