Begin Your Genealogy Quest

Just Getting Started?

Step One: What do you know?
Start by recording what you know about your family tree. Get a Pedigree Chart and fill it in as best you can. If you would like to put your Pedigree Chart into a computer, you might try using some of the available computer software instead. There are many commercial software products on the market, but you can start with a free program called PAF (Family Ancestral File) which you can download here. The commercial software all have more features than PAF, but PAF will get you started. And if you should decide to purchase a commercial program, your PAF files can be readily transferred to them.

Step Two: Around the house
As you fill out the Pedigree Chart, there will be some blank spaces. The information may be somewhere in your home or other family members. Get a box and begin to collect any information that will help you fill the blank spots such as:
 * Certificates - Birth, Marriage, and Death
 * Bibles
 * Letters
 * Photos
 * Diaries, Journals
 * Obituaries, Newspaper articles
 * Anything else that might contain family information

Step Three: Family Group Sheet
For each couple on your Pedigree Chart you need to create a Family Group Record Here you record not only the names for you direct ancestors but all their children. These siblings will be your aunts, uncles and cousins.

As you fill out these sheets, please consider these crucial steps:

 * It is important to record the sources of the information you put on these genealogical sheets. For example is the birth date of Aunt Betty from personal knowledge or did you have a record in a family bible. Was it given to you by a family member personal knowledge. You can be sure that one day, someone or you will wonder where you got you information because someone else has something different.  Recording sources is a science almost in and of itself.  Check out this Additional sources:

Cite Your Sources.


 * Rather than carry your forms around with you when you go look for information, you might create a “To Do List.” Here you will list in detail what information you are specifically looking for.  For example: What is the birthday of Aunt Betty?  Then you will write down where you might find that information such as: Ask my cousin George the birth date of his mother.

Again record what you are trying to find out and where you plan to search to find out what you are wanting to know. Here is a sample To Do List An additional benefit is when asking a family member for a specific bit of information it almost always seems to bring other facts connected to the event if you had not asked the specific question. Again, be very precise in your questions. Don't asked tell me all you know about Aunt Betty. Instead when was she born, where was she born, when did she die, etc.


 * Because you will probably look through thousands of sources over the years it is important to keep track of what you have researched and your results. If you researched the US Census looking for your Great Grand Father John Smith and did not find him, make a note so you won't waste time looking at it again because you can't remember if you have already looked in it.  You can download an example here.

Additional sources: Keeping a Research Log Research Logs

Step Seven: Family and Friends
Next step in the actual research is going to family and friends to fill in the blanks. While you’re at it you might gather any photographs of family members and ancestors for you own collection.

Step Eight: The Real Research Begins
See Research Checklist for possible place to search.



Additional Resources

 * Beginners_Grin_and_Dare_It
 * Tips_for_Beginners
 * Family_History_for_Beginners
 * Classes_-_Family_History_in_the_21st_Century
 * Family_Group_Record_Analysis:_How_to_Guess_Where_to_Start
 * Barn_Raising_on_FamilySearch_Wiki
 * How_to_Begin_a_Search_for_Your_Ancestor
 * Rookie_Mistakes
 * Introduction_to_Family_History
 * Overview_of_Family_History_Research_Procedures
 * Getting_Started/Intro
 * Begining_family_history_research
 * A_Guide_to_Research
 * Flummoxed_-_Early_Period
 * How_to_Guess_Where_to_Start
 * Family_History_for_the_Flummoxed