Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide

by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer

Are you stuck in your genealogical research? Wondering how to make progress on your brick wall problems? Discover the process that a professional genealogist uses to solve difficult cases. Diana Elder shares her step-by-step method using real world examples, easily understood by any level of genealogist; written for the researcher ready to take their skills to the next level. Learn how to form an objective, review your research by creating a timeline analysis, construct a locality guide to direct your research, create a plan, style source citations, set up a research log to organize and track your searches, and write a report detailing your findings and ideas for future research. Work samples and templates are included.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2018

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just worked through this excellent workbook while taking an e-course of the same name taught by the author. The information in the book reflects Diana Elder's very organized, very thorough approach to researching a person's family history. The chapters are short and concise but also filled with suggestions for improving one's methodology, clear examples from Elder's own research, and appendices with even more useful examples. While the book on its own is a fantastic tool that will absolutely improve your research skills, it's invaluable when coupled with the e-course Elder offers through her website, familylocket.com. I've learned even more from the always timely one-on-one feedback she's given me on the assignments I've done at my own pace for the course. If you can't justify the money for the course (although it's well worth it), do check out all the free content on Family Locket and definitely consider purchasing this workbook as a reference to keep on your desk when you're researching family history for yourself or for clients. I love it!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a novice or just want to finesse your genealogical skills, Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide is an essential book for your library. Diana Elder takes the reader through the research process from start to finish and includes appendices with forms, work samples, resources, and supplemental material.

I recommend this book for every genealogist as reference material. Ms. Elder's writing is clear and logical, not too technical and not simplistic. How to research can be a dry subject but her story and examples made it quite interesting. This not a dry technical manual.

I am looking forward to reading her next book

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I first learned about this book because I was listening to their podcast which I found very helpful. This book provides the nitty-gritty details of how to do good genealogical research. I plan to take their e-course once I have the research that I have done so far in better order. I'm very thankful that I found this approach within only a few years of starting and I don't have years and years of research to sort through.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taught a class of 27 people based on this book. About 20 people completed the 8 hours over 2 months and everyone thought it was excellent and improved their research skills. Actually read from Feb through May - probably 3 times through in order to teach the class. (somehow I can't change the dates below.

[Francine Griffis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book to learn solid methodology of structuring your research. Learned a couple of new things. Can’t wait for the study group.

[Donald Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guide for information

Good book for organization. What you need to do to get your material in order.What's been completed and where to go from here

[Linda Hartlaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly well-written and useful book. Ms. Elder sets out a concise plan to further your research through use of a research plan, timelines, locality study and research log. If you've ever wondered how to use these tools in your genealogy research, she breaks down the basics and even provides templates for the reader's use - all of which can be downloaded electronically.

This book is best if you've done some beginning research so that you are familiar with the terms and thought processes in genealogy searching, together with some familiarity with Ancestry and Family Search. But after you've been introduced to the basics (take a basic class from your local genealogy society), buy this book and keep it as a handy reference. This is well worth the money.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instead of falling in rabbit hole after rabbit hole, this book breaks down how to focus your research and then methodically work through the evidence to reach a well-reasoned conclusion. Great resource for anyone doing family research.

I also love the full examples of research reports included in the appendices.

[Michelle Monticello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book! I finally feel like I'm researching instead of searching. Using the techniques in this book, I've switched from spending hours "working on my tree" to hours researching specific things with a solid research plan (and I'm getting further on my tree than I was before). I would recommend this to anyone from beginners to long-time genealogists.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had first seen this book while at a conference--another attendee had a copy of it with them. I even saw it for sale at a booth in the exhibit hall, but put off buying it.

I got this book because I want to try to improve my genealogy research skills and break my bad habits of searching for stuff and not recording the searches or accumulating a lot of documents without citing them or doing much else with them. My ultimate plan with the book was to work through it chapter by chapter. I even got a notebook to record my exercises in it. However, I found that some of the steps in the book are more time consuming than I thought they would be. I did start a time line for some of my ancestors which I hadn't done and it did help me learn that an ancestor moved to Michigan sooner than I'd originally thought. Then, I also learned that I needed to do more research on who I think may be this ancestor's dad in order to try to resolve the question of if he's the ancestor's dad. I'd been avoiding working on him because I wanted to find everything I could on my ancestor of focus before moving back in time to the person who may be his father. The notebook, then became a place where I recorded research thoughts and ideas about my research and not just a place to work on the exercises in the book. The important thing for me to keep in mind as I work on the two research plans is to keep referring to this book because it has useful tools and ideas in it.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will increase your awareness and skill in your search for information about where you came from and clues explaining why you are who you are. This mother/daughter team takes you methodically through the process of genealogical exploration, from deciding on your objective through planning, source citations, logs, and report writing. They provide many examples and relevant appendixes, providing valuable tools to improve your process. I'd suggest keeping an example from your research in mind to help explain the steps as you follow along. You can become much more effective even if you don't become a pro. And when you finish the book, don't forget to check out the Family Locket website and podcast for lots more helpful information. So, peruse the book, website, and podcast and energize your ancestral adventure!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for those interested in tracing their family history. It may be a little technical for beginners and hobbyists but I would still recommend it. It will get you started on the right foot and teach you how to find especially those difficult to find ancestors. The principles in this book will help you keep track of what you have done so that you don't endlessly repeat searches and enable you to pick up where you left off if you put your research aside for a bit. I can't say enough good things about this book. I wish it had been available 40 years ago when I started my research. Highly recommend it!

[Esmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few different research manuals. This one is a step above the others. It helps the researcher to plan, execute, and write about a research plan. The authors are extremely thorough in their explanations and report examples. This manual will definitely help the average or hobby researcher to another level. I think if a researcher follows the guidance in this book, they will solve or make progress in their own research.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars. After watching a webinar presented by the author, I was interested in learning more about her research process. While interesting, it appears to be aimed mainly at the not yet very experienced genealogist, a category I do not fit into. While there is some good information included, the guide takes up less than half the book — the rest is made up of example reports.

[John Beckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was my first genealogy book. It should probably have been my second. It concentrates more on documentation than on the grunt work of researching. The appendix - which makes up a large portion of the book - was very helpful in that it gave me ideas of places to search for data.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book to go through. I haven't read it from cover to cover; it's a research book. Read the parts that apply to you. This is on Kindle Unlimited.

[Susan Schuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and its accompanying e-course were a great investment in my and my genealogical research. If you are a family historian I highly recommend you read this.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful step by step guide on how to conduct a focused research project in genealogy. About 40% of the book is examples and case studies.

[Gary Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read dozens of genealogy related books. This is one of the best of the how to do it variety.

[Lisa Marz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book for someone doing genealogy and interested in researching and tackling roadblocks.

[Jean Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

RLP is deceptively simple. It covers all the important research steps, and also includes helpful examples, practical tips, templates and reference works. It is easy to lose sight of the big picture when studying the different steps in depth. I can see the wood again, and know where to look for more detail if I need it. I also got some answers to niggling study questions not found elsewhere, subtly incorporated into the text.

[Kristal Cravener · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide to using the process that the professionals utilize. Simple and powerful. This book is absolutely worth purchasing. You can find more information and sign up for the newsletter, Facebook groups, eCourse, or DNA Study Groups at familylocket.com.