Tips on How to Get Started
Step 1: Determine What You Want to Learn
Before you start your research know what your end goal is. Are you trying to produce a family tree?
Or are you interested in tracing as many direct ancestors as possible through male and female lines, and producing what’s known as an Ancestry Chart? Realizing your end goal will help you know where to start your search.
Step 2: Gather up the Good Stuff
Gather any birth, marriage, or death certificates, old photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, etc. Then map out a family chart using what you already know. Always work backward from the known to the unknown. Start with yourself, your parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, going as far back as you can.
Then expand your search by contacting family members and asking questions about their lives and those of other family members.
Step 3: Document So You Don’t Duplicate
Be sure to document all your findings. As you work keep track of your sources so you and anyone else can easily find any books, websites, etc. It’s also a good idea to check several directories to see whether or not anyone else is researching your family. If extensive research has already been done, you may be able to combine your efforts or at the very least include or rule out information.
Step 4: Continue Exploring
The next step will be to search records online or to visit a library or archive that has the information you are looking for.