| Are you wondering: What's the best way to find | | | | to use a colored pencil or put a circle around each |
| my family tree? Discovering about your Royalty, | | | | field where you hope to fine more information. |
| statesmen or pauper ancestors is fun and | | | | Step 8. Next - focus on one family at a time and |
| rewarding. When you start out a step at a time | | | | start searching for more detail. Begin with your |
| it's very easy to start growing your own personal | | | | parents family and then go back one generation |
| family tree. | | | | at a time from there. Identify which people in the |
| First Step: find a notepad and pen and then get | | | | family might have already collected data about |
| an ancestral chart (often called a Pedigree Chart | | | | the family you are researching. Plan to talk with |
| or pedigree worksheet). If you have internet | | | | them. Prepare for a visit or if possible a more |
| access, do a search for "free ancestral chart" and | | | | formal, personal interview. When interacting with |
| find and print out one that you like (they're all | | | | your family members, remember to be thoughtful |
| very similar). The Pedigree Chart (or Ancestral | | | | and considerate of their time and their feelings. |
| chart) is one of two basic worksheets you will | | | | When treated with respect and kindness, most |
| use many times as you build your family tree. | | | | members of families are excited to share |
| Note: If you don't have internet access at home | | | | information with you. Other family members, |
| or at a library near you, then find the nearest | | | | especially the elder ones, may have stories and |
| Family History Center of the Church of Jesus | | | | information you'd love to have including pictures, |
| Christ of Latter-Day Saints (you can usually find | | | | certificates, journals, family Bibles and other |
| them in the local phone book or at a public library). | | | | records. |
| When you contact them, ask for the pamphlet: | | | | Step 9. Make contact with the family member. |
| "How Do I Start My Family History?". In this | | | | Where possible, it is usually best to have a |
| pamphlet you'll find a blank Pedigree Work Sheet | | | | personal visit with them. If that isn't practical, then |
| as well as a blank Family Group Work Sheet. | | | | you can still contact them by phone, by email or |
| Step 2. Follow a similar process as in step one and | | | | with a letter. When you do contact the family |
| get a form called a Family Group Sheet or a | | | | member, here are some helpful hints:a. Let them |
| Family Group Worksheet. | | | | know right away, who you are and how you are |
| Step 3. Copy these two blank forms and save | | | | related.b. Tell them that you're trying to learn |
| the originals to later make more copies. As you | | | | more about your family tree and then explain |
| build your family history files, you will be copy and | | | | which relative(s) you are focusing on and what |
| use both the Ancestral Chart (Pedigree | | | | information you'd like to have their help with.c. If |
| worksheet) and the Family Group Sheet many | | | | possible, set-up a time when you could meet and |
| times in order to keep all your information and | | | | interview them. If that isn't possible, try a set up |
| data on your family well organized. | | | | an appointment for a detailed phone conversation. |
| Step 4. Begin with a blank Ancestral Chart (or | | | | Step 10. Prepare ahead of time before you |
| Pedigree Worksheet). Fill in the details you know | | | | interview a family friend or relative. Think about |
| about yourself in the first spot on the chart. Use | | | | down the questions that you'd like to ask and put |
| your full legal name, the date you were born, the | | | | them in writing. Try to ask questions that can't be |
| city and state/province of your birth, and your | | | | answered with just a yes or a no. You want |
| marriage information (if you are married ). If you | | | | them to talk naturally and be comfortable with |
| have multiple marriages, note their details on the | | | | you and then they are more likely to share the |
| back. | | | | information they have in their possession or |
| Step 5. Next - enter as much data as you can | | | | remember. Create a list of openended questions |
| remember or find, regarding your parents and | | | | for the interview you are about to have. |
| your grandparents. If you know or have the data | | | | Step 11. Actually make contact and get the details |
| available, go even further back on the chart filling | | | | you are looking for. After getting ready as |
| in the details you have. As you begin, don't worry | | | | discussed in the last step, just go and have a |
| too much about getting exact information if it is | | | | good time visiting with the relative you have |
| not easy to come by. If you only have a first | | | | prepared to interview. When visiting and going |
| name, the name they went by or even just a | | | | through your list of questions, be sure to take |
| last name that's fine for the time being. Just fill in | | | | time to build or strengthen your relationship with |
| what you can remember or find. If you don't | | | | the person. They will likely have more information |
| know a date, it is good to estimate it. When | | | | to share with you again at a later date and will |
| estimating information, it's a good idea to enter | | | | certainly be more inclined to help you out if they |
| the estimate on the chart in pencil with a? after it. | | | | like you. Try to get and make copies of photos, |
| By using the question mark afterwards, it will | | | | documents, letters or journals that they may |
| remind you later that the info is just your best | | | | have. If they let you take any of their material to |
| guess. | | | | copy and return later - BE SURE to get your |
| Step 6. After you have a filled in the names and | | | | copies made and then get their originals back to |
| information that you could find and put them on | | | | them quickly - along with thank you note or gift. |
| your Pedigree or Ancestral Chart, make a copy | | | | Offer to share the information that you have |
| of a blank Family Group Sheet (FGS) for each | | | | gathered with your family members. When you |
| couple that are on your Ancestral Chart. Enter on | | | | are generous, friendly and considerate, you will |
| each of those Family Group Sheets, whatever | | | | maximize the success and fun you have as you |
| details and data you can. A good procedure is to | | | | find your family tree. |
| fill in the data in pencil if you are not sure about | | | | Well, you're now well on your way to discovering |
| the accuracy and enter it with ink if you are | | | | your family history and growing your family tree. |
| confident it is correct. Begin with your parent's | | | | Repeat this process of exploration with other |
| Family Group Sheet, entering the information and | | | | members of your family and for other relatives. |
| them and then their family with you and your | | | | When you discover all you can from and connect |
| siblings as children. When you come across a | | | | with, your living relatives, you are doing the most |
| relative who was married more than fill out a | | | | productive and critical of all the steps involved in |
| separate Family Group Sheet for that family unit | | | | doing your genealogy. These living sources of |
| as well. | | | | family information may not be there for you in a |
| Step 7. Look over your Ancestral Chart and each | | | | couple of years. Start now! Have fun and start |
| of your Family Group Sheets. Make a decision on | | | | building a family treasure and legacy that can last |
| which of the missing information that you'd like to | | | | for many decades. |
| focus on finding first. One good way to do that is | | | | |