Getting Started

Want to know more about yourself, where you came from—your ancestors? How do you get started? Actually, the internet has made tracking your family tree easier than it has ever been. You can find many resources on the WEB—genealogy supplies, templates, research sites, forums… You may find that the internet becomes the most useful tool in your search; however, you will not want to limit your research to the internet alone.

The place to start is at home. Start writing down everything you already know, your siblings' names, birth date, birthplace, their spouses and children's names and vital statistics, your spouse's name, sibling and parents' information, your mother's maiden name, her siblings and their information, your cousins' information, etc. Go as far as you can this way. As you do this, document how you know the information, such as, interview with father or family bible, maternal grandmother stories, birth certificate, death certificates, obituary, newspaper articles, letter from Aunt Mabel, photographs, grandfather's diary, baptismal records, etc. You will find as you get further into the search that there will sometimes be conflicting information and you can use this documentation to help evaluate the information's validity. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation presented on the internet…and, unfortunately, not all family stories are accurate as memory fades.

There are several printable templates for recording information that can be found on the internet, but there are many great software programs that will organize everything and would be an invaluable investment. Many of them will give you an evaluation period so that you can tell if they will fulfill your needs and are user friendly enough. It makes the family history very special if you actually record family stories and scan pictures into the software program along the way rather than simply glean out the vital statistics. Whatever program you decide to use, be sure that it is GEDCOM compatible. This will make it easy to download and share computerized information.

Use local resources to help develop your skills and to supplement you search. Go to the library. They often have a genealogy or family history section. Watch your local adult education offerings for genealogy classes. Many areas have a genealogical society. The connections there can be very helpful. They can give you hints for searches and can also give you support when you hit a dry spell in your research. Plus, it is fun just to socialize with people of like interests.

There are many genealogy specific sites on the internet that will be invaluable to your search. Some are free or partially free and some have a paid membership, but also offer some free tips or training. Go to rootsweb.com and join the message boards for surnames that you are researching (free). This is a great forum even if you also belong to paid genealogy sites. There are also several topics covered on RootsWeb that will aid in learning how to research. Cyndislist.com is another resource site to check out for guidance. Use various search engines to conduct searches for surnames.

From this point on, the basis of your genealogy research is searching for and interpreting documents and records—census records, birth and death records, immigration records, military service, social security records, marriage certificates, divorce records, newspaper archives, wills, civil war records and on and on. If it was recorded, you'll be interested in examining it.

The largest database of genealogical records is developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their web site is familysearch.org. Also check out the web site for US GenWeb.

It is easy with so much information available to get lost in the search! Keep a log of places searched and what you were searching for in order to avoid duplication. Try to stay focused. Using a shotgun approach will gain information, but also will waste time. Know what you are looking for when you start. If you find additional non-related information, bookmark it or create a side note as something needing further research. These serendipitous bits of information can be very useful and might lead to a break-through, but you cannot let them take you away from your present goal.

Genealogy can be an exciting journey into the past. Passing your family history on to the next generation or even back to the previous generation can be a cherished gift. Most of all, the journey can be fantastic fun. Enjoy!