• Home
    • About the Guild
    • About one-name studies
    • Starting your ONS
    • Conducting ONS (videos)
    • Join Us
    • Guild Shop
  • Studies
    • Surnames A-Z
    • Recent Registrations
    • Study websites
    • Registered Societies
  • News
    • General News
    • Education News
    • Guild Public Newsletters
  • Forums
    • Facebook (public page)
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Conference & AGM
    • Seminar events
    • Guild Webinars
  • Resources
    • DNA
    • Fun Zone
    • Guild Indexes
    • Guild Journal
    • Knowledge Zone – Presentations
    • Members’ Websites
    • Modern Surnames
    • Newspaper Index
    • Pharos ONS Courses
    • Speakers
    • Those Who Served
  • Help
    • Reset your password
    • Contact Us
  • Log In

Guild of One-Name Studies

One-name studies, Genealogy

Is your surname here?

    • 2,404 members
    • 2,255 studies
    • 8,035 surnames

Essential Research Methods – Helen Osborn

Posted 1 January 1970 by

Essential Research Methods by Helen Osborn

GB £14.99

3 in stock (can be backordered)

SKU: W-38 Category: Books
  • Description
  • Additional information

This is Helen Osborn’s first book about genealogy.

This book is the ideal companion for anybody researching their family tree. It provides advice and inspiration on methods and problem-solving and helps the amateur family historian, including Guild members, understand what successful professionals do to get results, and why we should copy them.

Over ten chapters, it examines the various themes that affect the success or failure of all genealogy research.

This begins with an overview of common challenges genealogists encounter and continues with an examination of how to both search effectively and find the right documentary sources. Using examples from her own family history as well as client work, teacher and professional genealogist Helen Osborn demonstrates how to get the most from documents, analyse problems and build research plans. These subjects lead on to recording results, how to ensure relationships are correctly proved, organising information and presenting your findings.

Although the book deals mainly with research in England and Wales, the skills taught are easily transferable to research in other countries. This book will be particularly valuable to anyone who is stuck with their research, in addition to those who are keen to learn about advanced skills and methods used by genealogists. Helen says, “Genealogy is great fun, but it can be frustrating when you get stuck and don’t know where to look for advice.

Every single one of us doing family history research for any length of time will fail to find an ancestor at some point or encounter a problem with identifying the correct ancestor. I am so pleased to begin to address the problems that genealogy throws at us, by producing the sort of book I wish I could have had on my bookshelf years ago. It comes not only from my own personal family history experiences, but also after having talked to hundreds of other genealogists about their problems, be they clients, my students, or other professionals. “Over time I have come to realise that problem solving and building up proof cases where identity is obscure or problematical is a whole lot more complex, pernickety and downright difficult than you might at first appreciate. Not only that, but there is very little information in print for the British genealogist about the best way to go about it. “There is very little information for the intermediate or more advanced genealogist who wants and needs advice on method.

The internet has been a huge boon to family historians, but not everything you need is online and there is still no substitute for painstaking and detailed study into a family or community using original documents, analytical skills and documentation techniques. In short, there has been a lack of help for the genealogist who wants to advance their skills, rather than just find out about another set of possible websites to search within. I really hope that this book is going to start to plug that gap.”

Weight 531 g
Dimensions 175 × 115 × 25 mm

Related products

  • Researching Surnames – US Version

    GB £2.50
    Add to basket
  • The Art of One-Name Studies - "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

    Seven Pillars of Wisdom – The Art of One-Name Studies (Download)

    GB £4.50
    Add to basket
  • The Art of One-Name Studies - "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

    Seven Pillars of Wisdom – The Art of One-Name Studies

    GB £6.00 GB £2.22
    Add to basket
  • Proper People – Early Asylum Life – David Scrimgeour

    GB £14.99 GB £13.50
    Add to basket

THIS IS A DEFAULT WIDGET WHICH SHOULD NOT DISPLAY. DO NOT DELETE THIS.

Select your Currency

GBP: Pound sterling (GB £) ^

Guild Shop

Already a Guild member? Please log in to the website when using the Guild Shop.

Please choose from the following options:

  • Services
    • New Membership
    • Subscriber (organisations)
  • Products
    • Books
    • Software
    • Journals
    • Branded
  • My Account
    • Basket
    • Checkout

If you have any questions, please contact the Guild Sales Manager.

Search Guild Products

Featured Products

  • The Art of One-Name Studies - "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" Seven Pillars of Wisdom - The Art of One-Name Studies GB £6.00 GB £2.22
  • Essential Research Methods by Helen Osborn Essential Research Methods - Helen Osborn GB £14.99
  • 8GB USB Drive with data GB £6.67
  • The Surnames Handbook by Debbie Kennett The Surnames Handbook - Debbie Kennett GB £14.99
  • Surname Atlas v1.2 Surname Atlas v1.2 GB £15.00
  • 8GB USB Drive Blank GB £4.44
  • Journal Binder GB £6.61
  • The Art of One-Name Studies - "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" Seven Pillars of Wisdom - The Art of One-Name Studies (Download) GB £4.50
  • Enamelled Badge GB £1.67
  • Custodian 4 GB £29.95

Other Guild Websites

You may find our other Guild websites of interest:

  • Members’ Websites Program
  • Surname Cloud
  • Guild Members’ records on FamilySearch
  • Guild Marriage Locator

Contact Us

Email: Guild General Contact
Postal address:
c/o Treasurer,
3 Windsor Gardens,
Herne Bay,
Kent, CT6 8FE. UK.
Call us free on:
UK: 0800 011 2182
US & Canada: 1-800-647-4100
Australia: 1800 305 184

Follow Us


  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • YouTube

Guild of One-Name Studies Policies:    Privacy   CIO Membership and Registration Conditions   Sales   COVID-19 Impact

© 2013–2023 Guild of One-Name Studies CIO. Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 1197944.