Genealogy-Tips on How to Get Started

Getting started in genealogy may be easier than you might think. While many people can easily make a full time career of researching their family history, you only need a little interest and extra time on your hands to begin finding out more about your own family's history.

One of the best ways to get started researching your family history is by talking to your parents and older relatives. This is a fantastic source of first hand information. In most cases, such conversation can provide a solid base for your to expand your genealogical research. Start by finding out (if you don't already know) where your parents were born and where they grew up. Expand that knowledge by asking about your grandparents.

A big portion of genealogical research is in being able to document what you discover about your family history. So, it's important to get in the habit early on of documenting your facts. Get on the right path by obtaining copies of both your parents' birth certificates and marriage certificates. While later on you will need to start some sleuthing at county courthouses for this kind of information, in the early portions of your research obtaining copies of the data you need can be as simply of asking your parents and family members for permission to copy items they already have in their possession.

The next step in your research is in finding out where members of your immediate family that are no longer living are buried. Find out information such as the name and location of cemeteries for your grandparents and great-grandparents. Make a point to visit the cemetery and bring your camera with you. Taking photographs of headstones is another great way to document facts related to your family's history. If you are unsure whether a relative buried in a cemetery or not and want to save yourself some time, be sure to check and see if the cemetery in question has a webpage. Many individuals interested in genealogy have dedicated numerous hours to transcribing cemetery records and posting them on-line. You may be able to eliminate or verify information as needed by checking online first.

After you have established pertinent information for your parents, grandparents and their parents don't forget to do the same for aunts and uncles. You may be presently surprised to find that one of your relatives may have already done some genealogical research that they would be happy to share with you.

Give some thought to finding your oldest living relative and make a point to have a conversation with them about your family history. It's a good idea to bring along either a portable tape recorder or camcorder in order to document your conversation. This will not only provide a nice keepsake for your family but helps to ensure that you don't obscure important details later. Be sure to ask what this person knows about your family history such as family stories and where other relatives were buried as well as important birth, marriage and death dates.

When you have obtained as much information as possible from your living relatives, it's time to kick your research up a notch. There are many different ways to do this. The Internet is a wealthy source of genealogical research information and a great way to connect with individuals who have the same interests. You very well may run into a distant cousin online searching the same family lines and this can open up a whole new world of information and possibilities. Remember to document as you go and before you know it your family history will no longer be a mystery.

About The Author:
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