Documents make up the core of all Genealogy research. These provide proof that your claims to those you include in your Family History really belong there. They provide information that you may not be able to obtain anywhere else. Some can give you insight into the lives of your family, where they lived, their occupation or even their religion. They bring the past to life.
With so many documents being obtained online today, you may think it would be a waste of time to take a Genealogy Research Trip (GRT). However, there is a tremendous amount of information in various repositories across the Nation that will take years to get online or it may never be put online. This is because it takes time and money to scan in or input documents and information. In smaller communities they just don’t have the people power or the resources to do this. Also, Genealogy is not, I repeat, not the primary purpose of repositories that keep documents. Their main purpose is to retain, recover and archive documents. Genealogy is a secondary thing for them so they do not feel the urgent need to upload all their files for those of us seeking answers. They are generally more than happy to help you find whatever you are looking for but this is a “side business” for them. In order to obtain some of the important documents you may need you will have to either write to the repository and pay a fee for them to find it and send it to you or you can make a trip there yourself. So where do you need to go to find information on your Ancestors? Actually this all depends on what information or documents you are hoping to find.
It doesn’t matter if you are just beginning your search for your Ancestors or if you already have 5000 of them already listed in your tree, at some point you will probably want to make a GRT. There are several reasons why you may want to do this. First and foremost would be to visit libraries, court houses, grave sites and other repositories in a particular State or City for the express purpose of searching for documents and documentation. The second reason may be to visit relatives so you can ask questions, obtain photographs or interview them about your family history. The third reason may be to see where your Ancestors had lived. All of these are valid reasons, but the question may arise “How can I make the most of my trip?” This book will take you through each step of planning your GRT, show you how to be organized and prepare you for a successful trip.
With so many documents being obtained online today, you may think it would be a waste of time to take a Genealogy Research Trip (GRT). However, there is a tremendous amount of information in various repositories across the Nation that will take years to get online or it may never be put online. This is because it takes time and money to scan in or input documents and information. In smaller communities they just don’t have the people power or the resources to do this. Also, Genealogy is not, I repeat, not the primary purpose of repositories that keep documents. Their main purpose is to retain, recover and archive documents. Genealogy is a secondary thing for them so they do not feel the urgent need to upload all their files for those of us seeking answers. They are generally more than happy to help you find whatever you are looking for but this is a “side business” for them. In order to obtain some of the important documents you may need you will have to either write to the repository and pay a fee for them to find it and send it to you or you can make a trip there yourself. So where do you need to go to find information on your Ancestors? Actually this all depends on what information or documents you are hoping to find.
It doesn’t matter if you are just beginning your search for your Ancestors or if you already have 5000 of them already listed in your tree, at some point you will probably want to make a GRT. There are several reasons why you may want to do this. First and foremost would be to visit libraries, court houses, grave sites and other repositories in a particular State or City for the express purpose of searching for documents and documentation. The second reason may be to visit relatives so you can ask questions, obtain photographs or interview them about your family history. The third reason may be to see where your Ancestors had lived. All of these are valid reasons, but the question may arise “How can I make the most of my trip?” This book will take you through each step of planning your GRT, show you how to be organized and prepare you for a successful trip.
