| Everybody has a desire to know about his | | | | generation. Try to collect as many photographs |
| ancestors; who were they? Where did they come | | | | including group photographs to add material to the |
| from? When did they reach United States? What | | | | family tree which is under preparation. Documents |
| prompted them to take this decision to leave | | | | such as birth and death certificates if they are |
| their country of origin and land in this distant | | | | available one can collect them which will be helpful. |
| place? There are many questions like this which | | | | In addition to the names of the people the |
| come to mind when the individual reflects on his | | | | location and addresses where they had stayed is |
| past. He is the link between his past and his | | | | also an important piece of information which can |
| future. Today he feels secure and he has a bright | | | | be collected to be used latter while going through |
| future but there are several people in his past | | | | local records. Ones the person completes |
| who have sacrificed their lives for his security and | | | | gathering information from all known sources, a |
| safety. It becomes necessary for him to trace | | | | time comes when he has to seek outside help in |
| back his history and try to find out his roots. | | | | completing the family tree. He has exhausted all |
| Making a family tree is a step in that direction. | | | | sources available to him within the family. |
| The individual has to start with himself. He can list | | | | Internet is a great tool which can provide |
| out the names of all his relatives that he can | | | | innumerable ways for him to approach his task of |
| remember along with dates wherever possible. He | | | | completing his family tree and trace the ancestral |
| can sit with his parents and grandparents and | | | | history. Some information is freely available on the |
| seek their help in listing out the names of their | | | | net. There are a few genealogy websites which |
| relatives along with their maiden names whom so | | | | can provide fairly accurate information of birth, |
| ever they remember. This exercise he can repeat | | | | death, marriage and also other public records such |
| with other members of his family and other | | | | as school, military and also criminal records for a |
| branches of his family to get a clear picture. Try | | | | small fee. If one wants to build a family tree with |
| to locate the oldest relative alive and find out | | | | accuracy one can use the services of such |
| from him how much he remembers of his past | | | | websites for a small fee which is worth it. |
| and names of his parents and grand parents and | | | | The family tree produced will last a life time and it |
| beyond. At some point of time he will reach a | | | | can go on for a couple of generations without any |
| dead end and he can't go beyond that. | | | | changes. He can leave behind this legacy for his |
| He has to get the names of all the children in | | | | children. |
| addition to the names of the people of earlier | | | | |