Emily Anne Croom, expert genealogist and author of Unpuzzling Your Past, The Genealogist’s Companion & Sourcebook, and A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors, has also written The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research. While Unpuzzling Your Past served as a primer for newbie genealogists, The Sleuth Book was written for genealogists of all experience levels. This book concentrates on improving strategies and research skills. Major topics covered include:
- organization
- focusing on specific research questions
- planning the research
- practicing cluster genealogy
- gathering and documenting evidence
- analyzing data
- evaluating the big picture
- arranging ideas into progress reports
- sharing success in case studies
I was once instructed by an investigative journalist to look at all research with the mind set of a detective. The main idea is to observe the details and when stuck on a problem to reorder one’s thinking, sometimes taking a completely new approach for knocking down obstacles. Croom teaches a similar methodology. “The goal of The Slueth Book is to spark in the minds of genealogists a variety of ideas or perspectives from which to view their own research, study their own data, mull over a research dilemma, or tackle a tough question.” In other words, to think like an investigator. Perhaps that is why Emily pulls from the collective knowledge of such investigative, if fictional, greats like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.
This book is filled with tips and techniques, sources, notes, and case studies. Each helps the reader better understand the main concepts. Icons and notes in the margins help readers spot these key elements in each chapter. The Slueth Book is well thought out and laid out for easy reading. With case studies and research examples through out, the reader will find it easy to put concepts immediately into practice.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction: Why the Sleuths?
Putting a Down Payment on Success
- Focus of the Book
- What’s the Answer?
- First Things First: Getting Organized
- At Any Beginning
- Focus
- What’s the Problem?
Planning for Research
Part I: Developing a Plan
- Spontaneity
- Preliminary Planning
- Mapping Out a Plan
- Planning Methodically
- Talking About the Problem
- Example of a Written Plan
Part II: Questioning as a Tool of Planning
- Categorizing Search Questions
- A Reference Section
Broadening the Scope: Cluster Genealogy
- Why the Cluster?
- Who Is the Cluster?
- Next of Kin
- Extended Family
- Neighbors, Friends, and Associates
- People With the Same Surname
- Reconstructing the Cluster
- Cluster Genealogy in Progress
Documenting Research
- Who Documents Their Works?
- What Does It Mean to Document Your Work?
- Why Do We Need to Document Our Work?
- Where and When Do We Cite Our Sources?
- How Do We Cite Our Sources?
- Considering Specifics
- Sources in the Family
- A Final Word
Gathering Information: Research
- General Principles of Research
- A Word About Sources
- Suggestions for Effective Research: A Review
- Observe, Analyze, and Evaluate As You Research
- Working With Dates
- Using Public Records
- Strategies for Using Census Records
- Strategies for Using Probate Records
- Strategies for Using Land Records
- Strategies for Using Tax Records
- Mistakes We Make in Research
Examining Evidence: The Gray Cells in Action
- Evidence
- The Smallest Chink of Light
- Evidence at Work
- the Little Cells of Gray
- Hypotheses and Theories
- Seeking the Truth (Proof)
- Research and Analysis: the Question of Rev. William Harrison’s Death Date
Arranging Ideas: Progress Reports
- Preliminary Hearing
- Listening to What We Say
- Committing Your Work to Paper
- Progress Report on a Study of William Coleman Sr.
Reporting: Case Solved
- Writing About the Successful Project
- Case Studies
- Introducing Chapters Nine, Ten, and Eleven
Finding the Parent Generations: The Search for Isaac Heldreth’s Parents
- What Was Known When the Search Began
- Setting the Stage
- With Eyes and Mind Open
- Looking for Solid Evidence
- On Location
- What Is the Clue?
- The Missing Link
Finding Slave Ancestors: The Search for the Family of Archie Davis, Sr.
- What Was Known When the Search Began
- Early Research
- Focus on Mother
- What Was Known at This Point About the Family of Archie Davis Sr.?
- Family Oral Tradition Plays a Role
- Some Examinations
- Plan B
- A Wild Possibility?
- Reviewing the Results in Clairborne County
- One More Step up the Hill
Finding the Parent Generation: The Search for Ann (Robertson) Croom’s Parents
- What Was Known Before the Search Began
- What Was Known From the Paternal-Line Search
- Proof of Isaac Croom’s Surviving Children
- Isaac Croom’s Marriages
- Preliminary Census Check
- Reviewing the Initial Evidence
- Search for Birthplaces
- Survey Research in Louisiana
- Clues in Land Records?
- First Proof of Relationship
- Research Based on Isaac Croom Sr.’s Land Records
- Cluster of Isaac Crooms Sr.’s Associates
- The First Georgia Survey: the 1840 Census
- Texas?
- The Wake-Up Call
- Right Under My Nose
- Number One Suspect Emerges
- The Missing Link?
- One More Question Answered
- The Hypothesis
- The Critical Link
Appendix A Preparing for Adventure: An Overview of the Basics
- At the Beginning
- Focusing the Search
- Repositories of Genealogical Information
- A Word About Sources
- Suggestions for Effective Research
- Documenting Research
- Dates in Official Record Books
- The Calendar Change
- Strategies for Effective Census Research
- For Further Discussion
Appendix B Guide to Documentation: Examples of Style
- Published Books
- Articles in Journals
- Electronic and Internet Sources
- Newspapers, Letters, and Interviews
- Public or Unpublished Documents and Records
- Sources in the Family
- Bibliography
Endnotes
Bibliography
- Bibliography of Sleuths
- Bibliography of Selected Works Mentioned in the Text or for Further Reference
Index
The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #:GPC1221, Price: $37.19.