Resources:
There are many great how-to sites online. I will not recommend any site
that charges you for that service, there are many that do not, and some services
that charge for other items do not charge for their how to sites. You can
search at http://www.google.com for these
sites and choose one that looks pleasing to you. Likewise you can find
information on your families by searching via search engines on sites, and on
such services as Google. Remember a few techniques that will help you -
When searching for Lee County, Georgia you can search several ways with
different results:
Lee County, Georgia
"Lee County, Georgia"
"Lee County, GA"
"Lee County"
Lee County
These all produce different results. "Lee County, Georgia" will give you
items that have "Lee County, Georgia" in the site as 3 words together.
Without the parentheses you will get sites that have Lee + County + Georgia on
the same page. Lee County will give you Lee County everywhere USA.
You can also limit the results by putting a minus sign in front of items you do
not want. (Example: "Lee County, Georgia" + history -genealogy
this would give you items that did not pertain to genealogy, only history, or at
least somewhat limit the results you get, it works better in some cases than in
others. If you are searching for names of people make sure to include
derivative or variations of the spelling, we all know that our names can be
spelled 14 different ways.
Last but not least, remember the mailing lists and message boards are also unique tools, but let's all not forget the value of just getting out and going to the courthouse or repository and getting the files we need. This can save us long hours if we can just get up and go get the item we need. Check the microfilms that are available for the county, write down the information before you go, review the items available at the repository, know the costs, the what do I need to do, if that information is available online. It will save you a lot of time and stress.
Additionally, when you are out driving and you pass a library, archive, etc., go in and pull a few pages of something that interests you, even if its not the family you know so far, it may be the ones you are searching for next week, and don't forget to share that information with others, the more you share the better your chances are of someone hooking up with you. Additionally, take your camera along and snap some photos and send into your county site, there are people researching that county that will never be able to travel to the county, they will love to know the scenes in that area.
Always make sure you know the "timeline" for your county of research, when did it form, what did it form from, what counties were formed from it, your family could have lived in the same spot but be in a different county the next census year. Know the area as best you can, this will also help. Look at the census records and who lived down the road, next door, other families with same name, all of that will come in handy to your research.
The most important things about your research:
1) Share it with family, friends and online.
2) Have fun! If you are not enjoying the thrill of the hunt, find a new approach.
3) Did I mention share ... and above all, be courteous to those that don't understand the chase, or those that are attempting to help you.
Kindest regards,
The GeorgiaGenWeb.org Team
P. S. I forgot to mention - BOOKMARK - make sure to setup bookmarks in folders and save your favorite sites.