Genealogy and How

by Steve Johnson

Getting started with genealogy research is easy! But you will soon learn that tracing your family history can be addicting.

Perhaps the best way to start is with purchasing family history software. This will allow you to store all the details of your ancestors, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and view their relationships in a tree-like form. Family Tree Legends, from Pearl Street Software is one of the best family history software titles. The software will also let you print out charts and store research notes,

Compile all the information that you already know off the top of your head. Start with yourself by entering your name, birth date, and place of birth into your family history software. If you are married, enter your spouse's name, birth date, place of birth, along with your marriage date, and place of marriage.

Next, move on to your mother and father's dates and places of birth, and then enter your grandparent's information as well. And here is where things start to get tricky. You may not know your grandparents' exact dates and places of birth.

So what do you do?

Ask them!

Interviewing

That's the next step a genealogist undertakes, interviewing. Pay a visit to your grandparents, take a long a notepad, or if modesty permits, a tape recorder. Let them know you are wanting to trace back the family lineage. More than likely, they'll tell you that someone else in the family is already doing the same thing. Don't worry, there's always room for another family genealogist.

I've personally interviewed many people in my family and my wife's family. Through our research, we were able to get in touch with distant relatives we never knew existed, and some of them lived surprisingly close by. We enjoyed seeing all the family photos and heirlooms that were passed down to these relatives. Even to this day, we still trade Christmas cards, and send letters back and forth.

In fact, you'll discover that much of the family history information you compile will come from interviewing family members and distant relatives, and as long you keep your genealogy hobby going, you will never stop interviewing more folks.

Genealogy Libraries and Archives

After you have compiled information on a few generations of family, you should pay a visit to some of the many state archives and genealogy libraries in your area.

The Church of Latter Day Saints have set up hundreds of Family History Centers all over the United States, and the whole world for that matter. FHCs have many books, microfilms, and microfiche of genealogical records available to the public, free of charge. Some FHCs are very small, while others are very large. If they don't have what you want, they can order microfilms and microfiche from their central library, and have it delivered to the closest FHC near you, for a very nominal fee. Visit their website, "FamilySearch.org" for a list of FHCs near you.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the federal agency charged with archiving official government documents and records, including those with lots of genealogical value. There are branch archives set up throughout the country. Here is where you can access all of the census records, immigration records, and land records. Visit "Archives.gov" to find the closest branch archive near you.

State governments have set up their archives and state libraries, which are also filled with many resources useful to genealogists. In some cases, states have contracted with a state historical society to manage their collections. Visit the Genealogy Records Guide" at LisaJohnson.com to find the best archives and libraries near you.

Posting a Genealogy Query

A genealogy query is a request for help. It is similar to a classified ad in a newspaper, except that it is designed for genealogical assistance. Originally, queries were published in the backs of genealogy magazines and journals. These days, queries are best utilized on the Internet, where millions of people can access them.

A typical query might appear as follows:

CASTLEMAN : DAVISON : GRIMES : HOPE - Looking for anyone who knows or has info on my gggrandparents, who came to Texas around 1859. Frank H. Davison,wife Mary Ann (nmn) with 5 yr old son, Frank Holland Davison. Frank H. died on the way and Mary Ann remarried to Moore and Grimes. Had several children by Mr. Grimes. I am also looking for Castleman/Hope ancestors of my mother. My parents were Neal Davison/Garland Castleman.

Note that the four primary surnames associated with this family line are at the beginning of the query, and the query text follows it. If someone had information that could help the person who posted this query, he or she could contact them via e-mail. More often than not, people who respond to queries are distant relatives.

A good place to post genealogy queries is at CousinConnect.com. For more places where queries can be posted, read "Where to Post a Genealogy Query".