User:Nolaneclark/sandbox 2

Gather Family Resources
Begin with family and home sources. Your home is an important source of family history. Look for these items and other similar sources.


 * Birth, marriage, and death certificates,
 * Family Bibles
 * Family records
 * Journals, diaries, and letters
 * Old photographs
 * Obituaries and newspaper clippings

Next ask your relatives for any additional information they may have. It is likely that your second cousin, great-aunt, or other relative already has some family information.

Organize Your Information
Organize the information you find, and record it on family group records and pedigree charts. For guidance in preparing family group records, see Family group record: roadmap for researchers.

Information can be organized most effectively by using computer genealogy software. See Organize the New Records. For free Windows genealogy software, see Windows Genealogy Software. For free Mac genealogy software, see Mac Genealogy Software.

Search Existing Genealogy Collections
To avoid duplication of effort, find out what compiled records already exist in genealogy collections. Be cautious in using compiled records, particularly records that do not cite sources.

Search United States Census Records
Identify each end-of-the-line ancestor for whom you have verified information. Search for that individual on each census record, starting with the most recent. For guidance in the use of United States census records see United States, How to Use Census Records.