CURIOSITY IS A PREREQUISITE! ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS!
THINK OUTSIDE OF THE SQUARE!
IT'S OK TO BE WRONG! BETTER TO REACH A DEAD END THAN NO END AT ALL!
RECORD EVERYTHING!
ASK QUESTIONS WHILE THEY ARE STILL ALIVE!
Start talking with and writing to all your known family.
DON'T IGNORE FAMILY TALES
There's usually some fact in them somewhere.
Do be careful though not to accept them as 100% truth, particularly claims to Royalty!
ALWAYS ASK 'WHO STATED WHAT'?
Don't believe everything you hear and read!
THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION IS VITAL!
It's just as important to record negative or questionable information as well as confirmed information.
CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING!
INVESTIGATE EVERYONE'S BIRTH, MARRIAGE & DEATH
Sometimes vital information is missing for a person on one certificate.
ALL certificates are needed to evaluate information.
Informants didn't always know everything (and sometimes they didn't record the facts)!
NAMES & NAME CHANGES!
Be alert! Not everyone is recorded with their correct name!
Aliases and incorrect names on certificates abound!
NEVER GIVE UP! There's always someone at I Descend to help!
