How to Trace Family Genealogy Using Family Documents

If you're just beginning to research your family's genealogy, start with the papers, documents, certificates, licenses, photos and other resources that family members may have saved over the years. These can furnish names, locations and other information that will be invaluable in constructing a family tree.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Family Bible
• Telephone
• Computer with Internet access
• Photographs
• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Obituaries
• Notebooks
• Marriage certificates
• Funeral programs

1. Interview family members to find out who has what. It's a good idea to start with your parents, but Great Aunt Susie may be the self-appointed holder of family memorabilia so you'll want to contact other relatives as well. In addition, find out if there is a family Bible and if so, who has it.

2. Make a list of family members who may have various records and get in touch with them by phone, email or mail. Ask for originals (if possible) or copies of birth, christening, marriage and death certificates, wills, military records, land records, newspaper clippings and photos that relate to your extended family. Request copies of any family Bible pages that list births, marriages or deaths.

3. Organize your sources. Label all photos and file records from each branch of your family in a separate folder. Organization will be critical when you assemble your family tree.

4. Make pedigree charts and family-group sheets for all the family members you have records for. These can be downloaded free of charge from FamilySearch (see Resources below), which also offers a free software program, Personal Ancestral File. Carefully copy names, dates and places for each person's birth, marriage and death.

5. Use what you have gleaned as a jumping-off point for researching your ancestors on the Internet or in public records.

Tips & Warnings

• Family records are only as reliable as the person who filled them out. Death certificates are notorious for being wrong about certain things because the information is often gleaned from surviving family members who may be unsure of the facts.
• If there are discrepancies in dates on family records, you may have to search for public or church documents to find the accurate date.
• If you can, visit with older family members personally--you may be in for a fabulous ride down memory lane. Take a notebook and pen with you to write down all those nuggets of family history.