Today, I rarely make paper copies. I use a digital format for most everything and store it in my computer's external hard drive. I name each image with a name that tells me it's documentation. Example: For an obituary name of person, name of paper, issue date of obituary. So when I enter the obituary in the word processor I can use the name of the image to help document my source for the obituary.

EXAMPLE of FORMAT:
NAME: [1] this number is the generation of the individual
son/daughter of
Born:
Died:
Burial:
Married:
NAME of Spouse
daughter/son of
Born:
Died:
Burial:

CHILDREN OF JOHN AND MARY:
1.
2. etc...

Check out 'The Tie That Binds' link to see how this format works ... or better yet... develop your own format. But what ever you choose to do be sure to include SOURCES in your format. Developing good research habits from the beginning is a very important aspect of genealogical research.

SOURCES:
List sources from the birth to death
census    [every one they are found on from birth to death for both husband and wife]
military
obituary
land patent files
Wills and probates
List contacts you have made to inquire about the individual, i.e.. libraries you have called for copies of data, with their phone number and the date you made the request; email  queries and the email address to which you sent the request. When you receive a response, be sure to note the date and reply they sent so you do not send the same request twice.  NOTE: A point needs to be made early in these lessons, so you do not get off on the wrong foot... You spell your name today as your parents taught you to spell it and have most likely lived all your life seeing it spelled only this way. That was not true 100 to 200 years ago; names were spelled as they sounded to the person writing down the information. The person writing the information would not say, "How do you spell that?" They wrote it as it sounded to them and often would spell a name several ways within a single page or document. I have seen this many times. This is called variant spelling of names and I continue find new ways to spell my surname as I do research in various areas.  It is helpful to make a list of the variant spellings of the name you are researching and include it in the file for that surname. When you use soundex, be sure to soundex all the variant spellings of the name you are researching.

Lesson 2: Where do I begin?
With yourself... this is not a silly comment... it is the place to start. Find some quiet time and sit down at a table with the following items.. pencil, pen, pedigree chart and family group sheets.

OK.. pedigree charts are sometimes ignored by beginners, but they are a most useful way to organize your information. Use a pencil to write information of which you are unsure and a pen for information you know as fact.

Fill out the pedigree chart, make notes on the back [in pencil].. people and places you need to check into. Be sure to include full names and to list wives by their maiden name. Make a note of nicknames, as this is the name by which you may find persons listed. You may also find persons are listed by their middle name or a nickname. All these different names may help you find them on the census and in various local records.

Family Group Sheets lets you list an entire family and their data. You will need one for each family.

Next, speak with your parents and grandparents, look at family Bibles and pictures. Having a conversation over old pictures can often jog the memory of family members who knew the person whose data you need. Find out who are the elder members of your family, make arrangements to speak with them in a comfortable setting, to see if they can help you.  Caution: Do not overtax them, they are elderly and may tire. Make a list of what you need and keep it short and simple. Ask about family Bibles, records and pictures they may have. If they begin to ramble about the family, let them do so and make notes. You may find out some interesting facts about your ancestors. After you go home, send them a thank you note and arrange to spend time with them again. Be willing to share a copy of what you have with them. When I go to do an interview, I take a copy of the research pertinent to that person, with me and give it to them. I also take them copies of pictures I have obtained that they do not already own.

Now, go home and input the data you have found into your genealogy program or word processor, while it is fresh in your mind. Note the date and whom you interviewed.

Lesson 3: Local Sources
It is helpful to determine local sources available for research. Many local libraries have a genealogy section; some have large sections, even floors devoted to genealogical materials. Go to your local library to see what is available for genealogical research. While you are there check the history section, there are many useful books in the history section that can help you with your research. Libraries today offer a wide variety of services helpful to the genealogist; one can find computers to access Ancestry.com, and online newspapers. Interlibrary loan is another way to acquire books, census and newspaper microfilm not available at your local library. Speak with your local librarian about interlibrary loan.

Court records are another local source available to the researcher. One must keep in mind that each state has different rules and regulations governing the access of their records. It is a good idea to call ahead to determine if records are kept onsite, in an annex, or if the local genealogical or historical society has microfilmed them and has them available at another location.

Health departments in some states have vital records available; some will allow you access to the old records and some must do the searching for you. If you are allowed access to these old records, remember to handle them with care to prevent damage to these fragile old volumes. If they must do the searching for you, remember they have to handle the day to day business while helping you. Have your list of names and dates; if they are busy, limit the number of names to your most wanted. You can leave them a list of the rest to complete at a time when they are not so busy, with a self addressed stamped envelope for mailing them to you.

Church records are another great source for research. Some church records have been made into books by local genealogy societies and others are on microfilm.

City directories are a valuable source for determining when people came to an area, and when they moved on or passed away. If the person you are researching is on one census and not the next, it is helpful to look at the city directories to note when they are last listed in the directory.  A point to remember is the names for a city directory were gathered one year and published the next year. So an 1891 city directory contains data obtained in 1890. That is what I was told by a librarian, when I started doing research.

Newspapers contain not only obituaries, but social news that often links families to each other and may help you locate where a member of the family has moved.

Lesson 4: Genealogical Societies
A local genealogical or historical society can be a help to the researcher. Society members volunteer in many of the local libraries, to help researchers find information and materials that they would often miss, if left on their own.  Genealogical societies present programs and seminars to enrich and improve our skills.  Many societies have journals or newsletters in which one can find useful abstracted information.  I would recommend you attend a meeting of your local society, review their genealogical publication and get to know the local members. It can be an enriching experience. Many Genealogical or Historical Societies have web pages that offer information on the local  area and many of these sites contain a list local researchers available to do research for hire. More and more, I am finding these web sites to contain databases of local information.

Lesson 5: Census
Census information is both a local and national source for the genealogist. The rule I use is to find and document the person on the census from birth to death. If you think the early census records did little more than list the number of persons in the home, by placing them in age categories, you may be missing some useful information. True people in the household were placed in age groups until the 1850 census, but there is so much more information available. It is helpful to know what instructions were given to the enumerators, and the date the census enumeration began. You do not have to be a paid member of Ancestry.com to go to their census pages and read the information noted about each census.  Open Ancestry.com and go to Search, choose 'Census and Voter Lists'. On the right of the page you will see ' Narrow by Catagory. Choose 'U. S. Federal Census Collection' at the bottom is a list of available census databases, click on the 1790 date and the dialogue box to search that census opens. Scroll down the page until you reach the area just below the search area; this is where the information is listed about the 1790 census. Next look to the right for 'More Help' and choose 'Download Blank Census Forms'; these forms are printable and useful while doing census research. When you have time, open each census year and read the information available for that census. If you want to save the information about each census, highlight it copy and paste it into notepad and save it in a file appropriately named.

Another important fact to know about a census is the county boundaries for each census year. The best source of information for this is 'Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census, 1790 - 1920' by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide.  The genealogy section of your local library may have books of the census for that area. These abstracted records are a useful guide to locating the actual image of the census. An abstract is one person or group of person's interpretation of an original record. The person who indexed the record may not have been familiar with your surname and may have incorrectly interpreted the handwriting on the original record. It is important for you to actually view the original record when possible. Today with most of the census available online, one can do this more easily than when the film had to be ordered in and you had to sit and view each page until you came to the family for whom you searched.  Be sure to document your census records when you find them, when saving them to a Flash Drive, I name the file with the year, county, state and name of the  person on the census and page [ 1850VermillionCoINJemimaOldridge93A... for example] Then I know when I look at the files on my Flash Drive that this is the census image for Jemima Oldridge living in Vermillion Co., IN in the year 1850.  In my narrative I document the census with the year, county, state, and page then I make notes on the family if there is any unusual or extra information on the record. In years where number of years married and children born and living  are listed I include that data also. If someone with a name other than that family name is enumerated with the family, you may want to note that also.

Lesson 6: Soundex
Soundex is a system for coding names and indexing them by how they sound. The Soundex was first used with the 1880 census, however the only families who were included were those families with children aged 10 years and younger.   A search of the internet gives many explanations of the Soundex and how to use it. 

Lesson 7: Newspapers
Newspapers contain many sources of information that help the researcher learn more about their family and the times in which they lived.  It seems most folks go to the newspaper to seek obituaries and that is an excellent source of information. However, there is so much more in the newspaper that can tell you relationships and family information.  Many newspapers have little columns called 'local news' or have a small community titles with a local correspondent  who relates information about that community. Sometimes deaths are listed in these 'community columns'. You may see for example:  "John Smith and daughters Jane and Susannah visited Aunt Sallie Jones for Sunday dinner"... these columns can help you understand the community and the times.  I have found 50th Wedding Anniversary announcements that name parents, children and other relatives. So read those old newspapers and learn about your ancestors times and living conditions.  Obituaries are a most informative source of information. They should be copied in their entirety, preferably photocopied or saved to your choice of medium for transport home. A picture is worth a thousand words and you will not remember what you read.  Take the obituary and check out each person named in it and research them for their link to the deceased. This is a good place to find the husband's name for daughters of the  deceased. Also look a few days after the funeral for the 'card of thanks' many families placed in the paper and for the 'pallbearers' data, many papers will list who these were after the funeral. To find newspapers you may do an internet search and find that paper has an online archive, some charge fees.  Another excellent way to obtain obituaries from old newspapers, after you determine the location of death, do a Google search for the local county public library and obtain their phone number.  Call and ask if they have the local newspaper on microfilm; if they have an obituary index or have the local cemeteries been transcribed and placed in books. Many small libraries will do lookups for a small fee or even for free. When they do not charge it is nice to send a donation to their library. Newspaper Archive and Newspapers.com are other sources for old newspapers. Many states now have online digital copies of old newspapers. I do an internet search for the state's name and digital newspapers. The Library of Congress has old newspapers online.

Lesson 8: Courthouses
Courthouses contain many types of records and each state is different.  It is best to always call ahead to determine where records are kept. Ancestry's Red Book American State, County & Town Sources is a most excellent source of information on records held in courthouses. Your local library most likely will have this book available.  You may also do a Google search for the county's website to obtain the phone number for many courthouses. Records available in courthouses are as follows:  Marriage, Wills, Probate, Land Records, and Court Records are examples of some of the records you may find in courthouses.  Please refer to the book mentioned above for the specifics on each state, not only does it explain what is held in various courthouses, but it lists other resources for each state.  One must remember that good manners and a quiet, friendly demeanor is one of the best way to obtain cooperation from the various employees at courthouses around the country. They may not appear busy to you, but they have a daily routine and a certain amount of work they must complete each day.