By Barry J. Ewell
The most important task at hand is not
necessarily the most urgent or easiest task; it's the most important
task. For example, I may have as one of my tasks that I want to go to a
regional library to conduct research. While going to the library is
important, calling the library and finding out information such as hours
of operation, collections to search, and names of staff that can help
me with my specific research are my first priority over going to the
library.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Genealogy: Five steps to finding ancestors
By Barry J. Ewell
As a new genealogist, I felt like a bee jumping from one flower to the next, searching for nectar. However, my mentor introduced me to a simple five-step process to discover my ancestors.
Step 1: Write down what you know.
What do you know about the person or family group? This step can take from a few hours to several weeks, depending on how thorough you are. I find that the more complete my understanding of the person or family I am going to research, the easier and more productive my research will become.
Information can come from firsthand experience or documents you have. Look for copies of birth, marriage and death certificates; journals; scrapbooks; old letters; family bibles; photographs;
As a new genealogist, I felt like a bee jumping from one flower to the next, searching for nectar. However, my mentor introduced me to a simple five-step process to discover my ancestors.
Step 1: Write down what you know.
What do you know about the person or family group? This step can take from a few hours to several weeks, depending on how thorough you are. I find that the more complete my understanding of the person or family I am going to research, the easier and more productive my research will become.
Information can come from firsthand experience or documents you have. Look for copies of birth, marriage and death certificates; journals; scrapbooks; old letters; family bibles; photographs;
If Sherlock Holmes Were a Genealogist (Part 5): Step #4—Imagination, The Workshop of the Mind
By Barry J. Ewell
Sherlock Holmes often sought seclusion to help him solve a problem; he would remove himself from all disturbances so that he could use his imagination to freely explore the problem from all angles.
As with Einstein, Holmes would take up the fiddle to help himself relax. While one part of his mind would be occupied with playing the violin, the greater part of his mind was able to roam free and form new ideas.
Holmes referred to the imagination as the mother of truth. In his times of reverie, he could allow the interplay of ideas to generate new insights into whatever case was taxing him at that time.
So there you have it. You are just as much a genius as Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes often sought seclusion to help him solve a problem; he would remove himself from all disturbances so that he could use his imagination to freely explore the problem from all angles.
As with Einstein, Holmes would take up the fiddle to help himself relax. While one part of his mind would be occupied with playing the violin, the greater part of his mind was able to roam free and form new ideas.
Holmes referred to the imagination as the mother of truth. In his times of reverie, he could allow the interplay of ideas to generate new insights into whatever case was taxing him at that time.
So there you have it. You are just as much a genius as Sherlock Holmes.
If Sherlock Holmes Were a Genealogist (Part 4): Step #3—Analysis, Sorting through the Jigsaw Pieces
By Barry J. Ewell
The brilliance of Sherlock Holmes often came in the analysis of putting the jigsaw puzzle of clues and facts together to solve the mystery.
"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." (Sherlock Holmes from The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier)
Think of a jigsaw puzzle. When you have all the pieces and they are all right-side up, you can then start to analyze where they go and how they fit together. The more pieces you have, the easier it will be to infer what the big picture will be. So the more angles you have observed a problem from and the more facts you have gathered about it, the more likely you are to be able to see the final solution. Let's take a look at how one might approach putting together a real jigsaw puzzle:
The brilliance of Sherlock Holmes often came in the analysis of putting the jigsaw puzzle of clues and facts together to solve the mystery.
"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." (Sherlock Holmes from The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier)
Think of a jigsaw puzzle. When you have all the pieces and they are all right-side up, you can then start to analyze where they go and how they fit together. The more pieces you have, the easier it will be to infer what the big picture will be. So the more angles you have observed a problem from and the more facts you have gathered about it, the more likely you are to be able to see the final solution. Let's take a look at how one might approach putting together a real jigsaw puzzle:
If Sherlock Holmes Were a Genealogist (Part 3): Step #2—Search, Getting to the Nitty-Gritty
By Barry J. Ewell
When he was on a case, Sherlock Holmes was like a bloodhound. He'd be down on his knees peering at cracks in the floorboards and then bounding through windows, over chairs, and up to the ceiling. You can picture him now with magnifying glass in hand, eyes sharply focused for clues.
"He was out on the lawn, in through the window, round the room, and up into the bedroom, for all the world like a dashing foxhound drawing a cover" (Sherlock Holmes from The Devil's Foot).
This is the nitty-gritty, down-in-the-dirt aspect of problem solving. Don't be afraid of the minutiae. The solution lies in the details.
Principle 1 of Search: Search leads to clues. Clues lead to answers.
In genealogy, you have to be willing to plunge into the details. Delve into the primary and secondary records and immerse yourself in the search for the answers.
Principle 2 of Search: Clues are found where you didn't look.
When you conduct your genealogy research, it becomes para¬mount to consider all your options and simply ask yourself, "Where should I look?"
"Always look at the hands first, Watson. Then cuffs, trouser- knees, and boots" (Sherlock Holmes from The Adventure of The Creeping Man).
When he was on a case, Sherlock Holmes was like a bloodhound. He'd be down on his knees peering at cracks in the floorboards and then bounding through windows, over chairs, and up to the ceiling. You can picture him now with magnifying glass in hand, eyes sharply focused for clues.
"He was out on the lawn, in through the window, round the room, and up into the bedroom, for all the world like a dashing foxhound drawing a cover" (Sherlock Holmes from The Devil's Foot).
This is the nitty-gritty, down-in-the-dirt aspect of problem solving. Don't be afraid of the minutiae. The solution lies in the details.
Principle 1 of Search: Search leads to clues. Clues lead to answers.
In genealogy, you have to be willing to plunge into the details. Delve into the primary and secondary records and immerse yourself in the search for the answers.
Principle 2 of Search: Clues are found where you didn't look.
When you conduct your genealogy research, it becomes para¬mount to consider all your options and simply ask yourself, "Where should I look?"
"Always look at the hands first, Watson. Then cuffs, trouser- knees, and boots" (Sherlock Holmes from The Adventure of The Creeping Man).
If Sherlock Holmes Were a Genealogist (Part 2): Step #1—Observation, Soaking Up the Facts
By Barry J. Ewell
Whenever you are faced with any research situation or problem, you must first observe it. To gather the facts, we must first know what we are looking for. No matter what kind of investigation you are beginning, there are only two ways to obtain data. The first is by verbally interviewing people (taking the history). The second is by carefully scrutinizing objects (the physical examination).
Principle 1 of Observation: Genealogy observation requires the "eyes of a hawk."
Think of one of those intense, icy glares from Sherlock Holmes as he pans a room, taking in every detail.
"You see, but you do not observe," he said in A Scandal in Bohemia.
In The Five Orange Pips, Holmes said, "The observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents, should be able accurately to state all the other ones, both before and after."
As you research any record, hear the answers to family history questions, or read the writings of your ancestors, just allow what is there to present itself to you. Open up your senses. Really listen— let the sounds affect you. Notice the smells. And look with the eyes of a hawk: sharp, precise, missing nothing. Be alert to every movement, every clue, and anything that is out of the ordinary.
Whenever you are faced with any research situation or problem, you must first observe it. To gather the facts, we must first know what we are looking for. No matter what kind of investigation you are beginning, there are only two ways to obtain data. The first is by verbally interviewing people (taking the history). The second is by carefully scrutinizing objects (the physical examination).
Principle 1 of Observation: Genealogy observation requires the "eyes of a hawk."
Think of one of those intense, icy glares from Sherlock Holmes as he pans a room, taking in every detail.
"You see, but you do not observe," he said in A Scandal in Bohemia.
In The Five Orange Pips, Holmes said, "The observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents, should be able accurately to state all the other ones, both before and after."
As you research any record, hear the answers to family history questions, or read the writings of your ancestors, just allow what is there to present itself to you. Open up your senses. Really listen— let the sounds affect you. Notice the smells. And look with the eyes of a hawk: sharp, precise, missing nothing. Be alert to every movement, every clue, and anything that is out of the ordinary.
If Sherlock Holmes Were a Genealogist (Part 1)
By Barry J. Ewell
I have always been a fan of detective stories. My father was a detective for the Las Vegas police department during the 1960s. In his later years, I enjoyed listening to his stories of how he was able to crack the case after careful research and analysis.
As I read and listened to the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Conan Doyle, I noticed that Sherlock used the same strategies as my father.
I thought it would be fun to create a personal research project where I would use Sherlock Holmes as model. What would Sherlock Holmes do if he were a genealogist? My intent was to see if I could uncover and understand the principles and then apply them to my own genealogy research practices. The results of my project dramatically changed my approach to genealogy research. I'd like to share with you what I found.
I have always been a fan of detective stories. My father was a detective for the Las Vegas police department during the 1960s. In his later years, I enjoyed listening to his stories of how he was able to crack the case after careful research and analysis.
As I read and listened to the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Conan Doyle, I noticed that Sherlock used the same strategies as my father.
I thought it would be fun to create a personal research project where I would use Sherlock Holmes as model. What would Sherlock Holmes do if he were a genealogist? My intent was to see if I could uncover and understand the principles and then apply them to my own genealogy research practices. The results of my project dramatically changed my approach to genealogy research. I'd like to share with you what I found.
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