Handout for Genealogy Newbies

Hope this handout which I'm going to utilize in my presentation on Wednesday, will be helpful to others, as well, who are just starting down that trail of research. A link for this document (PDF) can also be found at https://www.scribd.com/document/355783768/SRB-Genealogy-GSOC

My Family History: How Do I Begin?

1. It’s as easy as realizing that you already know something about your family history!

2. It’s crucial to write down (or record) what you know so that you can see WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW.

This is why, in the old days, we filled out “pedigree” or “ancestor” charts. Of course you can still choose those forms, if you want. You can even download them free on the Internet. https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Genealogy_Research_Forms is just one website among many that will let you download free charts.

There are also websites that will let you build a family tree on the Internet. If you utilize this tool, be sure you do not post information on your living relatives. Here are some options for creating your family tree online:

• https://familysearch.org/
• http://www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/
• https://www.wikitree.com/
• www.findmypast.com

There are other online family trees, but the ones I have given you are among the most popular and reliable.

Other websites you will want to look at:

1. http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/best-cemetery-directory-sites-2016
2. https://www.werelate.org
3. https://familysearch.org/blog/en/started-family-history/
4. http://www.findmypast.com/content/10-tips-to-start-your-family-history-journey
5. YouTube.com (search for genealogy or “family history”) Many videos!
6. Wikipedia.org (search places, towns, and more)
7. Beginners’ Guide to Genetic Genealogy: https://isogg.org/wiki/Beginners'_guides_to_genetic_genealogy
8. Google Earth and/or maps.google.com
9. books.google.com
10. worldcat.org
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Looking for a good book about Genealogy? Search www.amazon.com.

Finding ancestral trails begins and ends with three important pieces of information: Who? When? Where? Apply these questions to every vital life event: Birth, Marriage, Death; (aka batch, match, and dispatch)!

We are looking for the name of your ancestor as it would have occurred at the time of his birth; we want to guestimate his date of birth if we don’t already know it. We need to know a general idea of where that event occurred, if possible. Newspapers are a possible source, family Bibles, birth announcement cards and maybe you can glean some info from a photograph or two.