Let the sleuthing begin!

February 26, 8:23 AMGenealogy ExaminerSusan E King

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I've always been a strong proponent that genealogy is so much more than names, places and dates. However, to really enjoy the journey, that's exactly where you have to begin. The fun starts when you do have that information in hand and you begin to study and further understand the locations, the socio-political and economic structure during the time periods and then following a life, from birth until death through available vital records.

As we are all unique individuals, so too, is our genealogy and our research.

There is no question that times have changed in the genealogy world. The Internet has definitely played a huge factor in changing the face of genealogy. For some of us, when we first started our research, we slaved over microfilm readers until our arms hurt and our eyes were crossed. And then there are the files and files of copies of these records in total disconnect with our database. Truth be told, it is more fun now and the search is immensely faster in some cases but can still be as frustrating in so many cases.

Let's get started.

First, you really have to decide what your true purpose is for beginning your search. Are you interested in finding a tidbit of information to prove a family story as fact or fiction? Are you interested in just connecting with long lost cousins and family members? Or are you seriously interested in documenting your family history?

We are  going to start as if you are serious about documenting your family history, as all the other purposes will fall into place as we proceed.

While it has become so much easier to find information, find lost family members and to share your research information, the fact remains, there is still only one basic way to effectively start your research.

So, have a pencil and paper ready! Here we go! You can be on your way in a few short minutes.

When I was given the basic instructions on how to start my research, I did so on a ruled yellow note pad. Suffice it to say, I still have all those original notes. At that time, now ancient history, there was no Internet, there were no Pedigree Forms or Family Group Sheets to be had without ordering them from some far off place.

So, the Pedigree Chart  featured at the top can be downloaded for free from ancestry.com.

Second, the  Family Group Sheet featured above is also available for download from ancestry.com.

The first phase of this project, and this is before you ever do an Internet search, is to begin to write down everything you know starting with YOU! You need to decide how far back you really want to go with your initial research, recognizing you can always add to it as you make your way back in time.

The process we are going to outline has no bearing on your specific heritage or ethnic background.

As you begin to develop your pedigree, you can use the Family Group Sheet to add details about a family, adding siblings and other information from your known sources.

Next, interview, everyone that is still living as quickly as you can, for you will be surprised at how quickly the information can be lost forever.

When I started my interviews, I just took notes as there were no real tools available to record off of a phone. I have three huge notebooks full of notes. Actually, I am not sure there was such a thing as a speaker phone. Now this is starting to get a bit eerie!

Today, I recommend digitally recording these interviews. Using Skype or a speaker phone and free audio recording software, such as Audacity, on your computer, you can easily record these interviews and later share them with family members. If you choose to do them in person, some cell phones allow for digital recording as does a notebook computer with a built in speaker/microphone or a digital recording device.

Now begin to fill out your charts with all the information you  have, making sure you note the source for every fact and every detail. You will be surprised how quickly you will forget where the information came from.

Trust me, you will be absolutely amazed at the information you will glean from these interviews, for they are truly the beginning elements of breathing life into the spirit of your ancestors! It truly are these interviews that will spark an interest you never
knew you had.

If you would prefer to start directly with a genealogy software program or using an on-line tree builder, just make sure you don't get ahead of yourself. I can't reiterate that enough.

Start with YOU and work back in time! And don't go jumping across ponds or to other countries until you have documented your research in your country of residence.

Just like any private investigative work, your job is to work from the source of your knowledge and then begin to prove or disprove the information. It's actually quite fun sleuthing for proof, but beware, one cannot always trust all information to be fact.

I can relate a very sad story my grandmother once told me. She was about 5 years old when she remembers being with her mother and seeing her father going the opposite direction on an escalator for the very last time. This image apparently affected her for the rest of her life as she was scared to death of escalators and would never get on one.

She was told by her mother that her father had committed suicide just after that sighting and that was the story passed on to us. Imagine the horror when I found my great grandfather alive and well living in Minneapolis with another wife many years later!

And to show how fears can be passed down through generations without intention, my mother was scared to death of elevators? Go figure!