Where Do I Start? 

Begin your family history project with what you have. Look around your house, talk to other family members and collect the information at hand.

• Start by gathering in a box – birth certificates, pictures, letters, newspaper clippings, wedding announcements, funeral programs – anything with family information.

• Enter family information onto a pedigree chart and family group sheets.

• Choose ONE individual you want to learn more about. Concentrate on one person/family at a time.

• Always work from the KNOWN to the UNKNOWN.

• Look for documents of vital record events - birth, marriage and death.

• Keep a research log or journal. Write down every source you examine.

• Find a filing system that works for you.

• Database programs – not an absolute necessity, but a really big help! Download Personal Ancestral File for free at www.familysearch.org.

Consider the following Family History conversation starters and activities:

• Family Traditions

• Skeletons (the kind in the closets)

• Scrapbooking

• Tombstone rubbings

• Family Heirlooms

• Oral interviews

• Family physical characteristics - where did you get that nose?

Check out the free Internet sites for work that may already be done.

• Go to www.familysearch.org (FREE) and search for the individual’s name. It's a great place to start your research, with lots of information and guidance. You will find:
  * Ancestral File – patron submitted, undocumented information; verify EVERYTHING you find.
  * International Genealogical Index (IGI) – some information extracted from original sources. If patron submitted, must be verified.
  * Social Security Death Index, 1880 US Census, 1881 British Census, 1881 Canadian Census, vital records for Mexico and Scandinavia.
  * Pedigree Resource Files - patron submitted, some with documentation.
  * Research Guidance
  * Family History Library Catalog

• Go to your local Family History Center (find the nearest one at www.familysearch.org). Access to several online subscription services, CD-ROM resources, microfilm can be ordered from the Family History Library Catalog.

• www.lib.byu.edu/fslab - Brigham Young University and Utah Valley Family History Resource Center

• Local public library - you may be able to access  www.HeritageQuest.com with your library card. Many public libraries have excellent family and local history collections. Also, inter-library loans can be a great resource.

• Other free websites to check out: www.cyndislist.com, www.stevemorse.org (Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and much more) www.jewishgen.org, www.rootsweb.com, www.freebmd.org.uk
   

Don't believe everything you read.

Although more information becomes available on the Internet every day, much of it is “patron submitted,” copied from somewhere else on the Internet, or just plain bad research. Be sure to verify everything you find on the Internet. Try to determine if the information came from an original document or some other reliable source. If it’s not documented, don’t accept it as the truth until you verify it yourself.

I’m stuck! What do I do now?

Every genealogical researcher runs into a tough problem sooner or later. Sometimes the best solution is to take a break - turn your research to another family or individual for awhile. When you return to the "brick wall" you might notice something in your research that you failed to see before. Or, quite often, a new resource will become available that will help you move forward. This may be the time to consider hiring a professional family history researcher to help you by analyzing your previous research and suggesting a plan for future research. Be sure that the professional genealogist you consult has the training and experience to give you the best research for your money. 

DNA testing and research is rapidly becoming less expensive and more applicable to family history research. The ability to analyze DNA is one of the most important advances in molecular science. Used in conjunction with traditional genealogy research, DNA studies can uncover previously unknown family relationships, verify or disprove an ancestry, and provide answers to research roadblocks that have existed for years. The successful genealogical use of any DNA test and analysis is dependent upon matching the results with another contributor. Therefore, the more individuals who submit DNA samples to any of the several companies who received them, the greater the chances that a specific match will be made. In addition, many surname studies are being coordinated by family organizations to identify family lines descending from common ancestors. For more information concerning DNA testing and analysis, visit www.familytreedna.com or www.relativegenetics.com.

It really is a small world – one individual living in the 1600's, about 17 generations ago, would have 43,046,721 descendants if each family unit had only three children who lived to maturity. That's a lot of cousins to invite to your next family reunion!

Every human being is a product of those that have gone before. The impact of the lives of our ancestors and their place in history can never be fully understood and honored until we find out who they were and how they lived. By discovering that history, we are discovering ourselves. By learning about the people we come from, we can interweave the past with the present, and create a legacy for the future.