Have a basic stationary kit that includes pens, pencils, an eraser and a ruler.
Create a three-ring binder with sections that hold your research notes and copies of your primary sources.
Always have paper with you, especially when traveling.
Label all your notes with a name, date, location, the surname of the family it relates to and the source.
When taking notes from a document, be sure to note the title, date, author, location, catalog reference number, and library classification number if possible.
Keep a separate contacts file containing the name, number, email and mailing address for your contacts.
Keep a chronological record or diary of your research including places visited, people you spoke to and where documents were housed.
One of the best places to start you search is at your local library.
Interview the older members of your family about their history, making sure you tape record or video tape it to have a permanent record.
Write down your questions before the interview and work through them.
