How to Research Your Family History Online

Genealogical information abounds on the Web. What would have taken months of research and letter writing previously can now be accomplished within a few minutes. Even so, be prepared to wade through volumes of genealogical data in an effort to find one piece to your puzzle.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Printers
• Computer Desks
• File Cabinets
• Internet Access
• File Folders
• Printer Paper
• Computers
• Genealogy Software

1. Have your family history information handy. It should be focused on you and work backward toward your parents and then their parents.

2. Check out the helpful sites that exist simply for your use in genealogical research. These sites contain databases and search capabilities that can quickly aid in determining whether you are on the right path in your search.

3. Find the Latter Day Saints' extensive Web site, which covers parts of Europe, the East Coast and North America for several generations. The Latter Day Saints are renowned for their work in genealogy.

4. Use the Social Security Administration's database, an excellent source in the United States. This can be accessed easily through the genealogical research Web sites.

5. Search for your family name followed by the word "family" (i.e., "Smith family") using your favorite search engine. This will connect you to countless Web sites of family searches that have gone on before you. It's possible that one side of your family heritage has already been researched.

6. Check the Library of Congress and public libraries' book catalogs on the Web. Run a search for books that contain your family name in the title or in the author's name. Sometimes historical books on a particular period, such as books on immigration through Ellis Island, offer links to your personal history.

7. Take advantage of The National Genealogical Society's online introductory course to genealogy, which is offered for a fee. You don't have to be a member of the society to enroll in the course.

8. Consider having a professional search company help find your missing relatives. Countless companies exist on the Web waiting to aid in your genealogical search.

9. Download free trial software from one of the many sites on the Web to experiment with recording your family information.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to narrow your search and only look at those items that are extremely closely related to your quest. It is possible to spend many fascinating, yet useless hours chasing information. Try to remain focused on your search.
• Although records have been found dating back to a person in Europe in 1200 A.D., the Latter Day Saints' Web site information is not as complete as the CD databases available at public genealogy libraries or at their own genealogy libraries located in most major cities around the world.

on 11/22/2005 Not everyone follows recommended standards of source documentation. USE THE ONLINE INFORMATION AS A GUIDE. Then go to the sources before adding the online information into your family history.