Are you interested in learning more about your family history? I'm here to help you get started with these four easy steps! Bookmark this post for future reference.
1. Start at Home
First things first, let's begin at home. Start by taking down names, dates, places of birth, and relationships of family members. Remember to ask female relatives for their maiden names if married, and always place them on your family tree using that surname (aka last name). This will help you trace your family history back even further! There are some amazing online family tree websites you can use to keep track of your research, like Ancestry.com, RootsMagic Essentials, Legacy Family Tree Standard, and MyHeritage. They make it easy to keep all your information organized and accessible.
*AN IMPORTANT NOTE: When researching your family history, keep in mind that information about ancestors found online can be inaccurate due to human error in recording and transcription to databases. Verify anything you add that lacks supporting documentation. Avoid copying information from other user's trees, as they are often full of errors. It's best to do your own research, don't take anything at face value, and examine every detail yourself to avoid an inaccurate or fictitious tree.
2. Relatives as Resources
Next, reach out to your relatives for any stories, photos, or documents they may have. They can be a valuable source of clues about your family's history. Be sure to disclose how you intend to use the materials and be respectful of their privacy.
3. Online Research
When you've exhausted your options at home, you can start researching online. There are billions of historical documents and records available on genealogy websites, including FamilySearch, and USGenWeb. You'll be amazed at how much information you can find!
Here is a list of some of my favorite free resources.
4. Offline Research
If you reach the end of what you can find online, you may need to visit a library, historical society, or archives in person. These repositories can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors that is not available online.
Unfortunately, some records are only accessible in person, so if the family you're researching is out of state, you may want to consider a trip to the local archives. Planning a research trip can be a lot of fun! Be sure to research what documents are available and where to make the most of your trip.
With these tips, you'll be well on your way to discovering more about your family history. Remember to always be curious and, most importantly, have fun!
Hi! I'm Trista. My mission is to spark the curiosity, interest, and desire of all people, to learn about those who came before them, and preserve family histories for generations to come. Come visit me at tristathegenealogist.com!
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