1. Possess plenty of time, energy, and a detective ability.
   
2. Visit relatives, libraries, historical societies, courthouses, churches, and cemeteries.
   
3. Obtain a grasp of American history and local history.
   
4. Consider writing a short article to be published in a periodical prior to publishing a book.

Record (instead of storing information in your head)

1. Notetaking
   • Skim for pertinent information
   • Always read preface, introducation, and table of contents
   • Record consistently. All speculations and hearsay should be so marked!
     • Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
       
2. Documentation (Happiness is knowing where it is!)
   • Author, Title, Publisher, Place of Publication, Date, Page number, Name of library where source was found
     
3. Reproduce important documents.
4. Always proofread everything.

Evaluation and Re-Evaluate

1. Common Sense
2. Accuracy
3. Consistency