Getting Started

Set a realistic goal. Would you like to know a straight lineal tree back five generations? Would you like to know about a specific branch of your family? Would you like to know who your immigrant ancestors are? 

Begin with what you already know. Who are your parents? Grandparents? What was their birthdates? Where were they born?  Begin with yourself, then your parents.

Now it's time to begin your research yourself at local societies or on a site like Ancestry.com. No time to research yourself? Call Jeanne to research for you.

Check out your county or state's historical society. Other resources could include local libraries. Don't forget to search family organizations too.

Ancestry.com is a great resource and a vast directory of resources. Don't just stop there though. Explore your ancestral homelands. Many places have added older records online.

Documentation is vital. Proper citation is gives credence to your research. It also makes it easy if you have to go back and check it for seomething.