New to Genealogy - Beginners First Step
New to family history and ancestry research? If you are a beginner or a seasoned genealogist, take care of the time sensitive critical steps immediately and then you can take your time to learn how to set attainable goals as your genealogy experience grows.
Get started at any age, see if this is something your children would be interested in, do some storytelling about your ancestors or yourself, start a project to share your family history with others.
Oral Research. Do it while you still have family members to ask.
Frequently ask Genealogy questions
Contents
- 1 Beginners First Step is as Easy as 1-2-3!
- 2 Do I really want to get involved with a genealogy project?
- 2.1 What is genealogy? What is heritage?
- 2.2 What goals can be set when starting a family history?
- 2.2.1 Preserving information and memories (questions produce answers).
- 2.2.2 Collecting/storing documents and photos for the future.
- 2.2.3 Build a small network of family and distant cousins to collaborate with.
- 2.2.4 Organizing what you have already collected.
- 2.2.5 Try a small project first to build some confidence.
- 2.2.6 Continue the storytelling by starting a webpage.
- 2.2.7 Re-evaluate your current objectives and think about long term planning.
- 2.2.8 How do I keep myself (and others) from burning out?
- 2.2.9 Searching for more (what information is missing?).
- 3 If your answer is, Yes I want to become a family historian.
- 4 Article Summary
Beginners First Step is as Easy as 1-2-3![edit | edit source]
ONE. The first goal is to take care of the critical steps while there is still time to do so.
- Don’t rush to collect names until the “perishable” things are collected and protected.
- Capture relatives' memories before they are forgotten or gone.
- Ask questions; record or videotape the answers if possible.
- Remember, the only dumb question is the one that was never asked.
- Preserve originals or copies of all the old photographs and documents. Identify those pictured in photographs while living relatives can still do so.
- Organize the valuables in at least two distinct formats and two separate locations.
- Retain paper copies and properly store the originals.
- Digitize for the future (keep your storage media up-to-date too).
TWO. Examine your choices and decide on your goals (use small manageable steps).
- Is this a pastime, hobby, a passion, a calling, a vocation, a career, or a legacy?
- Start slowly to build confidence.
- Build a cooperative network to share data and activities.
- Do not get overwhelmed and buried in an avalanche of paperwork (organize as you go).
- Tell a story based on the data (the life of your favorite relative).
- Share your results with others (Start a webpage or blog).
- Keep a research log to record clues and theories you want to prove.
- Constantly re-adjust your course in light of new data that is discovered.
- Safeguard your results for posterity.
- Create backups for both the physical documents and the digital data.
- Keep your storage media up-to-date so you can always access the data.
- Feed your information into a “world tree” program for the future generations.
- Continue to expand your genealogical education as your interest grows.
THREE. Always re-evaluate and re-adjust your goals and research objectives.
- Rethink your objectives and pace yourself for the long haul
(there is no hurry to finish a project that has no end). - Don’t just stare at the inevitable brick wall, just take a step back and think.
- Try to side-step it by following other nearby family lines.
- Look for neighbors and nearby relatives in the census records.
- Double check your research and previous conclusions.
- Let it go for now as new online data will eventually be available
- After exhausting the on-line resources, "hit the ground running" by utilizing the Research Wiki for off-line resources.
- Study migration patterns for clues to missing relatives or to help build your storyline.
- Let your interests and experience guide where your journey is to go next.
Do I really want to get involved with a genealogy project?[edit | edit source]The very first decision when getting involved with a genealogy project can be the hardest. As depicted in the diagram it can be a balancing act where you could either end up flat on your face or be off to a good start. This decision is to actually determine if you are willing and able to expend the time, energy, and resources needed to achieve your goals. The time spent and the costs involved could potentially get out of hand but by setting your goals correctly they are much easier to keep under control.
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Article Summary
[edit | edit source]
Article Summary Section (+links from this article: Wiki articles highlighted in BOLD) | |||
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Theme: “New to genealogy” (This journey could potentially become a hobby, a passion, a vocation, a career, or a legacy) | |||
Article “Steps” |
Summary Statement |
Article links |
Article keyword used for link |
1. Preserving information and memories (questions produce answers) |
Critical step: Ask questions of your relatives before it is no longer an option. Record not only the facts but also the memories of an individual (the only dumb question is the one that was never asked). See the article on how to conduct a good interview. If you are a member of the senior generation then simply ask yourself the questions from the question lists. Your answers could contain valuable clues for future family historians. |
"online data" "questions" "children to help"
| |
2. Collecting and storing documents and photos | Locate, label, and digitize (scan into a computer file) all the old photographs and documents for your family first and then branch out to grandparents and then aunts and uncles. Preserve as much as you can. If you are the family member with the most life experience you may find this task is bigger than you would want to tackle on your own. Tell the younger generations that you would like help with entering this information on the computer. If they agree then it is a win-win situation for the family. |
“Digitizing” “Preserving”
"free online services" | |
Step 1 is critical and step 2 should be done ASAP |
If you do nothing else, make sure you (or someone in your family) takes care of Steps 1 and 2 as soon as possible. These are crucial steps in preserving your family’s history and you may not have the opportunity to complete these at some future date. You will regret it later if you put these off for too long. | ||
3. Build a small network of family and distant cousins to collaborate with |
Start to build a network of contacts within you family by having others ask around to see if anyone has already started collecting data. Expand your network to distant “cousins” by searching the Internet. |
Involve Your Extended Family in Family History |
"extended family" |
4. Organize what you have already collected |
Learn from the experience of others about how to get organized and what filing systems work best. Evaluate software options that are compatible with other programs that you may use in the future. |
Organizing Your Files |
“filing systems” “as you go” |
5. Try a small project first to build some confidence |
Interpret the data but watch out for common rookie mistakes. Try an easy project first to build your confidence like writing a story about one of your ancestors. |
“rookie mistakes” "free" (photos) "short story" | |
6. Continue the storytelling by starting a webpage |
Share your new story and your family history information with other by starting a website or blog that others can access. Make it a collaborative effort with other involved with genealogy. |
“webpage” | |
7. Re-evaluate your current objectives and think about long term planning |
Sit back and evaluate what you have accomplished so far. Once the critical issues have been taken care of the rest of the data is not going anywhere so this is the time to do some longer range planning. |
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8. How do I keep myself (and others from burning out? |
Don’t get discourage when you run into the proverbial brick wall. Setbacks happen to everyone so you just have to step back and readjust in order to get around the roadblocks. Just remember there is help out there. |
Solving Tough Research Problems – Overcoming Brick Walls |
“brick wall” |
9. Searching for more (what information is missing)? | This wiki will provide reliable assistance in finding where additional information is located throughout this country and the world. The Family Tree software can also assist you in searching for people in your ancestry. Start to explore more and more options and do not hesitate to readjust your goals as needed. Time is on your side. |
Websites for Family History Beginners Introduction to Family History Centers |
"the internet for free” “records collection” "local history centers" |
Articles for further reading |
Additional article worth checking out if you are curious about what is next or you have decided that you do want to become a family historian. | Share your knowledge by adding to the Wiki Begin your genealogy quest Principles of Family History Research |
“write articles” (same title) |
Editor's Note: Please include additional relevant links that can be found in the Research Wiki that those "new to genealogy" might find useful. This table is transcluded from the "Beginners First Step - Summary and Links" page. | |||
Other links that may be of interest to those that are "new to genealogy" |
What is Heritage? (short article) Ideas of where to begin your Family History Social Media: blogs, forums, message boards, wikis Links to several social media articles Using the Family History Center and local facilities Ways to preserve your unique family heritage How to present it to your family and the world Find guides, maps, and family histories Stories you would love to have Overcome the thought, "I'm not much of a writer" Reviews of various ways of documenting your history Learning your own legacy by telling your story Become reacquinted with who you are The act of writing has many benefits Some things have to be seen to be believed The hallmark of good genealogical research A comprehensive list of areas to check out Hiring a researcher: what to expect Is it worth submitting samples for DNA testing?
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Popular Social Networks for Genealogy Use the Internet for Family History Research Personal History - Hints on Writing Personal Histories - different kinds Writing Your Family and Personal Histories Personal History - Write or Record It? Personal History - Recording with a Camcorder Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes) Hiring a Professional Researcher
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Revision Date: 19 January 2021 |
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