Tennessee Genealogical Society
Genealogy Travel Kit
I came across some helpful aids while doing your family history while
traveling. Here are some items to have for your genealogical travel
kit.
Stationery: Notebook, pens, and files or folders in which to keep
your valuable documents, photographs and local information.
Documents:
Copies (not originals) of vital records and other archival
leads.
Geographic Aids: Up-to-date road maps, street guides and
guidebooks.
(Try to find maps of the time period of which your ancestor
lived, how have the boundaries changed over time periods?)
Travel
Documents: Passports, visas, driving licenses, traveler’s checks,
Credit
cards, local currency, and strong foreign currency, such as
US dollars or
German marks.
Insurance Policy: Check that all your belongings and
documents are covered by your travel insurance policy and you have the original
purchase receipts in the event of theft.
Camera, Camcorder, & Tape
Recorder: A camera, digital, if possible, and a good supply of film. Camera film
may be hard to obtain or cost much more than you would normally pay. Check that
your camera is suitable for photographing original documents close up and
indoors, since this is an effective way of recording documents if you are not
able to obtain a copy. Try photographing documents at home to make sure your
camera is up to the job. Do not rely on photographs as a means of recording
information on original documents: You will still need to transcribe or abstract
the relevant information.
Video camcorders and audiotape recorders are
useful for interviewing contacts and preserving your own experiences in the form
of a diary.
Contact Details: Names, addresses and telephone numbers of
your local contacts. You should also take a supply of cards or stickers
containing your own name and address. You may meet people who will not be able
to find out information for you and send it to you after you return
home.
Phrase Book: Take a good phrase book and bilingual dictionary to
help with the language. Do not assume everyone will speak your
language.
Clothing: Worn-in comfortable shoes are essential for
genealogical trips, whether your are visiting foreign cities, cemeteries,
farmland,
cobbled streets, rural paths, or ancient church archives; dress in
comfortable clothes; check ahead to see what the weather will be on the day you
plan to visit.