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Are you ready to start your family history, but don’t know where to begin? Or have you often started your family history only to become frustrated and overwhelmed with all the names, places, and information? Here is genealogy for beginners in 5 easy steps.
“I am bound to them though I cannot look into their eyes or hear their voices. I honor their history. I cherish their lives. I will tell their story. I will remember them for I am the result of the very love, struggle, sacrifice, and journey of thousands.” -Anonymous
My family history journey has taken a path that has spanned many years. I have found that connecting with your ancestors will give you a better sense of identity. As you learn their stories, see their hardships, and share in their heartache, you will find yourself becoming more compassionate, empathetic, and grateful. You will embark on a journey into the past that will not only help you discover where you came from but will assist you in building better relationships in the present.
Research has shown that children who know more about their families have a stronger sense of control over their lives. They also have better self-esteem and a better sense of their family’s functionality. Discovering your ancestors opens you up to a wider view of humanity. You will learn about different cultures, traditions, and beliefs. This will strengthen your understanding of the world and your place in it. It will help you discover why you are the way you are.
Modern technology has made unearthing your family history a much easier task. I will show you how to start in ways that will be fun and gratifying. Digging into your family history is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do and it’s easy to begin.
This article is all about genealogy for beginners in five easy steps.
Step 1 – Get Organized
You will want to start with a notepad, a pen or pencil, a pedigree chart and family group sheet. You can find free downloads at NGS Pedigree Chart, NGS Family Group Sheet and Family Tree Template—Free Download. As you add information to these charts, they will help you keep your information organized.
Take time to get organized right from the start. This will save a lot of time later and will help prevent that feeling of being overwhelmed. The better organized you are, the less time will be spent duplicating research you have already done or losing information you have found. You can choose to use a paper-based system with binders and filing cabinets, or a computer-based system.
There is no right way to organize, you just need to figure out what works best for you. No matter what system you choose, be sure to document and preserve any resources you find. Your organizational plan can change over time, but it is good to think about it from the start. There are many books available that may help you decide which system you would prefer.
Step 2 – Genealogy for Beginners: Start with Yourself
You are the first person on your family tree, so that is the best place to begin. Start with any important information you know about yourself and your immediate family. Start with the things you know and work backwards to the unknown.
People are identified by four key items – their names, the dates of major events in their lives, the places they lived, and their relationships with others. When you discover any of these items, add them to your pedigree charts and family group sheets.
Gather what you have. You can find valuable information in birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, family bibles, military records, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, baby books, diaries, letters, and many other documents. Be sure to preserve these important papers.
Step 3 – Genealogy for Beginners: Interview Your Living Relatives
Once you have gathered information on your immediate family members, move on to your grandparents, grand-aunts, grand-uncles, etc. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about them. Decide if you are going to interview them one at a time or as a group, and how you will connect with them – phone, in person, video?
You can find lists of questions or prompts online that will help with the interview process. If your relatives are comfortable, use a video camera or tape recorder to capture their memories. After you finish the interview, transcribe the questions and answers to save and share.
Don’t forget to ask about pictures and documents when you are visiting your relatives. Take photos of important documents for your own records. As you visit your relatives, you will not only discover more about your family, but you will also build family relationships.
Step 4 – Connect to Community Trees
Once you have connected with family members and recorded the basics of your own family, search a community tree to see what other information is available. FamilySearch.org has the largest collection of free genealogy records and is also a great place to store your resources and memories. A subscription to Ancestry.com will provide billions of records for you to search to lengthen your family tree.
These websites give you the opportunity to connect with a larger family tree. You can also connect with others who may be working on the same family line. You can often view pictures, newspaper articles, sources and memories of your ancestors.
Along with connecting to an online tree, you may want to save your information in a program on your own computer. This is a good way to keep your own information intact and undisturbed by others. I really like Roots Magic, but I know that Ancestral Quest, and Legacy Family Tree are also great options. The basic versions are free, or you can purchase a version with more features.
Step 5 – Genealogy for Beginners: Fill in the Gaps
Now that you have discovered what information is available about your family, it is time to fill in the gaps. Use the internet to find leads and share information. Government agencies and churches have documented the important events in the lives of your ancestors for generations. Many of these records are available to search online.
One of my favorite research tools is the top ranked genealogy site, Ancestry.com. According to Ancestry, they have over 30 billion records from more than 80 different countries. You may find your ancestors in military records, church records, census records, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, or many other records on their website. To start a search, all you need is a name, an approximate date, and a place your ancestor might have lived.
Census records are one of the best places to begin. The US Census Records, taken every 10 years, are filled with details that not only show family relationships but are helpful in tracking the history of your family. The most helpful census records are from the 1850s – 1950s. Unfortunately, the majority of the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire.
Although each decade was different, some of the information found in a census record is names of each member of the household, date of birth, place of birth, date of marriage, number of children, immigration, where parents were born, etc.
Now it’s time to start!
As you follow “Genealogy for Beginners in 5 Easy Steps”, you will find yourself on an exciting journey of detective work that will keep you guessing and searching. This trek will take you down many roads in many different countries that will all eventually bring you back to family.
During this path of discovery, you will learn to love your ancestors and appreciate the hardships in their lives. You will make discoveries that will assist you in conquering your own trials. Ultimately, you will discover who you really are.
Maya Angelou said, “We are braver and wiser because they existed, those strong women and strong men… We are who we are because they were who they were. It’s wise to know where you come from, who called your name.”
So enjoy yourself, get started, and have fun.
WARNING: Family history is addictive.
This article was all about genealogy for beginners in five easy steps.