genealogy a la joleen

I’ve been thinking…

… about tangents

In the genealogy world, things are continuously changing, and keeping up can be challenging. In a way, these changes are like the bright shiny objects we joke about — or the sudden “squirrel!” moment that pulls our attention away. It’s easy to get distracted and wander off on a research tangent.

Tangents, in and of themselves, aren’t necessarily bad. Some lead to amazing results. The real question is whether that tangent helped us with our original research goal. More often than not, our detour leaves us needing to “get back to it” as we try to remember what we were doing in the first place.

So how can we avoid these tangents while still staying at least somewhat abreast of the ever‑updated family history environment? Here are a few suggestions:

• Keep your primary research goal in mind. Mine is: Who was John Hoyle’s father, born about 1777? I keep my genealogy program, my whiteboard, and my DNA match page open to help me stay anchored to that question.
• Choose learning that supports your goal. Because the Hoyle family lived for generations in Lancashire, England, I look for classes, presentations, articles, and videos that deepen my understanding of the region and its people.
• Join groups and organizations aligned with your research interests. I belong to a couple of family history societies in the areas of England that interest me, and I find our own BIGS Great Britain SIG especially helpful. These groups keep me motivated and make it easier to avoid tangents.
• Check the research hints on your online trees. These hints are essentially personalized updates — possible new records that may support your current research questions.
• Consider keeping a simple “tangent tracker.” When something tempting pops up — a new surname, an unexpected location, a curious record — jot it down in a small notebook or digital note titled Tangents to Revisit. This lets you acknowledge the interesting detour without losing your place, and you can explore it later when you’re ready.

And finally: if your research leads you on a tangent, go for it. Tangents are part of the fun. When you’re ready to rein yourself in and return to your original research objectives, maybe these suggestions will help you find your way back.