I not only love research, but I also love history, and several skills and crafts from older times. I make my own bread, knit and crochet clothing items for myself and my family, write in cursive, study various methods of shorthand, dabble in other languages, and read historical fiction. All of these passions help me be a better researcher and genealogist. Here are some places to start that can make you a better researcher, too.
Penmanship/Handwriting
Unfortunately, just knowing how to read and write in modern cursive is not sufficient for reading century-old documents. Many handwriting manuals are available in the public domain. You don't have to learn how to write that way, but reading a few of the manuals will help you decode the fancy handwriting used in many of the source documents we use for genealogy. I suggest looking up Palmer Penmanship and Spencerian Penmanship, for starters. There were several other popular methods, but these manuals were written to establish some standardization in handwriting, and can help you identify those crazy capital letters the census takers used. You might also want to take it a step further, and research journals and diaries from the time. George Washington was an avid notetaker, and his notebooks are available to view on the Library of Congress website. Thomas Jefferson kept meticulous records of his correspondence. Copies of his letters, written and received, can also be viewed on the Library of Congress website.
Geography
It is important to learn some things about the geography of the places you are researching, so you know what records might be available and where to look for them. For example, one tree I've been researching lately was most recently in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and San Bernardino, California. While following the research, I discovered the family suddenly moved there from Missouri in the 1920s. After some quick geography research, I learned that a railroad intersection existed in Missouri before their emigration (they were railway men and farmers). Further tracing led me to Galesburg, Illinois, which also housed a railroad intersection and farming. However, further consideration for the geography of the states helps me keep in mind that, although the naturalization card for this person is dated 1860, and his son's birth record indicates he was born in Illinois in 1858, the family was not going to hop on their horse and high-tail themselves for days to the nearest courthouse to file these records. The ancestor's immigration happened sometime before 1860, and his naturalization occurred later, when it was convenient.
In another example, one of my ancestors came from a place that is now in the country of Lithuania. However, at the time of the recording of his life events, the town was in Prussia, Germany, and Russia, but he spoke German. While briefly studying maps through the years of his life, I am able to see how the border lines moved, and verify the accuracy of the records.
American History
Outlines of World History, especially if you are researching your roots in Europe and other parts of the world, are important, but you must know the outlines of American History, as well. Not only a rough order of statehood, but the major wars: American Revolution, American Civil War, War of 1812, French-Indian War (known in other parts of the world as the Seven Years War), Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, etc. Other events to be aware of are the Great Depression, the invention of the car, the Oklahoma Land Rush, the California Gold Rush, the Klondike Gold Rush - any events of mass migration are key items to keep in mind. If your ancestors suddenly disappear from a location, chances are they took a chance and took part in one of those key events in American history.
Local History
Don't forget to check in with a local library near the location of your research. They should be able to help you pinpoint local disasters or events that may have impacted your ancestors, as well. Growing up near Chicago, Illinois, the Great Chicago Fire had a huge impact on the development of communities and areas around the city. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes all impact us as much today as they did in past centuries. Whole families could have been wiped out, or moved out, because of these events.
I find the journey down history lane to be completely fascinating and satisfying. So many pieces of our lives fit together to make a whole picture, and researching our family histories helps us be more aware of the impact we make in the world around us today. let me know if you find other useful skills on your journey through your tree.
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