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I have been meaning to plan some in person research trips one day but i have always kept that idea on the back burner because i wouldnt want to waste a trip and not be prepared. Once I get there I will need to know where to look for information and what kinds of resources I should look at to make the most effective use of the trip. Does anyone have any tips or advice about stuff like this?
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Re: In Person Research trips
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 8:53 AMIt depends on where you are going, but the basics I always bring are:
Pencils (some places don't allow pens)
Binder with the basic info I need, and a zipper insert (good place for car keys)...plus paper and family fact sheets.
Quarters (for the lockers if you are at NARA or Sutro...I am in SF, so they are my most likely haunts)
I have lists of "basic" terms in a couple of languages I might run into.
I leave a larger tote in the car with anything else I might need inside....many places won't let you bring larger bags/purses inside.
The other thing is, know what you are looking for- it's easy to be distracted by all of your options at some research places. You get more done if you focus. I spent my first trip to Sutro running around the shelves! So, if you are going to NARA, decide what exactly you want to find - perhaps one family line or one area census. You end up a lot less confused- well, I do anyways <g>
Where/ what type of facility are you planning to start? -
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Re: In Person Research trips
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 7:33 PMActually I don't know. I am in Vancouver BC and there are a few far away places I might want to visit to get more details than I can get over the internet. The closets is Victoria BC. That is a 3 hour ferry ride away so I might practice by going there first because allt he rest involve much longer trips into the middle and other side of the country. Then there is always UK info that I might want to get one day and that is across the ocean LOL. So I am trying to figure out what I want to get out of trips like that now and how to go about getting them before I make any kind of travel plans. Since I am in Canada I am not sure if any of the places I have around here are the same as places down there. I was figuring the local record offices would be a start and there are always those Mormon family tree researhc places. I don't remember what they are called but I know we have at least one near by.
Thanks for the suggestions
Amanda -
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Re: In Person Research trips
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 9:38 PMI haven't taken distant research trips myself yet, but I can recommend the Family History Centers:
www.familysearch.org/Eng/Lib..._fhc.asp
I have gathered some wonderful information from documents found at the Family History Center (FHC) a little ways across town, and what microfilms they don't have on hand, they can usually get on loan for a reasonable price.
But even for the nearby FHC, I agree with the advice to get organized before you set out. I try to avoid going to the FHC to hang out all Saturday afternoon browsing. Rather, I usually try to arrive with a specific ancestor, record, or book that I want to find.
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