| u're like me, when you were young, looking | | | | 6. Census data. After 1840 the Census collected |
| beyond your mother and father to find out | | | | age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, |
| where you came from just wasn't important. | | | | education, spouse, children, hired hands, and even |
| Well, I've found that the older you get, the more | | | | immigration information. Copies of the original |
| important your ancestry becomes. I'm not sure | | | | decennial census forms from 1790 through 1930 |
| why. Maybe I have a broader perspective on | | | | are available on microfilm for research at the U.S. |
| things now. Maybe I'm just curious as to whether | | | | National Archives and Records Administration in |
| there was nobility in my family. Perhaps I'm | | | | Washington, DC ( at Archives regional centers, |
| looking for some closet skeletons. | | | | and at select Federal depository libraries |
| Whatever my reasons, I do find tracing my | | | | throughout the United States. |
| ancestry fascinating. It is so interesting to learn | | | | 7. Naturalizations records. |
| about other people--how they lived, what they | | | | For Pre-1906 Naturalizations: |
| did, who they knew. But I've also learned along | | | | Contact the State Archives for the state where |
| the way that most people haven't a clue what | | | | the naturalization occurred to request a search of |
| resources are available to them beyond the usual | | | | state, county, and local courts records. |
| - interviewing family, checking birth certificates | | | | Contact the NARA regional facility that serves the |
| and newspapers, etc. | | | | state where naturalization occurred to request a |
| So here I've compiled a list of 25 resources you | | | | search of Federal court records. |
| should take advantage of if you're really serious | | | | For Naturalizations After 1906: |
| about finding out "where you came from." | | | | After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of |
| 1. The obvious, of course, is interviewing family | | | | naturalizations to the Immigration and |
| members; not only mom and dad, but aunts, | | | | Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from |
| uncles, distant cousins. Start by drawing a quick | | | | Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional |
| family tree going back just two generations and | | | | facilities for the Federal courts for their area. |
| start making calls or sending mail or emails. Here | | | | Learn more: |
| are some of the basic things you'll want to know: | | | | 8. Grave sites. Headstones will give dates and |
| Complete names (married and maiden names) | | | | possible family names. |
| Addresses throughout their live | | | | 9. Libraries. Here you'll find newspaper articles |
| Birth records | | | | (look for obituaries, and birth and marriage |
| Military service (when and where) | | | | announcements) and books on local history (what |
| Marriage records (even attendants, if possible) | | | | was taking place during their life). Many libraries |
| Property records (state and county) | | | | can be accessed online. You will also find |
| Burial records (where) | | | | genealogy information in several libraries, the Allen |
| Old pictures, especially if they have names and | | | | County Public Library in Indiana having the second |
| dates | | | | largest genealogical collection in the US. Another |
| 2. Family bibles. While it doesn't seem to be such a | | | | good source is the Family History Library in Salt |
| common practice these days, in the past, families | | | | Lake City, UT. |
| kept their bible forever, often keeping record of | | | | 10. Genealogy message boards. Google "genealogy |
| family members, births, marriages, and deaths on | | | | message boards" and join in--you'll find a wealth of |
| pages within the bible. | | | | information available! |
| 3. Old family letters. Once again, with technology, | | | | 11. Military records. You'll find several sources |
| we've all but lost the art of letter writing (what | | | | online, including NARA ( |
| will our own children and grand children have to | | | | 12. High school and college yearbooks. These |
| look back on in years to come?). But older | | | | sources can help locate a relative or provide other |
| generations tended to preserve letters of | | | | resources for your search. Check online. |
| importance. These letters can oftentimes be of | | | | 13. Family pedigrees. These are family groups |
| great value in tracing your ancestry. They may | | | | already linked in a computer system. Accessing an |
| contain important dates, facts, and places that will | | | | individual's family group sheet in a linked pedigree |
| be of help. Check return addresses and | | | | will also give you access to all of the records that |
| postmarks for information. | | | | are linked to that individual. Two great sources |
| 4. Legal documents are a great resource. Such | | | | are Kindred Connections ( and the Family History |
| documents include deeds (property addresses), | | | | Library ( |
| wills (names of kin you may not have known | | | | 14. U.S. Immigration records. Two great sources |
| about), marriage licenses (note the witnesses), | | | | are Ellis Island Records ( and ( |
| birth certificates, voter registration, adoption | | | | 15. Social Security Death Index. This is a database |
| records, and even judgements. Your search for | | | | of people whose deaths were reported to the |
| these documents should begin with state and | | | | Social Security Administration (SSA) beginning |
| county records. | | | | about 1962. The best source is ( |
| 5. What about associations your ancestors may | | | | Now that you're all grown up and interested in |
| have belonged to? These would include churches, | | | | finding your "roots", these 15 resources should get |
| clubs, veterans groups and lodges, all of which | | | | you well on your way. It'll be a fun and rewarding |
| may be able to provide background information | | | | adventure. |
| for your search. | | | | |