How to Get Started With Your Family Tree
You have a little knowledge about your family history, a few old photos and documents, and a consuming curiosity. Here are some basic steps to start you on your family tree adventure!
Difficulty Level: Average Time Required: Varies
Here's How:
- Gather together everything you have - papers, photos, documents, etc.
- Interview the relatives. Start with Mom and Dad and then move on from there. Ask for stories, not just names and dates!
- Write down everything you have learned from your family. Check the links below for some good charts/research logs to get you started.
- Choose which surname you want to work on first.
- Explore the Internet. It is a great place for information and leads. Just don't expect to find your entire family tree online!
- Visit your local Family History Center where you can access the world's largest collection of genealogical information.
- Look at the records of your ancestors including wills; birth, marriage, and death records; land deeds; etc.
- Organize your new information - take notes, make photocopies, etc. Make sure you save and date everything!
- Visit the place where your family lived - look at cemeteries, courthouses, churches, etc. for information.
- Make sure you continue to document everything, including taking pictures. You never know when you might need it.
- When you have gone as far as you can go, step back and take a break - then go to Step#4 and choose a new ancestor to start searching for.
- Remember to have fun!
Tips:
- Ask your family members if there is a genealogy book or other records within the family. This could give you a wonderful head start!
- Keep copies of everything you find in your search. It may not seem important now, but it probably will be in the future.
- Make sure that you keep in mind possible alternate spellings of your surname as you are
researching.
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