| Want to know more about yourself, where you | | | | genealogy classes. Many areas have a genealogical |
| came from--your ancestors? How do you get | | | | society. The connections there can be very |
| started? Actually, the internet has made tracking | | | | helpful. They can give you hints for searches and |
| your family tree easier than it has ever been. You | | | | can also give you support when you hit a dry |
| can find many resources on the WEB--genealogy | | | | spell in your research. Plus, it is fun just to |
| supplies, templates, research sites, forums... You | | | | socialize with people of like interests. |
| may find that the internet becomes the most | | | | There are many genealogy specific sites on the |
| useful tool in your search; however, you will not | | | | internet that will be invaluable to your search. |
| want to limit your research to the internet alone. | | | | Some are free or partially free and some have a |
| The place to start is at home. Start writing down | | | | paid membership, but also offer some free tips or |
| everything you already know, your siblings' | | | | training. Go to and join the message boards for |
| names, birth date, birthplace, their spouses and | | | | surnames that you are researching (free). This is |
| children's names and vital statistics, your spouse's | | | | a great forum even if you also belong to paid |
| name, sibling and parents' information, your | | | | genealogy sites. There are also several topics |
| mother's maiden name, her siblings and their | | | | covered on RootsWeb that will aid in learning how |
| information, your cousins' information, etc. Go as | | | | to research. is another resource site to check out |
| far as you can this way. As you do this, | | | | for guidance. Use various search engines to |
| document how you know the information, such | | | | conduct searches for surnames. |
| as, interview with father or family bible, maternal | | | | From this point on, the basis of your genealogy |
| grandmother stories, birth certificate, death | | | | research is searching for and interpreting |
| certificates, obituary, newspaper articles, letter | | | | documents and records--census records, birth and |
| from Aunt Mabel, photographs, grandfather's | | | | death records, immigration records, military |
| diary, baptismal records, etc. You will find as you | | | | service, social security records, marriage |
| get further into the search that there will | | | | certificates, divorce records, newspaper archives, |
| sometimes be conflicting information and you can | | | | wills, civil war records and on and on. If it was |
| use this documentation to help evaluate the | | | | recorded, you'll be interested in examining it. |
| information's validity. Unfortunately, there is a lot | | | | The largest database of genealogical records is |
| of misinformation presented on the internet...and, | | | | developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of |
| unfortunately, not all family stories are accurate | | | | Latter-day Saints. Their web site is |
| as memory fades. | | | | familysearch.org. Also check out the web site for |
| There are several printable templates for | | | | US GenWeb. |
| recording information that can be found on the | | | | It is easy with so much information available to |
| internet, but there are many great software | | | | get lost in the search! Keep a log of places |
| programs that will organize everything and would | | | | searched and what you were searching for in |
| be an invaluable investment. Many of them will | | | | order to avoid duplication. Try to stay focused. |
| give you an evaluation period so that you can tell | | | | Using a shotgun approach will gain information, but |
| if they will fulfill your needs and are user friendly | | | | also will waste time. Know what you are looking |
| enough. It makes the family history very special if | | | | for when you start. If you find additional |
| you actually record family stories and scan | | | | non-related information, bookmark it or create a |
| pictures into the software program along the way | | | | side note as something needing further research. |
| rather than simply glean out the vital statistics. | | | | These serendipitous bits of information can be |
| Whatever program you decide to use, be sure | | | | very useful and might lead to a break-through, |
| that it is GEDCOM compatible. This will make it | | | | but you cannot let them take you away from |
| easy to download and share computerized | | | | your present goal. |
| information. | | | | Genealogy can be an exciting journey into the |
| Use local resources to help develop your skills and | | | | past. Passing your family history on to the next |
| to supplement you search. Go to the library. They | | | | generation or even back to the previous |
| often have a genealogy or family history section. | | | | generation can be a cherished gift. Most of all, the |
| Watch your local adult education offerings for | | | | journey can be fantastic fun. Enjoy! |