| Tip 1. When you get that sudden urge to find | | | | names of relatives are so important. Birth, death, |
| your family, the first thing to do is collect every | | | | baptism and marriage are known as vital records |
| single scrap of paper concerning, and every | | | | and they pretty much sum up the life of a |
| photograph of all the family members, that you | | | | person. If you cannot visit such buildings, write to |
| can find. That may seem over-kill, but you never | | | | them and usually helpful persons will answer with |
| know what clue is hidden that may unlock the | | | | the documents you need. Some are free but you |
| doors to your family. Look in the family Bible as | | | | should send a small stipend. Most have a set |
| often an older relative would write all the | | | | charge, but they are bargains compared to travel. |
| information as to date of birth, marriage or death | | | | Tip 5. Always keep an open mind. How do you |
| that you need. Look for letters, post cards and | | | | know if grandpa used Howard as his first name |
| diaries. Postmarks on letters and cards may show | | | | because he detested Horace and Howard was his |
| the country of origin of your ancestors. Put all of | | | | given middle name. Some persons go by initials, |
| these in acid-free boxes for preservation. | | | | such as D.J. Smith. Some spouses die soon after |
| Tip 2. Find a large, comfortable-to-use notebook | | | | marriage and the survivor remarries. Women |
| and write down every thing you do every day | | | | often lied about their ages and possibly other |
| you are working on your family tree. How I wish | | | | facts. Immigrants did change their names (not at |
| I had done this thirty-five years ago when I | | | | Ellis Island, as rumor says) after entering the |
| started this project. Document the searches you | | | | country to appear more American. Think of how |
| made, courthouse visited, information found, web | | | | a name, such as Braun would be changed to |
| page opened, parish visited and tips from friends | | | | Brown (a big help when searching for family.) |
| and family members. It is so easy to type in a | | | | Consider many spellings for your surname. My |
| web page and redo what you have already did or | | | | grandmother said alternately that she was born in |
| visit the library and look up the same people you | | | | Troy, New York or Cork and she emigrated from |
| found last year. Genealogists love the thrill of the | | | | Cork (a big help when you see the size of county |
| search, not the filing and documentation. | | | | Cork in Ireland.) |
| Tip 3. Interview all surviving relatives. Write | | | | Tip 6. Look at the available census records. They |
| everything down or use a tape recorder. Record | | | | are great as they show the family together. You |
| date and your name and the names of the people | | | | have to be careful again with surnames and |
| you talk with. Use patience and tact when | | | | maybe a family member has died or left home. |
| interviewing relatives. A relaxed atmosphere may | | | | Babies born after the official date of the census |
| open up lines of communication. Show pictures as | | | | are not listed. They will be eleven in the next one. |
| they might start a stream of memories. Gather | | | | Census data is released to the public 72 years |
| any birth, marriage and death records that your | | | | after it is taken. The 1930 census is available now |
| relatives may have. | | | | and the 1940 census will be available in 2012. |
| Tip 4. Visit local courthouses, archives, libraries or | | | | Tip 7. Start your search for free at Family |
| whatever building houses the records of the town | | | | History Centers connected to the Church Of |
| or county. Birth records usually have the name of | | | | Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormon |
| place, child, names of parents with the maiden | | | | church. They have been collecting data for |
| name of the mother and their marital status, | | | | hundreds of years and maintain a huge library and |
| date, name of the doctor and hospital. Baptism | | | | web site. The main buildings are in Salt Lake City |
| records have the name of the child, names of | | | | but there are Family History Centers all over the |
| parents with the maiden name of the mother, | | | | world with gracious, friendly people to help. They |
| ages of the parents and the name of the | | | | house the vital records and others such as voting |
| officiating pastor or priest and names of the | | | | registration records and deeds. Look into them all |
| godparents, who are usually relatives. Marriage | | | | and record everything. If possible, plan a trip to |
| records are similar to the others with occupations | | | | Salt Lake as the church has week long search |
| of the fathers listed and witnesses to the | | | | events and you can room and dine close to the |
| marriage. Take note of those witnesses. Death | | | | Library. |
| records are not considered quite as reliable as | | | | These seven tips will give you a running start |
| marriage records because the people are in grief | | | | researching your family. You will get hooked and |
| and may not remember facts. However, the | | | | will not stop until you have found all the family |
| date, cause of death, age of deceased and | | | | members. |