The success or failure of your next genealogy trip can depend on your preparation. Being fully prepared to search for your ancestors can make a huge difference.
First off, get organized. If you still have piles of photocopies from the last trip – stop, organize them and add the data to your family history. These actions alone might suggest the need for further research while “on the trip.”
Get your papers in order so that you can take copies of materials that will be of interest to any relatives that you might visit with while traveling. While organizing these papers, you may realize that significant items are missing – items that you may want to search for while on site in the locations where your ancestors lived. Keep in mind that your willingness to share copies of data with new-found cousins may prompt them to share similar documents with you. It’s worth it to take a few extra copies of documents.
I recommend that you make up a “wish list” prior to leaving – a list of items that you want to find. Organize your list by geographic area – breaking it down to the repository where the item might be located. County courthouses, libraries, archives, cemeteries, historical societies and cousins are all sources of information.
Check travel sites like Expedia and Priceline to find the best deals. The Lonely Planet, Virtual Tourist, and other travel tips websites can provide information about the area you are visiting. Also condsider off-season traveling for better rates.
Run a “place” list off your genealogy computer program, listing all the places that are in your database. This list might remind you that you need to visit locations and repositories while nearby. You might also be prompted to find missing data while in the area.
After making up your list of places to visit, obtain the hours and addresses for each of the repositories. Some of the facilities may have web sites that you can visit prior to your trip. Chart the places you wish to visit on a map. A simple way to do this is to use Map Quest or Google Maps.