Note: This article was previously published on The Family History Guide Blog by Bob Taylor

October 6, 2024

As the well-known saying goes, “Patience is a virtue”—and that is certainly true in genealogy research. But is patience in genealogy only about enduring pain? If so, that would explain why a lot of people decide not to test the family history waters. Indeed, the Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions of “patient” seem to prominently highlight the “pain” concept:

1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2. manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3. not hasty or impetuous
4. steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity

What if we could develop more selective patience—in other words, focus our efforts so that our patience is not worn thin so easily? Here are 7 suggestions that might be helpful to achieve that goal:

1. Get to know the people in your tree. How much do you know about your ancestors and their complete families? They are more than just names, dates, and places—they have stories to tell and lessons to learn from. Building personal connections to these people can help you pursue good genealogy questions and energize your research.
2. Sharpen your tools. How much cutting time would you save by using a sharp saw instead of a dull one? Similarly, learning how to develop effective research plans and online search strategies will help you spend your time more productively and eliminate some “patience pain.”
3. Find more resources. New record collections are coming online each week, as well as many helpful blog articles and how-to videos for research. The Family History Guide can help you find and use an amazing number of resources, quickly and easily.
4. Learn new skills. It’s amazing how many disciplines genealogy embraces: cultures, languages, history, geography, ethnicity, and genetics to name a few. For example, check out tips for reading old handwriting, how to use Google Translate and Google Lens, how to think “out of the box” when solving problems, etc.
5. Use wisdom and order. Item #3 in the dictionary list above says, “not hasty or impetuous.” We can save a lot of time and effort when we proceed carefully from the known to the unknown in our research, avoid jumping to conclusions, and document our sources well so we don’t wander in circles with information.
6. When you hit a wall, don’t bang your head. Stuck on a line? Maybe the answers are in different places or record collections than you have been searching, or maybe new collections will become available to provide clues. Even the best genealogists have their own brick walls in research. Fortunately, family trees are large enough that there’s still plenty to do among the many branches.
7. Collaborate. We are not doing genealogy in a vacuum. You’d be amazed at how many others are willing to help you with genealogical discoveries, including Facebook groups, genealogical societies, volunteers at FamilySearch Centers, DNA and special interest groups online—the list goes on. And consider sharing your discoveries, photos, and stories with others as a way to pay it forward.

This is a great and marvelous work we are involved in, to connect generations and preserve the history and memories of our ancestors. May your patience never fail you in your research, and may you find new and creative ways to avoid stretching your patience thin!

– Bob Taylor, Director of Development, The Family History Guide Association