In my pursuit of consistent blogging, I’m sharing insights from a recent assignment in my online course, U.S. Genealogy Research, at Salt Lake City Community College.
The assignment was to read and contrast the research reports, case studies, and family histories.
There are some excellent examples to review and investigate at BCG—Board for Certification of Genealogists. I highly recommend to anyone inspired by genealogy to visit this site.
As genealogists, it is fundamental to understand the distinctions between research reports, case studies, and family histories. Each serves a unique purpose and adheres to different formats, audiences, and goals.
I chose to form my opinion on the different report styles from the following:
- Research Report: Ruffner, Malissa, CG. “Pierre Lapouraille (m.1819).”
- Case Study: Johnson, Melissa A., CG. “Mothers for Sophie (Kanetski) Howe of Scranton, Pennsylvania.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 103 (June 2015): 105-113.
- Family History: Bittner, F. Warren, CG. “Without Land, Occupation, Rights, or Marriage Privilege: The Buttner Family from Bavaria to New York.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 (September 2012): 165-187. Winner, NGS Family History Writing Contest 2011.
Research Report
Research reports are formal, client-oriented documents that present the results of a focused investigation into a specific genealogical question. Malissa Ruffner’s was an excellent example. Ruffner’s report reminds me of the writing style in my “professional” life chapter. It includes clearly stated research objectives, detailed descriptions of sources searched, and a log of positive and negative findings. The tone was very analytical and objective, with lots of tables. At times, the tone reminded me of a status report from a lawyer of everything discovered in preparation for court.
Case Study
Genealogical case studies are narrative-driven, scholarly reports that present proof arguments or summaries. Melissa Johnson’s narrative in the case study felt more personal. The writing took me on a journey. Unlike Ruffner’s, it was more like a Google Maps set of directions. The narrative emphasizes complex evidence correlation, conflict resolution, and logic-based conclusions. The case study is an excellent model for others conducting similar work.
Family History
Family histories are broad, often multi-generational narratives that blend genealogical data with historical context, storytelling, and social history. Unlike the previous two formats, family histories are written for a general audience, often for publication or family distribution. Bittner’s family history of the Buttner family did not disappoint. The tone makes the story and its characters (ancestors) unique—accessible, engaging, and often emotional. This form is certainly best for legacy preservation in the form of family books, blogs, or heritage documentaries.
What I learned
In summary, research reports are tactical and investigative, case studies are scholarly and evidentiary, and family histories are narrative and commemorative. They are all similar in that they expose evidence of research and form an evidence-based opinion/statement. But the communication style differs based on the audience.
The choice depends on the project’s scope, audience, and purpose. My preference is both the research report and the family history. The research report appeals to my inner geek to collect the information and dissect the evidence, while the family history is the style I want to implement to share with my family and leave a legacy.
I hope this inspires others to write about their genealogy research. Let me know in the comments if this post was helpful.
In the following months, I will post some of the chapters of my family research.
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