| If you're thinking about doing some research on | | | | on them in the town history. Check the local |
| your ancestors and doing a family tree there is no | | | | church to see what information they may have |
| time like the present. This would be a great | | | | on your ancestors |
| activity to share with your children. | | | | Another place to find information on your family |
| You'll want to talk to the elders of your family, | | | | ancestors is the cemetery. You often find that |
| any grandparents and older aunts and uncles. | | | | many family members are buried in the same |
| Have them go through any old family photos that | | | | cemetery. You may find information on an |
| you have lying around and ask them to identify | | | | ancestor that you didn't have, such as date of |
| each person and the year the picture was taken | | | | birth and you may even find out about new |
| for you. Write any information on the back of | | | | ancestors in the cemetery. |
| each picture. | | | | If a majority of your family came from Europe |
| Look through any letters that may have been | | | | you may be in for a more difficult search, |
| saved by family members over the years. Every | | | | especially for female ancestors. Some older |
| family has a box up in the attic full of unknown | | | | churches have burned down, or closed and their |
| papers. This box may contain birth | | | | information is no longer available. In some |
| announcements and obituaries. You may also find | | | | European countries women who died had their |
| a wealth of old birthday and holiday cards. | | | | deaths recorded in their maiden names only. That |
| You may want to check the local historical society | | | | makes looking for female ancestors more difficult |
| in the area where your family lived. They may | | | | A single women who was a Smith, who then |
| have copies of old newspapers on microfilm. If | | | | married and became a Jones returns to the name |
| you had a family member who was involved in | | | | of Smith when she dies. |
| local politics you may be able to get information | | | | |