| It can be very interesting to trace your family | | | | yourself a lot of time and effort. |
| lineage. But, be forewarned, that it can take a lot | | | | Once you have interviewed all of the relatives |
| of time and effort on your part to track | | | | you can find, then you will want to start looking |
| everyone down. Records haven't always been | | | | through archived records. You can usually find |
| well maintained, names change, etc. | | | | them at the courthouse in the city that the family |
| Probably the best place to start at is by talking to | | | | member lived in. Look for birth and marriage |
| some of the older members of your family. | | | | certificates, tax records, deeds, and wills. Ask to |
| Gather as much information about them as you | | | | see anything that can give you new names and |
| can, such as when they were born and where, | | | | dates to further your research. Add any new |
| and any information they may have about their | | | | information you get to your notes and your |
| parents, such as names and date of birth. The | | | | family tree chart. |
| information gained from talking to family | | | | Census records now can be researched for the |
| members is often the most valuable research | | | | previously missing time period from 1790 to 1920. |
| when you're trying to trace family lines. | | | | This should give you quite a bit of help in locating |
| Remember to take a tape recorder along with | | | | information on deceased family members. |
| you, so that you don't miss any vital information | | | | As you find information on deceased family |
| you may need later on. You want to get them to | | | | members, consider visiting their graves. |
| talk about the town they grew up in, what year | | | | Oftentimes, you can find useful information on |
| they got married and who they married. Ask the | | | | their headstones, such as date of birth, date of |
| people you interview what year their mom and | | | | death, and possibly locate other family members |
| dad were married, and where it took place, and | | | | that may be buried close by. |
| any information they can pass along about other | | | | Your local library can also be a valuable research |
| family members. Ask any questions that you | | | | aid, especially in looking for old newspaper articles |
| think may give you another research lead, or help | | | | and gaining information about division changes, |
| you on your search. Don't forget to collect as | | | | surnames, etc. Most modern libraries have a |
| many maiden names as possible too. | | | | genealogy section, which can further assist you in |
| Ask to look through old photo albums, and using | | | | finding the information you desire. |
| your own digital camera, photograph any | | | | Don't forget to search through military records, |
| snapshots of family members you find useful. You | | | | especially during times of war, as you will often |
| can ask, but you probably won't have much luck | | | | be able to locate family members that way. |
| in asking to borrow the pictures themselves for | | | | Much of your genealogy research can also be |
| copying, but a good digital camera will do the trick. | | | | accomplished over the internet. This saves a lot |
| After your interview is over, catalog all of your | | | | of wasted time searching through old records in |
| notes. Date your tapes, and put the person's | | | | various towns and cities. Its possible to find some |
| name on the outside, so you have them at your | | | | obituary listings online, as well as use some of the |
| fingertips should you need to listen again. | | | | search tools to locate living family members, such |
| As you start gaining more and more information | | | | as Any Who, or Search Bug. You can search |
| from your interviews, start a family tree chart. | | | | through listings of war casualties for lost or |
| You can purchase software that will help you | | | | missing family members. Some sites allow you to |
| tremendously in this process, or it can be done by | | | | access immigration records, and get passenger |
| hand if you prefer. | | | | listings for many chartered boats and trains. |
| If other family members have done some | | | | If you go as far as you feel you can by yourself, |
| research in the past, ask them to allow you to | | | | but still want to go farther, consider hiring a |
| take a look at what they found. You may find | | | | professional lineage researcher to do the |
| some information that you didn't have, saving | | | | remainder of the work for you. |