Research Notes Worksheet - Notes and Instructions for Genealogists

Aug 30, 2026

Research Notes Worksheet template provides structured guidance for genealogists to create organized, source-cited research notes for each ancestor. Instructions cover initial setup steps in MS Word, creating backups, naming and saving ancestor files, editing headers and footers, and maintaining chronological note order. The template includes examples for writing census source citations (including online sources and original repositories such as NARA), plus advice for using footnotes and formatting guidance for birth, marriage, religious, military, death, and estate sections.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatDOC

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Before you start

Writing your research notes

Census citations and source references

Using footnotes

Sections for key life events

READ ME FIRST Notes and Instructions to Genealogist regarding this template (in blue font): Before you start: This is a MS WORD DOCUMENT. It can be converted to Google Docs for free. If you do not see the settings mentioned below, right click over the ribbon at the top and “customize the ribbon” to add header/footer, references, etc. if you need them. Copy this document first and “save as” your MASTER RESEARCH NOTES TEMPLATE, in a place you will remember where to find it. Make a second backup just in case you accidentally write over it. Then “Save as” you ancestors name in a Surname File Folder then save this document as [SURNAME First Middle birth year]. You will then type over the black font lines below to start your research notes for your ancestor. Double click on the blue band (at the top) to access the header and replace it with your ancestor’s name. Alternatively, access the header by going to the Insert tab, then Header, type your ancestor, then close the header with the big red X. Double click on footer to change. Use “close header/footer” button on ribbon to close. Change the footer to have your name and contact info. Leave the page numbers on there. Writing Your Research Notes: Below are examples of how to write the different types of research notes. Once you have made a copy of this template, delete my notes here. One set of research notes per person. Below are examples you can type over and fill in the details for each. Keep your notes in chronological order and add new notes as you discover them. Regarding Census Citations – There are many ways to write them depending on where you found them. The examples I have added to the source citations here are typical for when you find them online at places like Ancestry.com. Often you will see the first part of a source citation followed by the original location and separated with a colon like this… 1810 U.S. census, XXX County, State, Any Town, p. xxx (penned at upper right), line xx, Ancestor Name; image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed DATE \@ "d MMMM yyyy" 30 August 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M252, roll XX. In this example above, the record was found on Ancestry.com but the original source was at the National Archives. It’s always good to cite both if you can. These source citations use the second “citing” the National Archives and Records Administration (a.k.a. NARA) but you could also use “citing FHL #xxxxxx” for the Family History Library census roll reference. Both are commonly used. Replace the County, City, State, ED, family xx, etc. with data from your ancestors in the appropriate census. These source citations may not be perfect for your situation, but are provided as guidance. Regarding Footnotes. I’ve created some for you. If you use them, you don’t need to change the numbering when you insert information between lines. The footnote numbers will update automatically. Remember to use the References tab and then “Insert Footnote” if you decided to create your own. That way the number will update automatically. Delete everything above this line in blue (these instructions) before using and saving for each ancestor you write about. Date in Bold – Born in [Place]. Details of evidence of birth followed by a reference note (where you found the information) Example of a footnote reference here. > Date in Bold – General information like newspaper articles, etc. Date in Bold – Marriage Information, who, when and where this person married. Don’t forget to add a source citation using the reference tab, then insert Footnote. Date in Bold – Religious events/denomination, etc. Date in Bold – Military service records, newspaper notices, rolls, registers, draft cards, etc. Date in Bold – Death Information from death certificates, burial records, obituaries, etc. Date in Bold – Wills and or Estate Records information. Date in Bold – Item General information like abstracts of Census, Wills, Vital Certificates. Date in Bold

FAQs

How should genealogists set up and save this worksheet for each ancestor?

Copy the document and save it as your MASTER RESEARCH NOTES TEMPLATE, then save a second backup. Save a new file using the ancestor’s name in a dedicated Surname folder, and replace the header/footer with the ancestor’s and your information.

What is the recommended order for adding research notes?

Keep notes in chronological order and add new entries as evidence is discovered.

How should census citations be written when records come from an online site but originate from NARA?

Cite both the online source and the original repository. Use the pattern shown: census details and location, page/line information, ancestor name; then cite Ancestry (accessed date) and reference the NARA microfilm publication and roll.

Aug 30, 2026

Upload by William