The Most Important Tip for GOOD Genealogy = Sources (+ My SOURCE WRITING HACK)

Learn various ways to document your sources in genealogy research, plus my SECRET hack for creating them. A professional genealogist's secret, the MOST Important Genealogy Tip = Sources (What, Why, Tricks for Creating Them). Sources are crucial for effective research . Learn how to create them easily, with suggestions for beginners and professional genealogists.

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0:00 Intro
1:31 Noting basic sources easily
5:24 Genealogy programs linking of sources
6:36 Research calendars for more professional research
7:32 How to write sources
9:06 The way I write sources
10:24 My SECRET hack for writing sources (Text Expander)

🙋‍♀️ ABOUT ME: Learning about your ancestors is fun! It’s detective work at its best. My professional genealogy business, Ancestry Consulting by Aimee, and my You Tube channel were born out of a desire to help others discover their family history. I have been working on my genealogy since a teenager and have been helping others as a professional genealogist for almost 10 years. Whether breaking through a genealogy brick wall, determining parents through DNA matches, beginning genealogy research, or discovering your family origins, I want to help you build your family tree! Happy hunting!

#familysearch #familyhistory #ancestry #genealogy #genealogybooks #genealogysources

Check out these other genealogy YouTubers: Genealogy TV, Family History Fanatics, Geneavlogger, Ancestry (Barefoot Genealogist), Genealogy with Amy Johnson Crow, and of course, keep watching me, Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints.

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[AncestryAimee]

To obtain the books mentioned in the video (you're supporting the channel by ordering through this Amazon Affiliate link at no additional cost to you):

[lisawatson]

I made the mistake, when I started my genealogy journey, of taking information from member trees in Ancestry. Big mistake. Thank you for your good, solid tips. I find your videos very helpful and easy to follow.

[nytn]

This video was not only super helpful, but it was like a big cup of chamomile tea. I am feeling way more relaxed about my hotmess of a tree and like this is doable. Thank you from Nashville!

[Michelle_Ellen]

I have a running text thread with my dad's cousin who has all the good family history stories and info from Cuba. We can't get records from Cuba thanks to the government there. So most of our sourcing is word of mouth or records that were brought over by family members back in the 60s. I like to copy/ paste my aunt's text messages and add them as memories in familysearch. Then I tag everyone in our tree that's mentioned and label the memory as a text from her.

[valerievesper]

Yes! This is sooo important! I inherited my grandfather’s family trees from the 1940-70’s. But whoever packed it up in 1975 apparently pitched most of the supporting files. The trees themselves have no sources noted. Based on the few scraps I have, it appears he talked with all the older relatives. However I have a total of maybe four sentences of notes on conversations with people who died 70-80 years ago. Now there’s a lot of information in the trees that I may never be able to substantiate. 🙁

[marklazarus]

Thank you, I have been sporadically looking at my genealogy and been intimidated. Your video has reinvigorated me to move forward faster with your recording methods.

[glallison]

Thank you for making me feel ok about how I have been sourcing all these many years! Whatever works for me is A-OK with you! Love it!

[kathrynludrick]

You're awesome. I love how you deescalate the stressors associated with genealogy. Plus you're articulate, know what you're talking about, and have a great attitude.

[paulatharris]

My sources have always been straightforward even more so now with digital media. When I started I printed or hand wrote, each source had its number and it was filed in source number order in a binder. Whatever the source is it has a number. So an interview typed up is source 00001 for example, 1851 census is 00002. The file names start No.00002 1851 Census (place name). Then it is placed in my sources folder on Dropbox. That source number is referenced on ancestry and on my roots magic. That’s it, nice and quick, easy to find. I think, like you say, people get scared off doing to much.

[MrBraindead]

Great video. I have always made sure my genealogy is well-evidenced but, at the beginning, I wouldn't have always have documented my sources well enough. Now I sometimes look at a person and think "How do I know this?" But I now try and correct these errors.

[vibesmom]

Great video! You’ve certainly gained a new subscriber.

As someone who has ADHD, and who also has time breaks between researching, I’ve found making a research sheet, and a citing rule cheat sheet, is essential.

Before I did that I would end up relearning old information in a session as opposed to moving forward.

[Bryanegreenlee]

Great video! APA is a standard for citing sources.

[JOXGIRL]

Wow. You are helping me learn a lot about family research. Subscribed.

[motheryesser]

I would love to see a video on inserting source citations to documents so I can send them in to various genealogy states applications

[ritay]

Thank you for your professionalism and generosity!.

[skiser]

Hi Aimee! Is there another video that you go into detail about how to start a research calendar? Thanks!

[dana_yan]

Hi Aimee, I am a new subscriber to your channel. I am wondering if you have any specific advice for searching ancestors in Austria & Germany? Thanks for your videos!

[Carlaparrott-dz]

Hi Aimee, do you recommend genealogy worksheets? I have been writing things down in those on top of what I have in my computer. I am afraid I may lose information if the computer ever quits. Thank you for your videos. The are very informative and enjoy the. I learn a lot from you.

[bernarddoddemajr]

How do you handle the messy sources that get imported from FamilySearch?

[jdchariton]

This is a good video, but much of the time when Aimee says the word "source/sourcing" she means "cite/citation/citing." A source is a thing; a citation is a reference to it. But the video is full of great points! Thank you.