| Is there any wonder, with TV programs such as | | | | be your first port of call and that is your nearest |
| 'Who Do You Think You Are,' that more and | | | | 'Family History Society'. Details of your nearest |
| more people are becoming interested in family | | | | family history society can be found at your local |
| history? Family history, often referred to as | | | | library in most cases. Your local family history |
| genealogy, has always been popular but these TV | | | | society will have lots of local records and even |
| shows make it look simple. Therefore Family | | | | some from surrounding areas. Many societies |
| History Societies and research centres have seen | | | | have census records for its own area and some |
| a massive surge in their visitors. The trouble is | | | | will have records for other areas. Most of all, you |
| that many of those visitors give up on their first | | | | will meet like minded people who will be willing to |
| attempt when they see how complicated it is to | | | | point you in the right direction. You will find that |
| research their family tree. The problem is that the | | | | most family historians are friendly and |
| TV shows make it look so simple. When a | | | | approachable. Their experience is invaluable. So do |
| celebrity guest arrives at some research room | | | | be sure to join your local society. |
| there is always someone there to greet them | | | | What if your ancestors lived in a different part of |
| and show them what they are looking for. | | | | the country? You will still get lots of advice at |
| The reality is very different. The ordinary | | | | your local society and you can join other societies |
| researchers like you and I have to do all the | | | | as well. |
| research ourselves. And there is an awful lot of | | | | Another way to get information about your |
| research to do to get to the point where the one | | | | ancestors is to build your own family history |
| hour show ends. What the viewer does not see | | | | website. My wife has two such sites. One for her |
| are the hundreds of hours of work done by | | | | married name and one for her maiden name. By |
| many professional researchers to make the show | | | | having contact details and a guest book on her |
| work. | | | | sites, means there is a constant flow of |
| So what does the beginner do? Well there is a | | | | information coming from her visitors. You'd be |
| massive amount of information available online to | | | | surprised how many distant cousins we have |
| help you. Most libraries have lots of family and | | | | made contact with through these sites. That's a |
| local history information available to its readers. | | | | real bonus. |
| There are also many dedicated research venues | | | | So don't become despondent when trying to build |
| throughout the world where you can find the | | | | your family tree. There is a lot of information out |
| information you need. | | | | there. |
| There is one source of information which should | | | | Good luck with your research. |