The quickest way to make progress in
genealogical research is to connect with someone who is
further along or is more experienced than you are. Keep in
mind that a large part of the fun of genealogy is the
relationships you develop with people along the way. Be
kind, courteous, helpful, slow to take offense, and quick to
forgive, and you will be rewarded.
Mailing Lists, a.k.a. Email Discussion Groups
Being part of a mailing list is like having your own virtual
research community. It's an easy way to network with other
genealogists to share distant ancestors, get answers to
questions, request lookups and swap research stories.
Genealogy mailing lists are free, fun and are often one of
the best online possibilities for filling in some of the
blanks in your family tree. These same lists not only help
you find information about your ancestors but many times can
connect you with people who have research interests similar
to yours.
Message Boards
A message board is a computerized version of the
old-fashioned bulletin board. You'll find message boards
related to surnames, localities, and other topics. By
posting a message to the appropriate message board, you
create a record through which other researchers can find
you. There are just four message boards of interest to
Yavapai County researchers:
Magazines and Societies
Another option is to submit and look for queries in a
genealogy magazine or newsletter. The magazines of some
national organizations, such as National Genealogical
Society, allow queries in some of their publications. You
might also want to check for a local historical or
genealogical society magazine or newsletter that is
published in the area where your ancestors lived. It will
often be published by the genealogical society in that area.
If someone is researching the same family line as you, it is
possible that they subscribe to the newsletter and have
already posted a query, or will see a query that you post. |