Free genealogy research log template printable A4 portrait

Free Genealogy Research Log Template

Track every source you search — date, repository, record type, and result. 18 rows per sheet, essential for keeping your research organised. No account, no watermarks.

  • Format: Printable HTML (open in browser, print or save as PDF)
  • Size: A4 portrait (210 × 297 mm)
  • Orientation: Portrait
  • Rows: 18
Open & Print Free Template View Filled Example

How to Use This Template

  1. Record every search you make, even if you find nothing.
  2. Note exact source names and repository details so you can cite them later.
  3. Log negative results — they save you searching the same source twice.
  4. Keep one log per surname or research project to stay organised.

About This Template

A genealogy research log is one of the most important tools in a serious researcher's kit — and one of the most overlooked. The log records every source you search, the date you searched it, what you were looking for, and what you found (or did not find). This matters because genealogy research involves searching dozens or hundreds of sources over months or years. Without a log, it is easy to forget which databases you have already checked, which years you have covered, and which searches came up empty.

Recording negative results is especially important. If you searched a particular parish register for a surname and found nothing, that information is just as valuable as a positive find — it tells you the person was not in that parish, which points your research in a different direction. A log entry for a search that found nothing saves you from repeating the same search two years later.

This template provides 18 rows per sheet, with columns for date, repository/source, record type, time period covered, search purpose, and result. Use one log per surname or per research project. A binder with pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs for each surname line is the standard genealogy research filing system.

What to Record in Each Column

  • Date: When you conducted the search
  • Repository / Source: The archive, website, or database searched (e.g., "FamilySearch — England Births 1837–1915")
  • Record type: What type of record you were searching (birth certificates, census, electoral roll, etc.)
  • Time period: The years covered by the search
  • Purpose: What you were looking for (e.g., "birth record for Thomas Evans, about 1872")
  • Result: What you found — a specific record, "not found", or the name of any related document you retrieved

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