Genealogy research web links, 2

(Note...see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started on your genealogy).


http://www.usgenweb.com/ .... links to all states in the U.S. and includes counties.


http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ ... Social Security Death Index


http://www.archives.gov/index.html ... The National Archives (military records, etc).

Genealogy research web links, 1

(Note...see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started on your genealogy)


http://www.familysearch.org/ ......free site with tons of information.


http://www.cyndislist.com/ ..... free site...contains links to every possible genealogy site imaginable. This site is an index for other information sites. It only gives you a link to go somewhere else. This is a VERY helpful, wonderful site.


http://www.rootsweb.com/ ....free site, very good

Step 6....Research

Now you are ready to begin the research process to locate information about your ancestors. There is much....very much...information to be found on the internet, as well as in books, court houses, cemeteries, and funeral homes.

Internet research is fun and easy. 1)..Try doing a Google search for your ancestors name. Put quotation marks around the name so that it will narrow down the results and not give you lots of only first name finds.

While still in Google, 2)..type the name of the town and state that your ancestor lived, adding the words “vital records” after the place. Try experimenting on Google with other types of searching similar to these.

Whenever you find some information on any of your ancestors, be sure to record that information into your computer genealogy software program (step 5).

On my future posts I will also share with you some genealogy website links to help you in your researching of ancestor information.

Step 5...A computer genealogy software program

Oh, what a wonderful and helpful tool to have to use in your genealogy work.....I am referring to any one of the genealogy software programs on the market, such as “Family Tree Maker”.... “Family Tree Builder”.... “The Master Genealogist”...to name a few. Just do a Google search for “genealogy software programs”

After installing the program onto your computer, you type in information such as family (ancestor) names, birth and death dates, birth and death places, marriage information, any family history notes and tidbits....anything you want at all. After your data is into the program, it will organize everything for you, link all your family lines together and you can print out pedigree charts and family group sheets that will have your family information on it....based on what you typed into your database.

A Pedigree Chart, when filled out with all the information you know at the moment, will aid you in the following ways:

* At a glance you can follow a family line for several generations.
* At a glance you can see what information you are lacking and can begin researching for it.

Begin with yourself as #1, and work back on your family lines as far as you can go with the information you have at the moment. Take a yellow highlighter pen and mark the areas that are lacking information. This alerts you to what you need to search for and when you find the information, then write it on the highlighted area and then type the data into your program .

The genealogical program will also print out other records and lists for you. What a great way to print out your information and share it with other family members...or share on the internet with others who are researching your surnames.

Step 4...Organize

Now that you have gathered all possible documents and information for all of your living and deceased family members (Step 2 and 3)....you are ready to organize it. The second important word in genealogy work is “ORGANIZE”.

Setting up a filing system that works for you is vital. It enables you to have an organized place to file and store your family information and then to be able to quickly find a certain document or piece of information that you want, for a particular ancestor of yours.

There are many TYPES and STYLES of genealogy filing systems you can use. A lot of people like the color coded system....where each of your four grandparents are assigned a particular color on their file folders (along with their names) and which is also referenced on their pedigree charts and family group record sheets. Children from the family of each of your grandparents are assigned the same color as their parents.

Another style is to place a file folder with your name on it in the front of the file box, then behind it place a folder with your parents name on it. And behind that place a file folder for each of your grandparents. Within each of these folders, file away items from those 6 envelopes or boxes (step 2).

Click on the following links to get ideas and helps on the various methods, types and styles of organizational systems. Then choose one that best suits your needs.

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/organization/a/filing_systems.htm


http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ALL_REF_DOC_-_Organizing_Paper_Files.ASP


http://legacynews.typepad.com/legacy_news/organization/index.html

Step 3...Asking and gathering from living relatives

Besides gathering within your own home the documents and other papers pertaining to your ancestors, it is very important to not forget that your other living family members (parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins) might have ancestor information stored in their homes as well.

Approach them and let them know the genealogy project you are working on and ask them if they could please help you. Ask them if they possibly have any documents and other information on any ancestors. And ask them if they would mind if you made a copy of the items. It is wonderful that THEY have these documents....but YOU NEED to have copies of these in your home, too....for your children’s sake.

Any items you acquire from your relatives...put these also into the envelopes or boxes you have previously prepared for the purpose of sorting all documents you find around your home, etc. (step 2).

Step 2...Gather

In genealogy work, we always begin with our self and work backwards on our four grandparents family lines, following the SURNAMES. The first important word is GATHER...we need to know what family information WE ALREADY HAVE...in order to know what information WE STILL NEED.

Go all around your house and look in every drawer, box, closet, nook and cranny. Look in your garage, attic, basement. What are we looking for?....DOCUMENTS such as birth and death certificates, diplomas, awards, journals, diaries, individual personal histories, letters, photos, deeds, wills, personal and family memorabilia, pieces of paper...anything that gives a clue that family members really existed. Whose papers and items are we looking for?....OURS....OUR PARENTS....OUR GRANDPARENTS... and aunts, uncles and cousins.


Get 6 large envelopes or boxes. Put your name on one. Put your parents name on one. Put one of your four grandparents name on one. .......and do the same for each of your other grandparents (for FEMALES...always use their maiden name in genealogy work). Then as you find and gather these items put them, one at a time, into one of these envelopes or boxes....according to who they belong or refer to. Items belonging to children of grandparents (or others)...put with the male parent.

Step 1...Understanding more about what Genealogy is

Genealogy is researching and identifying your ancestors. It is finding names, dates, and places of your ancestors and also finding and putting together, like pieces of a puzzle, facts about their life such as how they lived their life, and the kind of people they were. It is forming your family history. Also, it is searching out information such as if they immigrated to this country, and their migration from place to place and details about the places they lived, any land they owned, information in Wills or Probate records that will give you more clues to other members in their family. It is gathering and compiling all this information you know and have about your family, present and past, and organizing and sharing it. (Wouldn't you want the memory of you and your life to be kept alive in the minds and hearts of all your future generations?). What greater, more rewarding and important work than this!

As you progress in genealogy work, you will soon realize that you want to learn much more than just the names, dates, and places. Instead you will want to learn about the lives your ancestors lived. You will desire to learn everything about them...what made them happy, and the trials they had to endure. The more you find out, the more you’ll want to know.

It is fascinating once you begin the quest to learn about your ancestors...this all brings them closer to your understanding...and your heart.