How To Find Your Family Tree

To begin your journey, it’s time to go searching. You need to investigate every area possible in your home, where old photos, family records, letters, etc. may be hiding. Additionally, if possible, conduct a similar search at any existing relative’s homes. There may be some hidden gems here, as well!

Now, that you’ve conducted “in-home” searches, it’s time to begin interviewing any and all relatives (which you are able to find.) Ask grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, etc. Inquire about memories, events, dates, facts, etc. Make sure that you take adequate notes during your discussions, as to have an accurate record of the information you’ve gathered. When you feel you have a decent amount of research compiled, it’s time to create a five-generation pedigree chart. You can find ample templates at http://misbach.org/pdfcharts.

At this point, it’s important to develop a strategy. Trying to complete the entire pedigree chart of one’s ancestry at once can be daunting and exhausting! It’s a far better idea to focus on one particular area and construct the family tree from one existing point or reference.

Moving along . . . it is now a good time to utilize some technology to your advantage. The Internet offers millions of pages of information at your fingertips! A good place to start can be an advanced Google search; or by simply going to existing genealogy sites such as www.rootsweb.com/~ohclecgs/ for the Clermont County Genealogical Society. Remember, this is just one genealogy site; there are many sites available to aid in your research. See the table at the bottom of the page for more genealogy sites to aid in your road to discovery.

While tempting to completely rely on the ease of technology, existing libraries are a great resource to utilize. Libraries can offer a variety of records, books, encyclopedias, almanacs, newspaper indexes, and databases for you to peruse.

Now, you haven’t exhausted all of your resources, yet. There are many Family History Centers where you can tap into a variety of genealogical information (i.e. birth, death, and marriage certificates.) A great site to aid you in finding a Family History Center near you is www.familysearch.olrg/org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp.

Well, at this point, you’ve invested a great deal of time into research and the gathering of family records. Now is a good time to begin an in-depth organization process. You can organize your data on something as simple as pen and paper; or you can invest in any number of family tree software programs. As a rule of thumb, make sure to cite all of the resources you’ve utilized to ensure accuracy.

While a great deal of effort is required to develop a complete family tree; it’s an effort that can offer a great sense of reward and accomplishment. Take into account, however, that this is not an easy process! Therefore, do not become, overwhelmed and/or frustrated. Take your time and enjoy the process. Remember to use the index of genealogy sites provided to aid you in the journey of developing your new family tree!