- It is important to research the whole family & the community
- Obtain a good map of the area
- Ask yourself what you know about your ancestor, make a list
- Ask yourself what you don’t know, write it down-questions (i.e., did they attend church, where did they get married, etc)
- What is it you want to know? Organize a check list
- Use the free genealogy forms and charts (download from http://www.familytreemagazine.com/FREEFORMS or http://www.cyndislist.com/supplies/)
- Document where, who and when you located a record (what type of document, note the pages, dates, who wrote it, etc. Obtain one of Elizabeth Shown Mills books (http://www.genealogical.com/products/Tracing%20Your%20Irish%20Ancestors/3843.html
- Develop timelines for your ancestor (what else was going on during that time (i.e., war, natural disasters, plagues, etc. )
- Develop a Research Plan to guide your research (goals, etc)
- Maintain a log of what you are doing, leave room to check off items you have completed
- Using family group sheets-complete for head of household (HOH) and spouse (download free forms: http://www.familytreemagazine.com/FREEFORMS)
- Learn about what sources are online (paid subscriptions and free, paid= ancestry.com, free= www.familysearch.org, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/)
- Learn what resources are available in the area & where to obtain records (historical societies, libraries, genealogy groups, etc.)
- If researching African or Native Americans, be aware of the state & local laws that were in place regarding records & people of color
- Decide what method of record keeping you will use: binders, folders, databases, boxes, etc.
- Be consistent in your recordkeeping: naming files and how stored (i.e., William Davis Family, b. 1814 PA, Lawson Goens/Goins/Goings Family, b. 1806, VA)
- Select a backup system to maintain files, photos, etc. (research online for file backup, external harddrives, etc.)
- Download 18 Simple Steps to Becoming a Genealogist by Lisa A. Alzo: http://www.lisaalzo.com/, check out www.gotgenealogy.com
- Talk to your librarian, visit repositories
- State, county or city land & records, tax office
- Meet with a local historians & librarians
- Locate & Join local genealogy groups, historical societies, family history centers (http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp)
- Read the genealogy blogs, listen to webcasts and webinars (http://www.geneabloggers.com/, http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/webinars.asp, http://africanrootspodcast.com/, http://www.afrigeneas.com/
- Challenges- start asking questions & keep going, remember the basics of getting started, you have not exhausted all resources
- Stay positive, be patient with yourself & have fun! Your ancestors will leave clues for you to follow...
KNOW YOUR ROOTS, THEY ARE LONG AND STRONG!
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