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Getting Started in Genealogy
The basic principle of
genealogical research is to work backwards from the known to the unknown.
The place to get started is at home.
- Talk to older relatives and
write down what they tell you. If they are agreeable, use a tape or
video recorder when you interview them. Ask leading questions: What is
your earliest memory? What did you like best about school? How did you
and Grandpa meet?
- Look for family Bibles,
letters, scrapbooks, obituaries, and other materials. Gather basic facts
about your family from these sources. If a relative is hesitant to allow
you to take the material for copying, ask if you can digitally
photograph it on site.
- Find out vital statistics
(birth, marriage, and death records) from both family and official
(government) sources.
- Write down full names and dates
of important events before you visit the library or courthouse
and take the information with you.
- Guard against assumptions.
Family stories about a Cherokee great-grandmother or a great-grandfather
who rode with Nathan Bedford Forrest are not necessarily accurate.
Finding Great-Grandpa’s name does not mean you’ve found Great-Grandpa.
It could be his uncle, cousin, or another relative.
- Remember that anyone can post
anything on the internet. The internet is a wonderful source for clues,
but always go to the original record for verification. You can also find
on-line tutorials, forms to use, and other helpful tips. A good place to
look is
www.cyndislist.com which has links to thousands of genealogical and
historical sites.
- Spelling is a modern invention.
Our ancestors spelled the way things sounded, and they used nicknames,
just as we do. Government officials and census takers did not
necessarily know how to spell the names they were given and not all of
our forefathers knew how to read and write. “Sarah” may be written “Sary”;
“Patsy” was a common nickname for “Martha”; a foreign name like “Kohl”
might end up as “Coal” in the records.
- Join one or more genealogical
society. County societies usually publish newsletters that can contain
wonderful nuggets of information. It’s usually worth joining a far-away
society just for their publications. Societies that meet in your
locality offer fellowship with experienced researchers and programs on
methodology, which is the same wherever you are. Cyndi’s List offers
links to societies all over the word.
- Take advantage of workshops and
classes. Many local organizations sponsor an annual seminar with
instruction on some aspect of research. The Middle Tennessee
Genealogical Society holds one every year on the third Saturday of
November. (www.mtgs.org)
- Keep searching. There is always
another ancestor to find. When you hit a brick wall—and you will
hit a brick wall—start researching another line for a while.
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