I think that we can all agree that one of the key objectives in genealogical research is to be able to not only locate information, but also to be able to easily organize and compile our resources into a reliable format. Lisa Medina proposed the creation of a locality guide to quickly reference relevant information about our subject and to locate specific records that may have otherwise been overlooked. Her presentation about creating a personal locality guide answered the question, “Have we searched for that ancestor’s records everywhere possible?”
What is a locality guide you ask? It is your “go-to guide” where you organize your resources into a format that links to the physical location where you are searching. As an example, if you are researching an ancestral link to County Cork, Ireland, it would be helpful to know when various documents were recorded, by whom, where they are stored, and if they are accessible. By listing records, dates, and repositories in your locality guide, you will be able to focus your attention on records that are available and avoid the frustration of searching where nothing exists or has been moved to another location.
Each individual locality guide will contain a list of the resources relevant to your focus of inquiry, such as historical events, maps, dates, website addresses, and record repositories, among other topics. Lisa suggested several different formats for creating a locality guide that fits your needs. Your guide can be created in Word, as an Excel spreadsheet, in Google Docs, Evernote, or in Google Drive folders. Use the format that best suits your comfort level. Ease of use is key to a successful search.
In addition to Lisa Medina’s informative handout, she recommended watching Lisa Lisson’s YouTube video on “How to Create Your Own Location Guides for Genealogy Research” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyGELnuRpk4. Whichever format of locality guide you decide to use, they all begin with focusing on the place and time you are researching to find the answers to your genealogical questions. A comprehensive locality guide can be key to directing a successful research plan and preventing wasted effort where records do not exist.
When searching for the answers to who, when, where, and what, do yourself a favor, and begin by creating a workable, personal locality guide. Let us know if a locality guide helped you to successfully research your ancestor.