Genealogy Family History
If you have had limited or no exposure to genealogy and family history, the most difficult part of getting started is often knowing how and where to begin. Searching and documenting your family roots can be one of the most rewarding activities you will ever engage in... and frankly it can be quite addictive. Like most worthwhile activities, genealogy and family history require a modest level of commitment and dedication and a fair amount of patience. Here are a few ideas to get you started on the fast track.
1. Designate and set aside some specific time to work on your genealogy each week and then stick to your schedule. Begin modestly so that you don't get frustrated and quit. Be consistent. Even if you are able to set aside just an hour …show more content…
Next, call on relatives and friends of the family who either have records, photos, documents, etc. or who have firsthand knowledge of specific ancestors. Explain what you are doing and ask if they would allow you to make copies of photos, papers, documents, letters, and other family records. Make sure you are extremely careful about returning originals in the same condition in which they were received. In cases where records are not available but personal relationships existed, ask if you could schedule a brief interview to gather information about either the ancestor or a deceased relative. Most people will be gracious and obliging, particularly if you agree in advance to limit the visit to a reasonable length of time. Be courteous and stick to your time commitments. It is not unreasonable to request to either record or video tape the conversation in order to preserve the information. You may also just come with a notepad and pen. You will be looking for any and all information that may shed light on the character, life, accomplishments, family culture, etc. of your ancestry. But you will also be interested in gathering as much specific information such as birth dates and places, death dates and places, burial places, baptismal and other church records, marriage dates and places, etc. as you possibly can. This is the information that will be most useful in documenting your family heritage and history.
4. As you gather information you should begin to organize it and label
1. Designate and set aside some specific time to work on your genealogy each week and then stick to your schedule. Begin modestly so that you don't get frustrated and quit. Be consistent. Even if you are able to set aside just an hour …show more content…
Next, call on relatives and friends of the family who either have records, photos, documents, etc. or who have firsthand knowledge of specific ancestors. Explain what you are doing and ask if they would allow you to make copies of photos, papers, documents, letters, and other family records. Make sure you are extremely careful about returning originals in the same condition in which they were received. In cases where records are not available but personal relationships existed, ask if you could schedule a brief interview to gather information about either the ancestor or a deceased relative. Most people will be gracious and obliging, particularly if you agree in advance to limit the visit to a reasonable length of time. Be courteous and stick to your time commitments. It is not unreasonable to request to either record or video tape the conversation in order to preserve the information. You may also just come with a notepad and pen. You will be looking for any and all information that may shed light on the character, life, accomplishments, family culture, etc. of your ancestry. But you will also be interested in gathering as much specific information such as birth dates and places, death dates and places, burial places, baptismal and other church records, marriage dates and places, etc. as you possibly can. This is the information that will be most useful in documenting your family heritage and history.
4. As you gather information you should begin to organize it and label