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ABCs of Using a Genealogy Forum
When you've hit a brick wall in your research, it can be helpful to turn to the web. Someone else might have the information you've been searching for. The best way to put your query out in a way that others can find easily is to use a genealogy forum or board.
Message boards have been around since the inception of the web, and it's only natural that genealogists would have flocked to them. With millions of genealogists now on line, wading through the posts can be incredibly difficult. Learn to use the boards efficiently so that you save your own time as well as the time of all of the readers.
Use a Clear Header
Many message boards are attached to email listings and visa versa. Either way, there are often thousands of messages a week being posted. Mention the surname you're looking for, the location and the time range. Put the surname in CAPITAL LETTERS so it stands out, but do the rest in lower case.
Give Detailed Information
If you ask for a SHEA in County Cork, Ireland, you're looking for a name for which there were hundreds of thousands of matches. Be sure to give as much detail as you know - the names of parents, wives, children, the birth years, etc. If someone reads the header and wants to learn more, give them the details they need to know if this is a match for them.
Be Patient
Most genealogists are doing this as a hobby in their spare time. If you get in touch with someone, don't expect an answer within an hour.
Genealogy Boards and Forums
Main Listing Page
All Genealogy Articles
Note - Lisa Shea wrote this content for the genealogy site at BellaOnline.com - you might still find this content there as well. That's fine :) I gave permission!
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