How to Search for Old Family Records

Since the publication of Alex Haley's "Roots," genealogy has been a popular hobby among people eager to learn their family history. Building a family tree requires time, patience and research, but the knowledge gained from searching old family records is well worth the effort. Read on to learn how to search for old family records.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Start with what you already know. Record the names and birth dates of your immediate family members and work out into your extended family of uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins.

2. Determine what information you want to find out. Family tree research can be addictive once you start, so it is important to set goals such as knowing where in the old country your ancestors came from or to take your history back to a particular period in history.

3. Consult other family members. One of them may have a copy of an old family record in which births, deaths and marriages were recorded, as well as birth certificates, death certificates and old family photos. Others may have pursued research on your family history in the past or on the other side of their family and have found information useful to you.

4. Look up family records at the churches your ancestors attended. Churches keep records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths. Often, baptismal and confirmation records give dates of birth. In some cases, American church records may be in a foreign language, notably if your ancestors were German. You will need to learn the words for "birth" and "death," but the record layout is easy to follow once you learn these things.

5. Visit the public library, as well as state libraries. Many of them maintain genealogy sections, with access to reference books, Census records, place histories, published genealogies and biographies and microfilm copies of old newspapers.

6. Use the resources of the Mormon Church. Mormons believe in the sanctity of the family, as well as that the dead can be baptized into their faith, for which reasons they have compiled a treasury of family records. The main Stake Library in Salt Lake City has compiled the world's largest collection of state and county records, many of which can be lent through local branches as well as browsed on-site.

7. Surf the Internet's wealth of genealogical information. Search for specific ancestors, but also visit the Mormon's Family Search site, Cyndi's List, the U.S. Gen Web Project, the U.S. National Archives and others with a reputation for accuracy. The Ancestry website is an especially good tool, featuring access to a number of state records, as well as Census records, military records and the Social Security death index.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep good records of everything you find, including your sources, and update them regularly.
• Be methodical in your search. Don't try to find out everything at once, but do be prepared to drop an unproductive line of research for a more productive one if it opens up.
• Be tenacious but patient. Research is often slow and tedious, but the times when you make breakthroughs often make up for it.
• Hire a professional genealogist if you hit a dead end or need more assistance than family members or librarians can provide. Look for a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists or another reputable organization.
• Be aware that not all information is completely accurate. Census takers often wrote down wrong names or spelled names the way they sounded. Old newspapers, particularly in small towns, were often more like community newsletters liberally sprinkled with the editor's opinions and sometimes light on the facts.

Resources

• Family Search Site
• Ancestry Website