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When I started out doing genealogy research years ago, I was not organized about it. I’d jump around from book to microfilm to CD and all around.

While I did have some success and made some progress, the lack of organization also kept me going in circles.

Over time, I developed systems to get it together and become a stronger, more efficient researcher.

Checklists are one of the tools I regularly use to keep things sorted, avoid distractions, and reduce decision fatigue. They ensure I stay focused on my goals during the periods of time I have to work on my family tree.

In this article, I’m sharing 7 ways to use a genealogy checklist so you can improve your research skills, slay your goals, and grow your family tree.

Benefits of using checklists in your genealogy research

Using checklists benefits your genealogy research in so many ways!

Get all your ideas out of your head and onto paper so you won’t forget or lose them.
Decrease decision fatigue and overwhelm. No more thinking about what to do next.
Save time and establish consistency. Lists are easy to follow and make certain you do the same thing every time, so no task slips through the cracks.
Achieve your goals faster. Lists motivate you to keep up the momentum and stay productive. Our brains love seeing what we’ve already gotten done.
Avoid shiny object syndrome. While chasing a bright shiny object is fun to do sometimes, you want it to be the exception and not the rule. Checklists will help you stay on track.

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7 types of genealogy checklists you should use

There are many types of lists you can use to keep your family history research tasks organized.

While each one has a different purpose, the overarching goal is to help you to never forget a task or idea. This will lead you to become a great researcher with a family history filled with stories.

Here are 7 ideas of checklists that can assist with you achieving your genealogy goals.

1. Genealogy research checklists

I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one who has ordered the same document twice because I forgot I already had it. A genealogy records checklist will keep track of what resources you’ve already found so you can avoid double paying or searching for the same thing twice.

A genealogy sources checklist is also great for getting around brick walls by giving you more ideas about the types of records to search for.

2. Genealogy education plans

One of the great things about genealogy research is that there are so many things we can learn about! From different ethnicities to types of record collections to research methods, there’s always something more to learn.

A list of books to read, webinars to watch, or simply general topics of interest will guide you through thinking about your educational priorities so you can decide what skills to study next. I’m a huge fan of Legacy Family Tree Webinars. They have a ton of webinars on almost every subject you can think of, and you also get the handouts. I especially like their Board for Certification of Genealogists series, which has fabulous webinars on research methods.

3. Family history interview questions

Talking to your relatives about their memories, especially the older ones, is so important. It’s hard to think about, but you never know when you might not be able to ask them questions anymore due to memory loss or because they pass away.

Creating a listing of family history-related questions on different subjects like their school, friends, pets, and holidays will guarantee you are ready to get their stories at a moment’s notice. Keep your questions in the cloud on Evernote or another favorite app so they are always on hand.

4. Family members to interview

Along with creating sets of questions, be sure to also note all the people you want to interview. That way you can both prioritize who to speak with and won’t forget anyone.

Consider also talking to family friends as well. They could also have some great memories about your relatives.

Then start reaching out to them and scheduling calls and visits so you can ask your questions! Because, honestly, this is the step that people often tend to skip. Take the time to do the interviews as soon as your lists of questions and people are ready. You can always edit things as you go.

5. Repository visit checklists

Repositories like archives are some of the best places to uncover the stories behind the facts in your family tree. If you’re planning to do in-person research, a repository visit checklist can get you ready beforehand. That way, you can spend your time finding as much about your family as you can while you are there and not having to do things like more catalog searches.

Advanced preparation is even more important if you need to travel to get to the archive or library.

6. Census trackers

Census trackers are great for making sure you’ve found all the possible census enumerations for each ancestor.

You can use these in a few different ways, such as by all the possible censuses for the country they were from. You can also use them for specific evidence that you’re looking for, such as immigration or military information.

7. Discovery workflows

You found something? Great! What’s next? Make a roadmap to document the steps to take after you come across a record for your ancestor.

Brainstorm all the things you do after you find something, like adding it to your tree software or recording the source citation. Then make a list so you never miss a step.

I make workflows for almost everything. This saves me brainpower and keeps me from forgetting important steps like saving a copy of the record to my computer.

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Final thoughts

Using various family history checklists is a key method to keeping your research efficient and methodical so you can best use your research time. They assist you with keeping up your momentum, even when the search gets tough (and we know that it will get hard at some point).

There are many kinds of genealogy lists you can use, but they can all improve your research skills and keep you consistent and focused.

Test a few out and see how they work for you!

What are your favorite types of checklists to use in your research?

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7 Genealogy Checklists To Help You Conquer Your Research Goals