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| These are some basic tips I have learned that will help a beginner get a good start. * First, download and use Family Group Sheets. If you do an internet search for "Family Group Sheets" you'll find them. Print them off and use them to keep your records organized. *Purchase genealogy software - This is not a must, but it helps ALOT!. There are many great titles available, and some can be had for around $20. Keep it simple, don't get all the bells & whistles unless you know you'll use them. *Interview your relatives - starting with the oldest first. I say this only because if you have to put aside your genealogy studies for an extended period of time, some of your relatives may pass away before you can resume your research. Filming or taping these interviews may be helpful and provide future generations with a chance to hear the stories right from the mouths of their ancestors. Note - Memories are not perfect! Take all recollections with a grain of salt until you can verify them through the proper sources. *Search the internet for leads - You can look up census records, deeds, wills, marriage records, etc, and also post queries on message boards for other researchers to answer. Always try to verify any info obtained from another researcher, just to be sure. Also, include your sources in any info you share with others. If you have purchased genealogy software you can easily exchange info with the use of GEDCOM files, the universal "currency" of genealogists. (see my links page for handy sites to help you along). Many surnames or clans have genealogy organizations that can help you reach even more researchers. *Do your own legwork - You can do research at libraries, courthouses, cemeteries, newspapers, even churches. This is the best (and most time-consuming) way to find what you're looking for. The good thing is, most of the info is free to those diligent enough to look for it. *Don't get dicouraged - Genealogy is not easy. You may be rolling along like gangbusters and suddenly come to a screeching halt. It's called a "Brick wall", and all genealogists have theirs. You can try to get help from someone who may have the info you need, or just go to another branch of your family line and come back to that brick wall later. It will still be there. If you really feel the need, there is absolutely no shame in hiring a professional genealogist to help you. They are very good at what they do and have resoures that we amateurs don't in many cases. *SHARE! - There are people out there right now looking for the info you have. Seriously! Even if it's just your and your parents names and birth dates, if it's accurate, it is valuable stuff! Swapping info makes the genealogy world go around. HOWEVER, this is another reason to make sure the info you share is accurate and your sources are documented. Wrong information can cause years of headaches if not caught & corrected. Once you have amassed a considerable sum of info, help new genealogists the way you were helped when you began. *Have fun! - Thanks in large part to the internet, genealogy is the world's fastest growing hobby. You will find out things about your ancestors you never knew (both good and bad!) and meet distant "cousins" you never knew existed. If you have a general question (not research), email me. Genealogy Ettiquite tips: * Always use ALL CAPS for surnames. This makes them easy to find for quick reference. * Always use the "dd mmm yyyy" format for dates. (e.g.- 17 Dec 1969). Always use the whole year, not just the last two digits (is "69" 1969 or 1769?) *Don't be pushy. Most genealogists are hobbyists just like you. They have jobs, families, etc. If they can't help you right away, be patient, or find it yourself. Also, if they mail you any materials, always offer to reimburse the postage and any other costs they may have incurred on your behalf (gas money, copy fees, etc.) And always say "Thank you" :-) |
| Genealogy 101 |