5 Family History Research Goals for 2019

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to sit down and layout what you want to accomplish in your family history research this year. If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, here are some genealogy research goals you may want to keep in mind for 2019.

1. Create research plans

This year strive to create a research plan before jumping into your tree. With a specific focus in mind, you will be able to better organize your research. Think about what questions you would like to answer and how you can go about finding those answers. By breaking down your research to into smaller objectives, you may find that you are able to make more progress in your family tree.

2. Take a second look

If you believe you have done all you can on a branch and are stuck at a brick wall, consider taking a second look at the documents and sources you have already found. It’s possible you may have missed some important information the first time around. Taking a second look at your research may lead you to new clues to pursue and help break down your brick wall.

3. Fill out your existing Geni profiles

When building the family tree on Geni, many of us focus on adding profiles to the tree that we forget to fill them out beyond names and dates. Consider going back to these empty profiles to fill out the About section with a short biography or add events to timelines to give better insight into the lives of your ancestors. If you have old photos, don’t forget to add them to help bring your family tree to life.

4. Make sure all your profiles have sources

As you are reviewing what you have already added to Geni, you may want to also make sure you have added sources to the profiles in the family tree. As the entire Geni community is working together to build the World Family Tree, we also want to make sure it is accurate and well-sourced. If you have not been in the practice of adding your sources so far, make it your goal for 2019 to do better!

5. Connect, collaborate, and share with others

Have you connected with others on Geni or in the genealogical community? Consider chiming in on public discussions. You can ask questions, share tips, seek advice with others who share the same passion for family history as you. Or branch out and join a genealogy project that catches your eye. You may want to create a project of your own to collaborate with others who may share the same research interest. If you have the opportunity, consider attending a genealogy conference. Genealogy conferences are a great place to meet new people and learn new skills. Whether you want to learn more about DNA for genealogy or learn new research tips, genealogy conferences hold a wealth of information. And you might even end up connecting with a new cousin!

What are your family history research goals for 2019?