Have you ever wanted to find your family roots but didn1t quite know where to begin? Finding your beginnings is simply like a road map where you begin with yourself, travel a short distance or a never ending search trip. To start your genealogy begin with as much information about yourself then add your sisters and brothers, next adding your parents and grandparents, and if possible, your great-grandparents. Always try to include full names, birth dates and locations, death dates and locations, marriage dates and locations, spouses names with birth and death dates, locations, and the names of their parents. Add medical and miscellaneous information on all family members. Medical information is viable for four generations and may come in handy if a family member becomes ill.
Family photos, Bibles, letters, and journals found in attics, barns, trunks, etc., help immensely. Write down any documentation and verify where this information was located. Sit down with older relatives and tape record or write down memories they have of the family. These may be invaluable when researching. Various records such as census, school, taxes, employment, marriage, military, birth, deaths, burials, and professional and fraternal organizations are readily available to those eager to pursue their family history.
Many of your local libraries and state archives have vast amounts of material available through books, microfilm, photographs, newspapers, and other media. The U.S. maintains the National Archives in Washington, D.C., open to the public. Many counties in each state has historical and/or genealogical societies as well as a family history center. Many of these are open to the public on certain days of the week for research. The Family History Center (FHC) located in Salt Lake City, Utah and maintained through the Mormon Church, has the largest center of genealogical records housing over 2 million rolls of microfilm and over 200,000 family histories.
Another form of help available to many now is the personal computer. If you have access to an online program there are many different groups that can be used for research. Many of these groups have bulletin boards where you can post messages for others researching your surname that you can correspond with regularly. If you have ancestors from outside the U.S., the Immigration and Naturalization Service can help you locate their immigration into this country. In this instance it is applicable to have the full name, birth date, and country of origin available before a search can be conducted.
With patience, time, and fortitude, anyone can find their "roots." Never say "can't" and don't be ashamed to ask for help. There are many people unknown to you out there with family histories who had to start somewhere. They may be the very person who is working on that one family you are looking for yourself. Keep on digging! One day you will have a legacy to leave to your family of which you can be very proud.
REPRINTED FROM STEELES GENEALOGY ROUNDTABLE, 1ST QUARTER 1997
| 
| 
|
