When I was earning my BA in family history, something one of my professors said really struck me. She mentioned that younger genealogists need to be less wary of the telephone and talking to strangers. My immediate reaction was to dislike the stereotype, but the more I thought about it the more I realized how right she was. I constantly hide behind email because it is much easier and more natural for me to use email than to use a phone. After her statements about young genealogists shying away from making phone calls, I started making more of an effort to pick up a phone when I had questions instead of spending about twice as long searching for an email address and composing an email.

I’ve especially discovered the usefulness of phone calls while working at ProGen. I’ve called all sorts of libraries and archives to find the best way to get specific information I’m looking for. I’ve called countless churches to request lookups in their records. I’ve called a number of cemetery offices to request burial information and photos of tombstones.

I’ve learned that there really is no reason to hide behind email. Some people do prefer to receive requests for information through email or traditional mail, and if that is the case they will usually tell you so. Most of the time, though, people are happy to talk on the phone. Since there isn’t a delay in communication, any questions you or the person have can be answered right away. Sometimes the person doing the lookup will even do it right then with you on the line. That way, if there is information that they decide to mail to you, at least you have a general idea of what that information is and when the documents should arrive.

So don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. The worst that can happen is the person on the other line will be rude, but most of the time that’s just not the case.