Genealogy is not just a list of names, dates and places, it is your family history. Who were these people that came before you? Where did they live? How did they live? When you begin your research, collecting information about your family members may seem overwhelming, but, you can make this research into as large or small a project as you wish. It all depends on how much time, energy, and space you want to spend on it.

To get started on this fascinating new hobby (or obsession), you start with the here and now. You have already begun collecting information for your family tree. Personal memories and stories you've heard from others are the beginnings of your family history. You already have names, birth dates and birthplaces of your close relatives, along with other facts that you may know. To start your family tree, record the facts that you already know. It doesn't matter how few or how many facts you have, you can build on them.

In addition to your memories, you may have or know about photo albums, scrapbooks, family Bibles and other family keepsakes and memorabilia. These are excellent places to look for genealogical information about your family

Once you have recorded all of the basic genealogical information that you and your family can recall, you may want to dig deeper into the family memory and collect stories that will give all of those names and dates a little bit of character.

You need to check for previous research about your family. Previous research is information about your family that has already been compiled; including family and local histories, genealogies, pedigrees, articles in periodicals, and collections of family papers. You can find these types of items with the help of libraries.

You start with relatives that are close to you, which can be simple. You may already know much of the information about your close relatives, If you don't know, ask. It never hurts to verify what you know or think you know, so go over what information you have with your relatives and see if you have possibly made any errors. Who knows, you may jog a memory or two and get a lot more from them than you expected.

When you begin, collect facts such as full names, birth dates and birthplaces, marriage dates and marriage places, and death dates and death places. Take these facts and set up a notebook with lined paper or pre-printed forms. (See Ancestors Web Page from Brigham Young University for copies of forms.) Gather all the photographs, family Bibles, letters, wills (copies of?), land deeds, stories, birth certificates, military documents, and any other items that come to mind.

When you have collected information about yourself and any other living relatives, you'll want to start working backwards with your parents, grandparents, and so on, with your own memories or that of your relatives.

Ask your family members for any information that they can remember. If you can't talk to them directly, then call them on the phone or write them a letter. Use your printed family group sheets or type up a questionnaire and send or take them when you visit relatives. This will help you organize your records when you collect the information instead of hastily scribbled notes on a used envelope or scrap of paper. Be sure to look at How to set up a Research Notebook. Don't just ask your relatives about themselves, but also about other family members. Your grandparents might be no longer living, but you may have a great-aunt or great-uncle, or your parents to ask about them. You can probably even ask them about your great-grandparents. Talk to as many other people in your family as you can. Don't forget close family friends, they may surprise you with wonderful memories about your family. In addition to asking family members for names, dates, and places, ask if they know about old family Bibles, pictures, or other family records that may exist. Any information that you can get from family memories and keepsakes means less research that you have to do from scratch. Always make copies of whatever is offered and return the originals to the person kind enough to offer. It wouldn't hurt to include a copy with the original (especially if it's a photograph) to say thank you for the help they gave.

Initially, some forms and supplies you will need for your research are:

Supplies
A couple of 3-ring binders (don't use spiral notebooks, loose-leaf gives you the opportunity to move and sort your papers as your information increases. You can start out with one large (3-inch and one smaller (1 or 1-/12 inch) notebook, but as your information grows you'll need more notebooks. You might want to go ahead and get two large notebooks if you are married and intend to research your spouse's family.)
Index inserts for your binders
Pens and pencils
Camera and film
Tape recorder and tapes
See How to set up a Research Notebook for additional supplies.

Set up the larger notebook with the index inserts. Label one for each branch of the family you are researching (i.e. Duncan Family; Stewart Family; Mahaffey Family; Carpenter Family, etc.) and a section for your pedigree charts. These charts could be inserted at the beginning of each family section.

Set up the second, smaller notebook, for your research notebook. It will have dividers for research logs, correspondence logs, cemetery surveys, church surveys, maps, etc. For more detailed information on this notebook see How to set up a Research Notebook.

Carry both pens and pencils. Some libraries and archives will not allow pens to be used. Only use pencils for temporary notes or when you can't get by with using pens. The lead will fade with time and will become illegible. You might want to invest in a small bottle of liquid paper for "pens" to correct mistakes.

As for the camera, ask your relatives if you may take a picture of them during the interview. You never know if you have a photo of Great Aunt Susie in your own collection and this could be helpful if you don't. If you research a cemetery, you would need this to take photos of the tombstones. This is an excellent way to keep records for tombstone research. More information on the use of the camera when doing tombstone research can be found at How to set up a Research Notebook. This page also has information on other items handy for field trips.

Forms:
Family group sheets
Pedigree charts
Correspondence logs
Research logs
Census forms
Abstract forms
Lined notebook paper for notes, directions, etc.

Use research logs to keep a list of every record searched, this way you can review to see if you have already searched a file, document, newspaper, census record, etc. and won't duplicate your research and waste time. This will also help you to cite your sources.

Correspondence logs will assist you in keeping records of every letter or e-mail you write or receive. Great Aunt Sally may get quite irritated when you write for the fourth time asking for the birth date of Great Uncle Will.

Date every entry to remind you when it was searched, what you looked for, and what you found.

Besides talking to, writing to, or telephoning your relatives, you will need to use other areas of research.

Libraries

Local public libraries are a good source for historic information about their communities. Call the main branch of the library to find out what they offer before you make the trip and get disappointed. Lots of times the main library may have the information instead of a branch library, you don't want to go to the wrong one. Large libraries, like University libraries and the State Library or the Library of Congress, may also have detailed census records, large collections of government documents, newspapers and extensive genealogical collections. Don't forget to check out every campus of a University or College, they could have information relating to that particular geographic location, where the main University library may not have the same information available.

Genealogy Libraries generally contain church and government records and other genealogical data. The largest genealogy library is operated by the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, numerous Family History Centers are located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Collections:

Books. Look for histories on the geographic region you are collecting your family history on; already published family histories; Genealogical Society or Historical Society publications; compilations of extracts from newspapers; histories of local churches; published cemetery records; published census records, etc.

Microfilm. Many libraries store photographs of important documents and other printed material on reels of microfilm. Viewers allow you to look at entire reel, frame by frame, and some allow photocopies. If you've never used a microfilm viewer, ask the librarian for assistance so that you don't inadvertently damage the viewer or the film.

Microfiche. This is similar to microfilm. It comes on small rectangular sheets with each sheet containing perhaps 30 documents. It's easy to use, but if you have never used it before, once again, ask for assistance.

Court Houses
You can get vital records, probate records, marriage records, etc. at most county court houses. Some really old information may have been sent to depositories and not kept locally. The county Clerk of Court, Probate Judge or Health Department can inform you of the available records.

Archives
Some states have developed their own Archives, such as the SC State Archives. The National Archives have branches over the whole US.

Genealogical and Historical Societies
Join the local Genealogical or Historical Society, dues are usually nominal for the vast amount of information that can be had from the meetings, society libraries and publications, newsletters, and conversation with other members.

Before your first trip for researching, lay out a plan of action. Decide which branch of the family you want to begin with. There are four branches that you could follow: the ancestors of your mother's mother, of your mother's father, of your father's mother, or of your father's father. Of course your family tree branches off into even more directions with each preceding generation, but the idea is to choose one section of the family to start with so that you have a defined goal when you head to the library. You can research more than one branch at once, especially if you're making special trips to distant libraries or archives. Be sure to keep your notes organized.

Remember that it's not always easy to find information; it may take some time and effort.

You can research more than one branch at once -- it may make sense to do so if you're making special trips to distant libraries or archives. Just be sure to keep your notes well-organized.

Decide what kind of information you want to collect about your family. You can make it just the facts, names, birth dates, marriages dates, and death dates or you could research detailed information, such as occupations, addresses, recreational activities, anything to make them come alive for you. You could find this information in censuses, city directories, church records, and town histories.

If you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions for this page, please let me know. All suggestions are welcome.

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Since 1/3/04

1/10/07