3 Genealogy Mistakes I Made as a Beginner—and What I Do Differently Now
My first attempt at genealogy was fast, exciting—and messy. I was eager to build a tree, so I treated every new hint like an answer instead of a clue. The result taught me three lessons I still consider foundational.
1. I was click-happy
I accepted records before proving they belonged to the right person and created duplicate people when I should have slowed down. A hint is not a conclusion. Today I ask whether the names, dates, places, relationships, and other details actually fit the person I am researching.
2. I did not keep useful research notes
Without notes, I repeatedly had to rediscover why I accepted a fact, where a conflict came from, or what I still needed to find. Research notes and logs are not busywork; they are how you leave a trail for your future self.
3. I had no dependable filing system
Scans, photographs, and downloaded records piled up faster than I could identify them. Now I prefer descriptive filenames and a predictable folder structure. The exact system matters less than being able to find the record again and understand what it is.