8 Tips to a Social History Research Plan




 

I’m getting ready to head to my ancestor’s town next week, but before I go, it’s important to have a research plan in place. Just as you would use a research plan for your genealogy research, you also want to identify a plan for the local and social history research you need to write your family history stories.

I’ve already plotted out my story. For those of you who haven’t taken our plotting course or read Finding the Story Workbook #3, this just means I have outlined my story from beginning to end in great detail. By taking the time to plan my story, it helps tremendously in identifying the local and social history research I need to complete my story.  Plotting your story in advance eliminates you from spending a lot of time researching topics that are not pertinent to your story. Your research will be more focused and purposeful.

Next,  I spent some time on the internet looking at the various resources available for my visit. I’ve identified some resources available including Perth OGS, Perth/Stratford Archives and The Stratford Museum operated by the Stratford Historical Society. There is also the Stratford Heritage Society which operates the Fryfogel Inn, and I’ve also identified some walking tours through the Stratford Tourism that I think might help me to put some context to the town and the community.  I won’t be able to cover all of these identified resources on one trip, so I’m creating a plan and a priority list as it’s probably going to take several visits to complete my research; all the more reason I need a plan. The plan might also need to be adjusted once scope out these locations when I arrive.

Here are eight steps I’ve identified in preparing for a research trip of local and social history research for your family history story.

1. Identify Topics That Need Researching

Start a comprehensive list of research topics. I like to keep this list easily accessible, you can keep it either in a notebook, or my preference is to use Scrivener or Evernote. Evernote being my first choice.

 

2. Identify Sub-topics

Some research topics may be pretty broad. Take the time to think of any offshoot topics. List them under original items.

 

3. Organise Your Topics

Not every research topic will be crucial to your story, some will carry more weight than others.  Reorganise your topics and subtopics by their level of importance. This way you will optimise your time on the more important issues. As well, some topics might be covered very quickly while others might take some time.

 

4. Have a Purpose for Each Research Topic

Each topic should be on your research list because they have the potential to add value to your story. Realise why you’ve chosen to include each subject in your research time. Don’t waste your time researching topics that don’t serve your story. This is why identifying your story plotline is important before you begin this research.

 

 5. Identify What You Want to Learn

List what you want to learn about each topic, so you have a clear goal in mind. When you have a goal, it becomes easy to identify when you’ve achieved your goal, and it’s time to move on to the next item on your list. Too often researchers have trouble finishing the research, never getting to the writing. Identify the end game so you know and when it’s time to move on. You also have to know when some research just may not be available. Don’t make your quest for local and social history research an excuse never to get to the writing.

 

6. Create a Story Box

Before I write a story, I create a Story Box. A story box is basically a container where I pull all my research for a particular story into one place.  I create a binder in Evernote for my Story Box. I add all the current documents and information into this binder. The Story Box makes it easy to find and quickly access anything you need about the story you are writing. Don’t spent valuable writing time looking for stuff. You can make a digital story box or tactile one, using an actual box. I like a digital box. I use Evernote because I’ll have everything I need wherever my research physically takes me. I can access it from my laptop, ipad or iphone and it’s cloud storage so there is no worry of losing it to a computer crash. Now as I begin my local and social history research anything I learn will also be included in my Evernote binder. In this Evernote Binder, I’ve also included my local and social history research checklist. If you don’t know how to make a research checklist in Evernote, you can check out my video below.

 

 

7. Create a Research Calendar

Once you’ve identified your research topics, you’ll want to consider how you are going to proceed with your research. The more organised and planned you are the more productive your research time will be. Schedule your research days on a calendar regardless of whether they are online or in an archive. How much time per day do you plan to spend doing this research? Set yourself a deadline to complete your research with realistic expectations. Without a deadline, you’ll research forever.

I’ve determined I’m starting with the Perth/Stratford Archives. I’ve sent off an email letter to them letting them know the day I am coming and what I will be looking for on that day.

 

8. Organise by Priority

My research plan is arranged by priority; what I feel is most relevant to the story –where I want to start.  My first focus will be on creating a map of Stratford in 1847 and locating the list of businesses and homes that I’ve identified. Hopefully, I will also come up with some general information, description or even a photograph for these places. This will help me to describe them in my story. I’m dealing with a very early time so photographs will be a long shot but some of the businesses may still have existed later, or an advertisement in a Gazetteer might exist to help get a perspective on the business.

I’m also going to start my research with the political climate in Stratford and Perth area at the time. It’s an essential element to my story. In my Google search, I’ve discovered that the Stratford Archives holds the council minutes for North Easthope (this is the township my ancestor lived in on the outskirts of Stratford). The council minutes begin in 1843 so I’m going to start there and well as many other resources that may help me with my list. You will also note that I’ve identified on my research checklist a list of books that may offer some insights into the local and social history of the time. I’ll keep an eye out for these in each archive I visit.

Keep in mind as you begin your research that your plan may change as more information and resources may open up to you and others may fall away because they just aren’t available. Remain flexible. However, a plan remains essential to identifying the research you need to help you bring that story to life on the page and keep you focused and on track.

Next: Reaching out to the Archives and the First Visit. 

Did you miss our first post in our series My Summer of Setting and Social History? World Building

 

 

 

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Filling in the Details with Social HistoryFilling in the Details with Social History

 

When you write a family history story, you rely heavily on social history to fill in the descriptions and details of your ancestor’s life.  Most likely the details we are talking about won’t be found in your genealogy research. We have to look outside of our genealogy research for these details. We have to turn our attention to social history along with the world, regional and local history of the day.

In our previous post, we began a discussion about social history and its importance in telling our family history stories, Writing a Family History When You Don’t Have All the Facts.  This week let’s dig a little deeper into this subject and discuss the variety of topics that make up social history and where to find these social histories.

For Example

You have a marriage certificate, which gives you a lot of lovely facts about your great grandmother’s wedding. However, it doesn’t tell us anything about the ceremony itself. Social history can do that. History and social history studies can tell us what the church looked like, the wedding customs of the day, her dress, his attire, the religious ceremony and even the weather for the day.

Social history along with the world, regional and local history is a great tool for reconstructing your ancestor’s entire world.

Another Example

Suppose you don’t have a picture of your ancestor.  You know he was a peasant farmer in the mid-west United States during 1850. Based on this information and by doing some social history research into farmers in that area, at that time, you can determine, the style of dress, hairstyles, facial hair. Look at his culture, religion, which also might add some insights into his appearance.  Based on your social history research you can then surmise a brief description of his appearance. You know the expression a little goes a long way. In this case, it definitely applies. Give the reader just enough and let their imaginations fill in the rest.

Here is a list of some of the social history factors you can research when building your ancestor’s world.

 

Architecture Geography Time and Season
Dating and Marriage Old Age and Death Family
Education Occupation Economy
Childraising Health and Medicine Technology
Cuisine Fashion Entertainment
Ethnicity Language Social Ranking
Law and Society Military and War Migration
Politics Religion Architecture

 

 

Where to Find Social History Information

Social histories are found in a variety of places. And just like your genealogy research don’t limit yourself to online resources only.

Books Stores – Online stories and brick and mortar stores, particularly those second-hand bookstores will often offer books on local histories and custom of the time.

Libraries – Online libraries, local and regional libraries, college and university libraries all great places to look for social histories.

Local Archives and Museums – Connect with the local archives and museums in the area your ancestors lived. They often have books written by local authors that have never made it to the internet or a bookstore including letters, memoirs and diaries of locals.

Local Historians – Local historians are well read on the local history and social history of the area. Ask your local archives or museum for a meeting with a local historian.

Social Historians – There are social historian societies, reach out to them to find a social historian knowledgeable on the particular subject you are researching.

Living with the Locals – Immerse yourself in the hometown of your ancestors. Learn from the locals, visit the local tourist organizations, take a walking tour.

Newspapers – Newspapers are an incredible social history resource. They provide not only local politics and events but local businesses, gossip, family events, marriages, deaths alongside the world and regional events.

 

If you would like to learn more, we discuss social history in detail in Authentic Ancestors, Workbook #2. Learn to use social history to bring your ancestor and their world to life on the page.

Also, check out our Social History Resources page, it contains links to many online websites that can help you with the details you require to add description and detail to your stories. Make sure you bookmark it we are always adding more links.