Growing Your Family Tree
Genealogy Tips for Beginning Researchers

So you want to trace your family tree.
Congratulations! You've started something that will bring history to life, give you lots of surprises, and keep you busy for years to come.

Here are some suggestions on how to begin your genealogical research.

Start with yourself
You are the beginning "twig" on your family tree. Start with information about yourself, and write it down. Next find out all you can about your parents; a tape recorder will come in handy from this point on. Then ask about your grandparents, great-grandparents, and as many generations back as you can go.

Names, dates, places, relationships
You will need four kinds of information for your tree: names, dates, places and relationships. These are the tools of the family searcher. People can be identified in records by their names, the dates of important events in their lives (birth, marriage, death, etc.), the places they lived, and by what the records state or imply about their relationships to others.

Organizing information
You will find out very quickly that you need some way to organize the information you collect. Whatever system you use, such as printed forms, file folders or a computer database, make sure it's easy to maintain; otherwise, you won't use it successfully.

Home sources
Lots of information can be found in family bibles, news clippings, military certificates, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, baby books, the backs of photographs, etc. Be sure to identify the source of every piece of information you get.

Family members
Visit or write to those in your family who may have information--particularly older relatives. Sometimes other people in the family have information about the families in which you are interested. Make a survey by letter, visit and/or telephone to find out what has already been collected.

Finding distant relatives
To find relatives you know must exist somewhere, advertise in the local genealogical bulletins (city, county or state) where your ancestors lived. The most widely circulated genealogical magazine (which also specializes in getting people together who are working on the same families) is the Genealogical Helper, Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, Logan UT 84321.

Birth, marriage and death records
Registration of births and deaths varies greatly throughout the United States. Most states began between 1890 and 1915, although some started earlier. Before then, they were usually found only in family bibles and church records. Most marriage records are kept by counties.

Deeds and wills
Records of property transfers can also be good sources of genealogical data. They are usually found in county courthouses. Frequently, the earliest county records, or copies of them, can also be found in state archives.

Federal records
Useful records can be found at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The Federal census, conducted every ten years since 1790, as well as military service and related records, are available there. Census records on microfilm can also be viewed at regional associations throughout the country.

Local libraries
Public libraries, as well as any college libraries you may have nearby, frequently have a variety of genealogical materials. State libraries will also lend materials through the interlibrary loan program. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) maintains over 1,500 genealogical branch libraries in 49 countries.

Classes
Need more help? Check with local colleges for classes in genealogical research.

Professional assistance
Think it's all more than you can handle? If you want to hire a researcher, write to the following address for a list of qualified individuals: Board for Certification of Genealogists, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.