It is tempting to just type a name in a search box and hope. Research rests more on expectations. When using any database, particularly one you have never used before, try and answer the following questions:
- What records were used to complete the index?
- Is the index an every name index, an index to “main names,” an index of names that readers have submitted to be indexed, etc.? This matters–a lot.
- Are the records for your specific location and time period of interest included?
- Is every record included or just some? Some sites with images of newspapers are spotty in their coverage. Some sites do not include records from all smaller jurisdictions that make up the entire area (eg. a database that says “New York State marriages” may only include some counties).
Answering these questions makes you a more effective user of the database.
No responses yet