05 June 2020
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Visiting an archive to explore your family tree? Check out Simon Wills' checklist before you go...
1. Your basic research plan for the day
List reference numbers and dates of documents, and note what you hope they reveal
2. A back-up plan for other things you could research
Sometimes your chosen documents don't tell you what you want or they aren't available
3. Digital camera or mobile phone with a camera function
Take photos of documents in case you don't write down things that later prove important
4. Pencil and notepaper and/or laptop
Keep a record of what you've discovered and which records you've viewed
5. Your admission card, or proof of identify
The archive's website will tell you what you need
6. Copy of your family tree
You may not be able to remember everything about your ancestors on the day
7. Money
Take change for car parks, and a payment card in case there's a must-have book at the archive
8. A map/address
It's easy to get lost if you're going somewhere new
9. Snacks and a water bottle
You don't be able to eat in the archive but you will need sustenance
10. Charging cable, spare battery and memory chip
Don't less loss of power spoil your day
Extracted from Simon Wills' article in the July issue of Family Tree magazine.