Family History and Genealogy
Created by the Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ
Created by the Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ
This website will be continually added to as new resources become available. Here's what you will currently find in this guide:
General: on these pages we link to reputable sources that offer guidance on starting your genealogical journey in the United States. We highlight some collections whose materials cover the nation or multiple states. We suggest the major types of organizations that can help connect you to records and information. We provide resources for free sources of organizational tools for your family tree and records and link to reputable resources on preserving photos and documents. We also discuss some difficulties you may have at certain points of your research.
Princeton: we outline the Princeton-specific materials included in our collections. We also highlight other collections that include a large number of materials related to Princeton.
New Jersey: we highlight some collections that either focus on New Jersey or have a large number of materials connected to the state.
International: we discuss some of the challenges you may face in doing international research and highlight some sources for international records.
Genealogy is the study of family history, and there are many different ways to collect and tell your family story. Your interest in this field may have started with a school project, hearing a surprising anecdote from a family member, inheriting previous research, or wanting to look ahead and share your story with future generations. Whatever brought you here, you need resources to take the next steps.
Genealogy can be a scavenger hunt, a way to travel through time, and a way to learn more about the people whose lives led to you. We hope you will use the tools, resources, and suggestions in this guide to build not only a family tree but a better understanding of your family's place in history. This guide is an entryway into genealogy; there are new sites, programs, and records being created every day. Once you have the basics, use the skills you've learned to "branch out" and find new information.
While it can be great to collaborate, especially about ancestors who may have lived a hundred or more years ago, it's smart to be careful about sharing information about yourself and your living family. You should always obtain permission from living family members before making information about them available to other people. You should also read privacy information carefully for any subscription-based service before sharing your personal information.
Oral Family History
You don't have to go far to start building your family tree. Aside from formal records, start with parents, grandparents, and other close relatives: use some of the oral history ideas included on this page to interview willing family members about events and people they remember. Grandparents and older relatives may be able to give you names, birthdays, or other information about great- or great-great-grandparents. These are the clues that will help you fill in the pages of your family story. If you're unable to interview parents or grandparents, try aunts, uncles, older cousins, or even family friends who might be able to share memories, nicknames, or other details.
A family history interview is a perfect way to learn more about your living relatives and about relatives who may have passed away. Keep an open mind, and don't assume you know what your interviewee will say before they answer. You'll be surprised how much you can learn about people you already know!
Make sure to have a video or sound recording device handy, or be ready with a pen and paper to take notes. Remember - this should be a fun, relaxed, and comfortable experience with an emphasis on sharing what is most important to you and your family members.
Below are a few question lists to help you plan your own family interviews.
Research Your Roots: Capturing Your Family History
This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and the Historical Society of Princeton. The Historical Society of Princeton offers guidance and tips to help you use today's readily available technology to preserve and share your family's history. This workshop will prepare you to collect these oral histories, offering tips for conducting interviews and eliciting detailed responses plus practical technical guidance for sharing and saving your files. This event was recorded on November 17, 2020.