How to Learn About Genealogy

Your genealogy can be traced back for centuries.

Genealogy, or the research of a family tree, can become a life-long hobby or vocation. If you'd like to investigate your family's past but aren't sure where to begin, rest assured that it isn't too difficult to learn about genealogy. By getting a firm grasp on the basic methods of searching for information based on facts and training yourself to keep records in an easy-to-track system, you will soon be on your way to displaying your own multigenerational chart.

Instructions

1. Write down the details of your life milestones, including your full name, date and place of birth as well as the dates and places of other events such as your baptism, marriage and the birth information of your children.

2. Add your parents' names and fill in their personal event information, using the same categories as used on your own information.

3. Interview your parents, grandparents, and any aunts and uncles to find any missing dates or vital events missing from your chart. Ask family members what they remember about your great and great-great grandparents.

4. Access the U.S. Census records, either through an online subscription site or at your library. Because census data is held as private for 70 years, the latest Census released is the records from 1930. This is the most recent census data available until the 1940 Census is released in 2012.

5. Locate your grandparents and their parents in the Census, using the locations, names and ages given to you by your family to expand your knowledge make copies of the records that hold your family information.

6. Repeat the Census search process with each earlier Census documents until you have gleaned all information pertaining to your family.

7. Inquire at your library, asking for information on any local or state genealogy groups and societies you may use as a resource for further learning. Most genealogy societies and some libraries hold meetings and classes on genealogy and welcome new members.

8. Investigate online for more genealogical resources that are pertinent to the specific area or country from which your ancestors came.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a family data sheet on each member and branch of family you discover so you can refer back to your original source if you have missing pieces of information.

• If you find yourself engrossed with learning about genealogy, consider joining one of the major paid subscription Web sites in order to access the information available.

• There is a vast amount of family tree information available online; make sure to document any information you receive from other researchers and genealogy websites.

References

• Ancestor Hunt: Vital Records Search in the United States
• Genealogical Journeys: Tips on Gathering Your Family Information

Resources

• RootsWeb: RootsWeb's Guide to tracing Family Trees
• Cyndi's List: Beginners Guides, Hints & Tips
• Genealogy Links: Over 50,000 Genealogy Links