Interview with a Genealogist
Advice on How to Research Family History for Biographies and Memoirs
Charles “Chip” Hughes, M.A. is a full time professional genealogist in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also a geanealogist with "ProGenealogists", an online service which offers professional help to anyone doing genealogy research.
Suite 101: What skills do people need to be successful genealogists?
- A love of history and understanding the social fabric of society are two critical skills or attributes. An attention to detail is very important in order to gather all the facts and organize them into a coherent story that describes a family and their role in the surrounding community. Understanding why a family moved from or into a community is more valuable than just knowing when they moved. It takes a keen mind to be able to understand the finer nuances of a family’s history.
Suite 101: When looking for primary evidence, is it more difficult to research a famous historical figure than a non-famous person?
- Generally it is easier to research a famous person. However once you get back before the famous person they are no different than anyone else. For example, a current celebrity might be easier to gather current data on, but since their ancestors were not famous, they are just the same to research as anyone else.
Suite 101: What are the usual pitfalls faced by a genealogist? Are there any situations where a researcher can end up going down the wrong path with their research without realizing it?
- Common names are a place where mistakes can occur. Researching a common surname such as Smith or Williams can lead to following the wrong family. It is extremely difficult to distinguish between the different Smith families in a particular region without getting lost or following the wrong person. A researcher could easily make a mistake when looking at two different two John Smith’s and spend their time researching the wrong family, coming to the wrong conclusions, and tracing the wrong family back in time.
- Many documents can also lead to erroneous conclusions. Wills and probate as well as land records are both excellent tools for genealogists can lead the unwary researcher down the wrong path.
Suite 101: Have you researched your own family tree?
Yes
Suite 101: Have you ever considered writing your family tree as a family memoir?
One of these days, I guess sort of a busmans holiday.
Suite 101: If you were to write a biography, who would you most enjoy researching?
Sports figures
Suite 101 also interviewed Charles about the impact of the internet on genealogy research.
Charles E. Hughes is available for genealogy research cases involving Colonial/New England research, Mid-West, Mid-Atlantic, Immigration, and LDS research. He also works primarily with the historical and genealogical records of England, Wales and Scotland. He is has been involved with British research for many years and is familiar with all aspects of British Genealogical research.
Charles can be contacted via ProGenealogists.
