Created by Julie Goucher, 2022 using Wordclouds

Our individual genealogical and family history pursuits is, for a good many of us the reason we embark on specific projects of some kind, This might be  researching broadly and culturally another country, a One-Name study or a One-Place study. For some of us, a One-Name Study links with, and into a One-Place Study.

For my own research, my genealogy and family history was paramount in the beginning of my own One-Name study, developing into a One-Place Study, and generally  leading to specific research into European genealogy and family history.

Over time, our research diversifies as we grow our studies, research and interests. For some of us, our studies become personal and maybe, it is no longer enough to just gather and collect data.

Are studies with thousands of line entries in databases as valuable as those that develop studies whereby we build family groups. or undertake studies that gave a specific focus, researching in-depth those from a specific, or those holding specific jobs, or those that have gone into politics?

Those with Registered studies with the Guild of One-Name Studies undertake to make their study global, and a number of researchers cast a general view that there is not enough globalisation, though defining “enough” is not an absolute science.

The internet has revolutionised the way we research, both in breadth and depth. Advancements online mean that often a review of research is possible and a great many of us take a regular review of our research. For some, it is a case of pressing pause on gathering data, thus enabling a review to take place and data updates to happen.

Equally the amount online, whether that is a robust catalogue, digitisation of documents from small sets of data to significant collections is quite overwhelming. As I routinely advise Pharos students, develop a study the way you would eat an elephant – in bite size chunks! The nature of the bite size chunk is up to each study registrant. The way we research, establish and develop our studies, or even broad research will vary considerably, depending on a whole host of things.