Beginner Genealogy Research System: Four Fillable PDF Tools, User Guide and Worked Example

Seller's description

Start with one person and build a research trail you can follow. The Slate & Rowan Complete Beginner System combines four reusable fillable tools with a teaching guide that explains how they work together.

Keep your current conclusions in a Person Profile, study individual sources with Guided Source Analysis, track record status in the Evidence Tracker, and remember useful places and contacts in Research Contacts & Repositories.

You receive five PDFs, totaling 43 pages:

- Beginner User Guide: 24 pages, including its branded cover.
- Person Profile: seven-page fillable working form.
- Guided Source Analysis: five-page fillable working form.
- Evidence Tracker: four-page fillable working form.
- Research Contacts & Repositories: three-page fillable working form.

Working-form page counts include continuation pages. The system uses the full guide in place of the standalone cover/how-to PDFs; no extra standalone introductions are included.

The guide helps you:

- Begin a manageable first research session and work with missing information.
- Organize digital files and use source/repository references.
- Follow Extract > Examine > Investigate.
- Separate recorded information, interpretation, and research leads.
- Assess individual claims and handle conflicting evidence.
- See the four tools connected through a fictional John Smith worked example.
- Understand common genealogy terms through the glossary.

Clickable contents links and bookmarks help you find your place in the guide. Reuse the working forms for new people, sources, and contacts as your research grows.

Designed for beginners who want help with both organization and reasoning. You do not need to fill every field before you begin. The worked example is fictional teaching material; this purchase provides research tools and instruction, not completed research about your ancestors.

Two companion collections

The Beginner System helps you organize people, sources, record searches, and research contacts. The Advanced Collection builds on those habits with tools for conflicting evidence, same-name identities, migration, FAN connections, and brick walls. Use either collection independently or use them together. This listing includes only the files described above; the companion collection is sold separately.

How this product was created

Concept and product direction by Slate & Rowan. Created with AI assistance for writing, layout, and PDF production. The materials were reviewed and revised by the shop owner.

Digital files and format

This is a digital PDF download. No physical item will be shipped. Pages are US Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches). Type into the working forms or print them to complete by hand. Covers and teaching pages are reading material; the working forms contain the editable fields.

Download and begin

Once payment is confirmed, download from Etsy.com in a browser through Purchases. Guest buyers use the receipt-email link. Downloads are unavailable in the Etsy app.

Open START HERE first. For digital entry, we recommend the free Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer. PDF features can vary between viewers; phone and tablet behavior may differ.

Save and reuse

Keep an untouched blank master. Save a fresh working copy for each person or source; use fresh repository entry sheets as needed. Use Save or Save As to retain editable fields. Avoid Print to PDF or flattening when you want to continue editing.

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, text fields stop accepting entry when the visible space is full. Other PDF apps may behave differently. Keep text and URLs fully visible; use a continuation page for longer entries or links and label the person or Source ID and section. Do not insert spaces into URLs. Close and reopen your saved copy to check the entries, then check print preview. Clickable links depend on the PDF viewer.

Personal use

For personal family-history research. Save or print fresh copies for your own research as often as needed. You may share completed research forms with family and people helping with your research. Do not distribute blank templates, guides, instructions, or artwork, or resell the materials. Group distribution and paid client use require separate permission. Keep Slate & Rowan credits on shared copies. Applicable legal rights remain unchanged.

Need help?

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