I think it’s safe to say that most researchers are hooked on the thrill of a new discovery. Whether it’s a new record or a new ancestor, a successful search is always a rush. Even so, there are treasures to be found in material you’ve already covered, if you will look carefully.
I can’t tell you the number of hours I’ve spent pouring over my grandmother’s family history books. I’ve fully entered them into at least three different database systems, thousands of records each. There are parts that I’ve committed to memory by now. I’ve completely worn away the cover to my favorite book.
Yet as I’ve been sketching out this new project, planning on how to tackle revising all of Grandma’s research, I discovered that I haven’t ever transcribed many of the stories she captured. I’ve been so focused on getting birth-marriage-death data, I’d skipped over many of her essays. Last night I decided to transcribe into my database an autobiographical piece written by my grandfather (Marion Jesse “Jim” Laughlin).
What a gem! I remembered the colorful bits, how he learned to drive and the years he trained horses to compete in the American Royal. I completely missed many useful facts — locations where he lived, jobs he held, schools he attended. There are clues for the rest of his family — wife, children, father, mother, brother, uncle — as well. I’ll be hours properly documenting the new discoveries.
Have you had a new discovery in old research? What old records should you revisit?
(P.S. You can read Jim Laughlin’s biography here: https://familyloreandlegend.com/family-members/marion-jesse-jim-laughlin-1916-2009/ )