| If you are a relative newcomer to genealogy | | | | interested in researching and recording your |
| beginning to build your family tree, then you are | | | | recent family history, and share with them some |
| probably deep in digging on the Internet and in | | | | of the interesting details you have found so far. I |
| various libraries for your ancestors' details. It is a | | | | was able to send a 2nd cousin a copy of the |
| very exciting hobby, and these days with more | | | | passenger list of her grandfather on a specific ship |
| and more documents and records digitized and | | | | from England to Canada, at the turn of the |
| available with a click of your mouse, you are able | | | | previous century. From that "gift", I was able to |
| to find wills, censuses, obituaries, and more. | | | | find out more about her grandfather, including a |
| Before too long, you may have several hundred | | | | possible Irish County that our respective |
| ancestors listed in your family tree. Unfortunately, | | | | grandparents came from in the 1870s. Another |
| some amateur genealogists do a great job of | | | | 3rd cousin was able to share a copy of a |
| research, but a terrible job of recording their | | | | photograph of her great-grandmother - the sister |
| information! After awhile, there are likely to be | | | | of my great-grandfather. Wonderful details pop up |
| many dates, names, places, but not a speck of | | | | when you begin to share what you are doing, and |
| proof or any details which can support this | | | | ask if anyone has anything that might help in the |
| particular ancestor in this particular place at this | | | | search. Photograph albums, memorabilia, letters, |
| time. | | | | and more. |
| There are several places online which can provide | | | | Check in with your family members and start |
| you with ways to cite your research sources | | | | recording your own history. For example, do your |
| correctly; search on Cyndi's List (cyndislist.com) | | | | family members have traditions of how they |
| for "citation". Plus, your local library likely has the | | | | celebrate certain holidays? birthdays? important |
| #1 source textbook written by Elizabeth Shown | | | | family events? historical events? Does your |
| Mills, which you can also look through on how to | | | | grandmother or your aunt have some fantastic |
| cite internet sources, or articles in family tree | | | | unusual recipes that you still haven't learned to |
| magazines, or your family Bible, etc. | | | | make? Does your uncle still do wood carving - |
| Some family tree software programs will help you | | | | which he learned to do in a 1940s prisoner of war |
| cite your sources for major life events, and this | | | | camp? There are so many questions you can ask |
| can be very helpful. Eventually you will be able to | | | | your relatives once you get started. Take |
| print out pages or booklets or even a book of | | | | photographs as well, and date/name everyone in |
| your ancestors family trees; all of these publishing | | | | the photos, for posterity. Write down those |
| options are available in most family tree software | | | | recipes from your grandmother or great-aunt, |
| programs. Check them out carefully before you | | | | with comments on when the family usually eats |
| decide which one to actually purchase - most | | | | them, or what is special about a particular recipe. |
| provide you with 7-14 days free trials. | | | | Type out those stories that most everyone |
| But another important detail about keeping | | | | knows - about that incredible train trip your |
| records relates to your very own family history. I | | | | grandparents made in 1909, or about the wedding |
| have noticed that people have fascinating | | | | dress made out of lace tablecloths, or about the |
| information on their great-grandparents or | | | | three little children who died in a polio epidemic in |
| great-greatgrandparents, but very little on their | | | | the 1880s, or about how your great-grandfather |
| cousins or aunts/uncles, parents, grandparents. | | | | dressed his own turkeys because he used to be |
| For some reason, we tend to overlook our | | | | a butcher, or... I'm sure you can see what I'm |
| closest relatives because we are so focused on | | | | talking about! Your family stories. |
| ancestors further back! | | | | Start right now to make sure that you will be |
| Since your family tree is your very own "true | | | | able to leave a true record of your history, in a |
| story", wouldn't it be exciting to make sure your | | | | way that your great-grandchildren will be able to |
| own great-grandchildren have some interesting | | | | access that history, see the photographs, read |
| details of YOUR lives? As well as your parents' | | | | the stories, cook the recipes, look at the |
| and grandparents' lives? Take some time over | | | | documents of birth/marriage/death/naturalization |
| the next month or two and make a focus on | | | | and more. In this way, you will be helping your |
| gathering more information on your closer | | | | family descendants see themselves in a larger |
| relatives. Call up your aunts or grandparents - | | | | context of history, a personal history, which you |
| they likely know much more than you think! | | | | have recorded - this year. |
| Particularly if you tickle their memories with some | | | | Use a simple yet very practical guide: RootsBasic |
| photographs you have found with no names or | | | | to help you get started. Packed with tips and |
| dates on the back, but which appear to be about | | | | strategies, this booklet will help you be proud of |
| 30-50 years old or thereabouts! Photographs are | | | | your family tree research. The 16 handy forms |
| very useful at helping older relatives remember | | | | included provide practical methods for you to |
| events, details, occupations, additional relatives, | | | | keep track of your research, your specific |
| immigration dates, military service, and more. You | | | | ancestors, sources, correspondence, and more. |
| might want to actually record a relative, and | | | | Whether you are a first-time family tree |
| interview them for your records. Make sure you | | | | researcher, or have been building your tree for |
| transcribe that record you make as soon as | | | | some time, you will find information you can use |
| possible, so that anyone else in your family can | | | | immediately to help move your ancestor research |
| access it afterwards. | | | | forward. |
| Let your relatives know that you are very | | | | |