WHAT IS GENEALOGY? Genealogy is the study of family history, and for many it is an interesting hobby. To trace your family's ancestry takes some basic research skills and a great deal of patience and time. It's easy to begin, just start with your generation and work back in time searching for names, dates and places which pertain to your ancestors.

Southern Hills United Methodist Church                      How to find us

PURPOSE

	To promote and stimulate knowledge and interest in the study of genealogy.
	To provide for exchange of information among members and assist members in their genealogical research.
	To assist members and non-members in educational programs and workshops in genealogy, family history, and aid individual members in compiling family genealogies
	To enhance and increase the genealogical knowledge of our fellow church members..
	To encourage the indexing and maintaining of original genealogical material.
	To meet in fellowship.

PREAMBLE SHGS. is a club formed by those persons who have a common interest in genealogy.	AFFILIATION SHGS. is affiliated with Southern Hills Methodist Church and we gather under it's fellowship.
Click here for LINKS TO OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES	GENEALOGISTS´ CODE OF ETHICS Be it known to all That I am a responsible genealogical record searcher---dedicated to seeking that which is true about families I research. Family traditions are to be treated only as clues until substantiated. That I first shall seek permission for the use of the resources and acknowledge with gratitude all who assist me in my searches. That I pledge myself to use all artifacts and/or documents, whether private or public, entrusted to my use, with the greatest of care, leaving them in the assigned place, in the same condition in which I found them. If repair or restorative treatment is required, I shall report the same to those who are responsible for their safe use. That I shall refrain from reporting either orally or in writing, any information which might harm or prejudicially injure the reputation of any living person. That I freely give this pledge to uphold ethical standards to assure maintenance and availability of records.
BEGINNING YOUR RESEARCH Your first step is to do some homework. Collect and organize information that you and other family members have relating to the more recent generations of your family. Good sources are oral history, family Bibles, letters, certificates, legal documents, news clippings and photographs. Try to organize your data as you go along. An ancestor chart similar to that illustrated in this brochure is a good outline. Ancestor charts, family group charts and other forms useful in organizing genealogical data are available from a local genealogical society or from genealogical publishers. Taking good notes and keeping records of your sources as you go along will save time and avoid repetition as you continue your research in libraries, archives and county courthouses.