How to Trace Your Roots

A genealogy search marks the beginning of a private adventure into your own history. You'll find delightful surprises, family secrets and heartaches. The treasures you find can be enjoyed by generations of your descendants.

Difficulty:

Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Audiotapes
• Portable Tape Recorders
• Notebooks
• Computers
• Camcorders
• Genealogy Software

1. Write down everything you know about your family history. Begin with yourself and work backward to your parents and their parents.

2. Search for documents that can verify family stories - birth certificates, military records, wills, marriage licenses, deeds, etc.

3. Plan a family reunion or visit with relatives to obtain all the information you can.

4. Look at genealogy books and find a simple beginner's handbook. Some books contain genealogy software.

5. Purchase genealogy software. Most software companies offer free samples that you can download and test. Find the software that works best for you.

6. Visit your local Latter-Day Saints Family History Center. Centers are located in most major cities and have a wealth of ancestral information. Databases include records dating to A.D. 1100 in Europe.

7. Visit your local courthouse and learn about researching public records.

8. Visit genealogy search Web sites and look through their databases for your family information.

9. Hire a professional genealogy search company to find missing ancestors when your own leads are exhausted.

Tips & Warnings

• After you've gathered your initial information, focus on one ancestor. You'll be more successful and get less discouraged if you research one person at a time.