Creating My All-Encompassing Genealogy Research Log in OneNote

I struggled for years to use a research log. I tried a variety of tables and spreadsheets but would never manage to fill in all of the blanks.  My best efforts consisted of notes and saved links in a OneNote notebook. These efforts were somewhat decent but not always used. When I did not use a research log, I duplicated searches, did not always add sources, and was easily distracted.

Creating My Research Log

I did not want a formal report to share but knew that I needed to improve my research strategies and wanted a final product that would reflect reasonably exhaustive research. Determined to create a log I would use regularly, I spent much time critiquing my research habits and learning about research logs and time management. 

My requirements were as follows.

• a document to contain all research information about one person or subject and serve as a research log, a research plan, and a summary of my findings

• the ability to add as little or as much information as needed as well as adding sources, narratives, and screenshots of records 

• an easy-to-access research log template 

• a reminder to use a variety of repositories appropriate for the search and a list of record types to use as a visual reminder when planning research

• a section for a timeline 

• a way to include my ancestors' FAN Club (Family, Associates, and Neighbors) 

• a place to add a summary, next steps, and, if needed, a rough draft for a blog post

• a strategy as to what happens to the completed research log

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This was quite a tall order, but after almost two years of trialing several versions of my OneNote research log, it now more than meets all requirements.  

• My OneNote log contains all research information about one person or subject and includes my research plan, records of all research conducted, and a summary of my findings. 

• A template for my research log appears each time I add a page to my Research Logs section of the OneNote notebook.

• I add as little or as much information as desired as well as additional sources, tables, narratives, and screenshots of records to customize the log as needed. 

• Most online repositories I have found helpful are listed on my log and linked so that I can go directly to the site. Included on the log are frequently used resources in my personal library and reminders to look in my digital and paper files. 

• Links to resource guides, such as the FamilySearch Research Wiki, are included to determine available records. A reminder list of record types is on my desktop in Sticky Notes; however, it can be accessed in my OneNote Feed to use as a visual reminder while planning my research. 

I use the OneNote Feed (see the red arrow) to view Sticky Notes such as the 
Record Reminder that is used when planning my research. 

• There is a table for a timeline and another to add the names of FAN Club members I may want to research.

• A OneNote page is endless, so there is plenty of room to add a narrative summary, next steps, a rough draft for a blog post, and if desired, the completed blog post. 

• Once my summary and next steps are added to my research log, the log is saved as a PDF which is added to that ancestor's digital file. The actual OneNote page is moved to the "Processed Logs" section of my notebook in the event that I want to revive it and add to it at a later date.

I love my OneNote research log! It is continuously evolving. As I learn a new OneNote skill or find a new resource, I can easily make changes. My research is much more organized and purposeful. I seldom wander aimlessly through the Internet. I can see where and what I have researched, and it keeps me from straying from my goals. 

My Research Log

DON'T PANIC when you see the size of my research log.  Resources not needed are deleted as I am planning my research. 

When you go to my Genealogy Samples notebook, go to the Research Logs section to see the Sample Research Log below. Portions of the log are explained. You will also have access to a research log template and an example of a completed Research Log.

The Genealogy Samples OneNote notebook contains sample pages from some of my OneNote notebook sections, including Research Logs. Look at the section OneNote Skills to learn how to add a page, add a section, create a new notebook, make a section group, make subpages, find the OneNote setting options, copy pages from my notebook to yours, and more.

My Other OneNote Posts

Using OneNote as Temporary Storage for My Genealogy Research

Take a Look at My OneNote Notebooks

Look at these Resources

I found some great resources when planning and creating this research log. 

The blog Organize Your Family History is amazing. Her posts about her digital workflow were very helpful. The author, Janine Adams, does not use OneNote but has so many good tips about organizing genealogical information. 

Jill Morelli told of combining her research plan, research log, and findings in I don’t do Research Logs.  I wanted my log to function in the same way and was another step closer to creating a useful log after reading this post and her post, Step-by-Step: My Intractable Problem. 

I learned how to make my research log template at Using Templates in OneNote for Windows 10 | Microsoft OneNote Tutorial from Michele Christensen. If you are new to OneNote click here to see her other tutorials. 

Learn more about research logs by reading Essential Methods: Research Logs by Frederick Wertz and Research Logs: The Key to Organizing Your Family History from Family Locket. 

If you have a subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars, definitely watch Tessa Keough's Using OneNote With Your Genealogy, Thomas MacEntee's One Touch Genealogy Research: How to Handle a Record Just Once, Record As You Go, Cite As You Go, & File As You Go by Cyndi Ingle and D. Joshua Taylor's New Tools and Ideas in Research where he talks about time management and more. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2022 

Elizabeth Shown Mills, The term FAN CLub, QuickSheet: The Historical Biographer’s Guide to Cluster Research (the FAN Principle) (Baltimore: GPC, 2012). 

Janine Adams, blog, Organize Your Family History (https://organizeyourfamilyhistory.com/: accessed 4 January 2022).

Jill Morelli, "I don’t do Research Logs," blog entry, 6 May 2017, Genealogy Certification: My Personal Journal (https://genealogycertification.wordpress.com/2017/05/06/i-dont-do-research-logs/: accessed 14 January 2020).

Jill Morelli, "Step-by-Step: My Intractable Problem," blog entry, 27 February 2017, Genealogy Certification: My Personal Journal (https://genealogycertification.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/step-by-step/: accessed 14 January 2020).

Michele Christensen, "Using Templates in OneNote for Windows 10 | Microsoft OneNote Tutorial," YouTube (Using Templates in OneNote for Windows 10 | Microsoft OneNote Tutorial: accessed 23 August 2020).

Frederick Wertz, "Essential Methods: Research Logs," 13 December 2019, New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/blog/essential-methods-research-logs: accessed 14 January 2020).

Diana Elder, "Research Logs: The Key to Organizing Your Family History," blog entry, 24 November 2015, Family Locket (https://familylocket.com/research-logs-the-key-to-organizing-your-family-history/: accessed 14 January 2020).

Tessa Keough, "Using OneNote With Your Genealogy," Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/using-onenote-with-your-genealogy/: accessed 23 January 2019); subscription required to view webinars. 

Thomas MacEntee, "One Touch Genealogy Research: How to Handle a Record Just Once," Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/one-touch-genealogy-research-how-to-handle-a-record-just-once/: accessed 8 April 2020); subscription required to view webinars. 

Cyndi Ingle, "Record As You Go, Cite As You Go, & File As You Go," Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/record-as-you-go-cite-as-you-go-file-as-you-go/: accessed 8 April 2021); subscription required to view webinars. 

D. Joshua Taylor, "New Tools and Ideas in Research," Legacy Family Tree Webinars (https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/new-tools-and-ideas-in-research/: accessed 2 January 2021); subscription required to view webinars.