| You have been thinking of, or have decided to,
research your family tree? Following are a few helpful suggestions to get you on the
right road to a wonderful, fun, rewarding hobby (ignore those that call this search
an obsession)!
WHERE TO BEGIN...
Begin with yourself. The reason, who has more information about you than YOU?
From your birth certificate you should have some basic knowledge of your parents.
Some of you may have information regarding your grandparents, but others may not.
Work from the KNOWN to the UNKNOWN. Why? Because the later records will give you
dates and places to search for older records. It is also at this point that you
realize you need to, and must, "cite your sources"! This is also referred
to as documentation.
Whenever you obtain a copy of a document, a copy of a census record, photocopies of
pages from a book or microfilm, a copy of a Bible record, EVERYTHING, you
should record on the back or other appropriate place exactly where the copy came from
including the date received. This helps you remember where the copies were obtained
in the event you need to go back to your source OR if someone else wishes to go to that
source to verify your information.
It is possible that at some point you will run across conflicting information and by
having all of your sources cited, you will better understand where the confusion comes
from. You will also need to compare your sources for QUALITY and conflicting
information. By keeping a good record of where you got your facts, data, etc.;
you can easily go back to the sources.
Obtain information by asking older relatives for names, events, dates, places,
occupations, religious affiliations, port of entry (immigrants), etc. When writing
to relatives, always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE), which is a common
genealogy courtesy...in addition it encourages responses. Remember to send a thank
you for any information, no matter how brief. To document information from family or
friends, write: "Obtained from" or "Personal Knowledge of"
then the person's name, address and date received.
Write or call your parents, grandparents, cousins, etc.; to ask them for
information. This information should be used as "clues" only until proven
with documents. Ask questions that will give you precise information.
Begin recording your information onto a Pedigree Chart, undocumented or
questionable information in pencil. This direct-line ancestry includes your
parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great great grandparents. Do you need
forms? http://www.pbs.org/kbyu/ancestors/teachersguide/charts-records.html
Record the more detailed information on Family Group Sheets. Create a
family group sheet for each couple on your Ancestor Chart. Also create a separate
form for each marriage or for each person that had issue on the family group sheets.
The Family Group Sheets will include aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.
Remember the Ancestor Chart is only your direct line. However, you will want
to research the family as a unit. List children in birth order on the Family Group
Sheets when known.
Use other forms to help you organize your research. Besides using the Pedigree
Chart and Family Group Sheets for recording your information, you should also use two
other forms. These are the Research Calendar and Correspondence Logs. The
Research Calendar keeps track of all the research you have completed on each family.
Using Correspondence Logs helps you keep track of when you wrote a letter, whom you
wrote to, what information you requested, the date you received the response, and the
results of that correspondence. If after a reasonable period of time you have not received
an answer to your first letter, write again.
Begin your original research by using Census Records. Decide which census
year the ancestor you are working on would likely be found first. As an
example, your grandfather was born in Fayette County, Iowa in 1911. You would go to
the 1920 Census for Iowa, look up the surname in the Soundex indexing systemThe Soundex Machine and look
at the families with that surname for a 8-9 year old boy born in Iowa. Is the family
still in Fayette County? What other families with that surname are living nearby?
Clues in Census Records, 1850-1920
Once you have an idea of your ancestor in a particular time and location, send
for Vital Records. There are many publications available to help you determine what
records are available and where to obtain them.
Church Records - These records may include Baptisms, Marriages, Burials,
Confirmation Lists, Communicants Lists and Lists of Members.
Cemetery Records - These records include burials, sexton records, burial permits and
grave opening orders.
Probate/Estate Records - These records include wills, intestate proceedings, lists of
heirs, inventories/appraisals, final distribution papers, and many more documents.
Land Records - These records are used in locating the land your ancestor's owned or
rented and to obtain the description. Land deeds can also be valuable as proof
of relationships.
County/Town History Books - These books contain information about the history of the
area where your ancestor lived. Look for biographical sketches which may mention
your ancestor or other family members. These books also include information on
schools, churches, public officials, military units, first settlers, etc.
Library Research - It is advisable to find which libraries in your area have a
genealogy collection.
Genealogical Society - Join a local genealogical society (to learn techniques), as well
as societies in the area where your ancestors once lived. This will help you in
getting together with people of the same interest, hear talks given by someone on how to
research in a specific area or topic, and to learn what is going on in the world of
genealogy. Many genealogical societies publish newsletters and quarterlies that
contain local events and extracts from records in that area. This is an excellent
finding aid in locating little known or hidden records! Genealogical Societies in
all states--
Federation of Genealogical Societies - Home Page
Ancestry.com FGS Society Pages |