Getting Started with Genealogy

I know there are many of you who don't know where to begin with genealogy. Lucky for you, we live a world of technology and information and it's much easier than you realize. I have listed my top 5 getting started tips below.

My top 5 Getting Started Tips: 

Start Organized, Start Talking, Start Recording, Start Researching, Start Sharing

1. Start Organized: The best way to keep your Genealogy organized, is to start organized with these simple materials & programs

• Large 5 Star Notebook. I like this one because it's thick and has 5 folder dividers for your records.
• Your favorite pencil or pen
• Software to archive all the Family info you will be accumulating. Here's one of the FREE software programs I use; PAF 5. You Can download it for FREE by clicking here >> 

2. Start Talking: Call up or email Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousin or friends to get you started. I found that men are better at remembering stories from events and women are better at remembering names, dates & places. So use both to get a full detailed record of your family history. As you are talking, make sure you are recording all these details in your notebook or Software program.

3. Start Recording:  If you haven't already downloaded PAF 5, start now. It's free, easy to use, and gives you many different types of reports and pedigrees. This is a free software from the Church's Family Search Website, I love it and you'll love it too!! Click here to download of PAF 5

4. Start Researching:  Unless you have a family Bible with generations of records, you'll need the Internet to launch you into the next step; research. These are my top 7 websites that I use and highly recommend to all: (click on the link to visit the site).

1. New Family Search ~ www.new.familysearch.org
2. Ancestry ~ www.ancestry.com*
3. Archives ~ www.archives.com*
4. Find A Grave ~ www.findagrave.com
5. US Gen Web ~ www.usgenweb.org
6. One Great Family ~ www.onegreatfamily.com*
7. Google ~ www.google.com

*Requires a membership fee that can be payed on monthly or yearly basis, but a Free trial before you decide.

5. Start Sharing:  Once you have recorded your family history, print it out and share it with all your family members, including distant relatives. It's not only a priceless gift, but you are educating your family on your heritage; they will love it!!

Have fun getting started!!

Posted in: genealogy