| If you have had limited or no exposure to | | | | which they were received. In cases where |
| genealogy and family history, the most difficult | | | | records are not available but personal relationships |
| part of getting started is often knowing how and | | | | existed, ask if you could schedule a brief interview |
| where to begin. Searching and documenting your | | | | to gather information about either the ancestor or |
| family roots can be one of the most rewarding | | | | a deceased relative. Most people will be gracious |
| activities you will ever engage in... and frankly it | | | | and obliging, particularly if you agree in advance to |
| can be quite addictive. Like most worthwhile | | | | limit the visit to a reasonable length of time. Be |
| activities, genealogy and family history require a | | | | courteous and stick to your time commitments. It |
| modest level of commitment and dedication and a | | | | is not unreasonable to request to either record or |
| fair amount of patience. Here are a few ideas to | | | | video tape the conversation in order to preserve |
| get you started on the fast track. | | | | the information. You may also just come with a |
| 1. Designate and set aside some specific time to | | | | notepad and pen. You will be looking for any and |
| work on your genealogy each week and then | | | | all information that may shed light on the |
| stick to your schedule. Begin modestly so that | | | | character, life, accomplishments, family culture, |
| you don't get frustrated and quit. Be consistent. | | | | etc. of your ancestry. But you will also be |
| Even if you are able to set aside just an hour per | | | | interested in gathering as much specific |
| week, do it religiously and you will begin to see | | | | information such as birth dates and places, death |
| dividends over time. Be careful not to spend more | | | | dates and places, burial places, baptismal and other |
| time than you budget, at least in the beginning. | | | | church records, marriage dates and places, etc. as |
| Family History can become an all consuming black | | | | you possibly can. This is the information that will |
| hole if you are not careful. | | | | be most useful in documenting your family |
| 2. Begin first by collecting all of the items that you | | | | heritage and history. |
| personally have access to. This may not amount | | | | 4. As you gather information you should begin to |
| to much. But you may be surprised at what you | | | | organize it and label it. A filing cabinet with file |
| will find. Specifically you will be looking for photos | | | | folders can be useful for keeping things in some |
| (of yourself and others in your family and | | | | semblance of order. |
| extended family), journals, documents, letters and | | | | 5. Once you gather information begin to enter it |
| postcards, paperwork, family heirlooms, and any | | | | into a pedigree chart. One of the best free |
| information that you may be able to get your | | | | genealogy programs is available through the |
| hands on that will shed some light on your | | | | Mormon church. Go to for a multitude of great |
| ancestry. | | | | resource information. Once you download the PAF |
| 3. Next, call on relatives and friends of the family | | | | (personal ancestral file) program, fill in as much |
| who either have records, photos, documents, etc. | | | | information as you can and then see where the |
| or who have firsthand knowledge of specific | | | | holes are. As you identify specific pieces of |
| ancestors. Explain what you are doing and ask if | | | | information that you still lack then you can begin |
| they would allow you to make copies of photos, | | | | searching the growing number of genealogical |
| papers, documents, letters, and other family | | | | resources to discover the missing pieces of |
| records. Make sure you are extremely careful | | | | information. This is where the real fun begins! |
| about returning originals in the same condition in | | | | |