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1. Start with
a basic course or tutorial on building your family tree. For example,
these "how-to" sites are very good starting points. Try them:
RootsWeb's Guide to
Tracing Family Trees
Genealogy.com's Lessons
FamilySearch's
Learning Center
NGS
(National Genealogical Society) Standards for Genealogical Research
2. Start with
yourself & work backwards to your parents, grandparents,
great-grandparents, etc.
3. Gather documents
from family sources including:
-
vital records - birth, marriage & death certificates
-
church records - christening, marriage burial
-
military records - pension, discharge
-
bible records - (photocopy those middle and front pages
with family history notes.)
-
family portraits
4. Get organized
by:
- Placing documents & photos
in archival-safe top loading sheet protectors, boxes, file folders or
albums, such as those provided by:
www.officedepot.com
www.staples.com
www.lightimpressionsdirect.com
www.creativememories.com
- Using a genealogy software program that allows you to organize and present
your data, and share by import and export of GEDCOM (generic genealogy data) files.
There are free versions of these programs available from the developers. The
programs used most by our members
include the following (use the link provided to explore these programs):
RootsMagic
Family Tree Maker
Legacy
- While the Society does not endorse the use of a particular genealogy program, you
can find tech support for RootsMagic by attending the MGS RootsMagic Special
Interest Group (SIG) which meets once a month. Use of the RootsMagic
software is the principal topic. (See Meeting Schedule page).
5. Learn more about earlier
generations
- Attend genealogy society meetings, take local genealogy classes and
read online "how-to" lessons to learn about the genealogy research
process.
- Begin to do research at local & regional archives, libraries & LDS
Family History Centers.
- Remember that books provide "second hand" evidence of our
ancestors, shorting our search for original documents archived at
courthouses, churches and other archives throughout the world.
- Consider that the bulk of your research will be done on microfilm of
original records from those distant localities where your ancestors once
lived.
6. Hang in there!
The challenges are many, but the rewards are GREAT!
Good luck in your ancestral quest!
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