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Archiver > APG > 2000-03 > 0952054358


From: "Fredric Z. Saunders" <>
Subject: [APG] Longer Client Reports
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 20:32:38 -0700


Hi Rebecca,

I'm fairly new at professional research myself (2 years) although I have almost 30 years personal experience. I have also gone through some variations. I find that each report may end up being as individual as the research dealing with them. A lot depends on the the client's request and determining the best way to present the information to the client clearly. In general I try to:

1. Restate the objective and identify the subjects (names) and time period being researched. (Client requested XX hours of research to locate the parents of John Doe they had located in the 1850 census for XYZ county.) Depending on how involved and how many subjects, this could be a couple of sentences, or a couple of paragraphs.

2. Summarize what was found or not found so the client knows what to expect in the body of the report. ("The parents of John Doe were found to be....." "The parents of John Doe have not been identified but several possibilities have been targeted for future research....." "No indication as to John Doe's parentage were found, but is was learned that John.......") This section also may range from a couple sentences to a paragraph or two.

3. Explain any special problems or limitations encountered. ("The county was created in 1800 but the extant probate records do not begin until 1820." "The xxxx records are not indexed.") This can vary depending on what you perceive the genealogical experience of the client to be. (Do they know why you didn't search for their family in the 1890 census?) These may also be combined into #4 below.

4. Body of the report going into the records searched, and abstracts/photocopies of what was found. Lead the client from one record to the next, analyzing and explaining why certain records were searched even though nothing may have been located in them.

5. Tie everything together with a summation from the records and analysis.

6. Suggest records for future research.

If anyone else has suggestions to the above, I would appreciate hearing them.

Rick Saunders
Salt Lake City, UT

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