If you're just starting genealogical research, you might want to start with this article from FamilySearch, the best known free website devoted to genealogy.
** Hint 1: when you see a "link" highlighted in blue on your screen, you can "click" on the link and it will take you directly to that website!!
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Here are some general thoughts on starting your research.
Step 1 - Gather all your information and photographs, sorted by family group
** Hint 2: Most genealogists find it very useful to gather information by what is called a "Family Group". This is a father, mother, and all their children, in one form called a Family Group Sheet. There are links to this and other useful forms in the "How to" section of this website.
** Hint 3: Although eventually you will want to put your information in the computer, at first you can organize your information into 3 ring binders of file folders, typically by Family Group.
Step 2 - Fill out Family Group Sheets for your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, using information that you have. You can print multiple copies of the Family Group Sheet from this website.
** Hint 4: In doing genealogical research, it is very important to know where events happened because that is how most records are kept. In the US you should try to find the state and county where each event occurred.
** Hint 5: County boundaries change and new counties are formed over time. When you record an event, record the state and county as of the time of the event, not what it is now.
** Hint 6: This is a good time to look at any family photographs and ask yourself "who is in the picture?" As part of your research, it is important to try and identify as many people as possible in old photographs.
Step 3 - Ask your family to help you when you have questions (who did Aunt Martha marry?). In doing effective genealogical research, it is very important to get other family members involved.
Step 4 - Try your first on-line internet research.
Use Family Search for your first research. This is a free website that contains a great deal of information. You will create a sign-in with your email address and a password to get full access to the website (this is common for free genealogy websites).
A good place to start is the US Census records (records are available for which were taken every 10 years form 1790 to 1940, except the 1890 census, which was lost).
Put in the name of one of your family members who would have been in the 1940 census (perhaps yourself and/or your parents) and see if you can find them! See what information is there. Then you might try other census records and also look for birth, marriage, death and military records.
** Hint 7: Your surname (last name) is very important to you and in your research. Be aware that many records may spell your name differently from the way you spell it. "Schmidt" might be spelled "Smith" in some records. This is particularly important with Eastern European and Scandinavian names.
** Hint 8: Try to keep a record of where you found information, particularly information that is surprising ("I never knew mom's Uncles Mark and Michael were twins!"). Keep a Source Summary and note that source next to the information.
Step 5 - Look at other on-line internet sites (click on "Links to Internet Sites" on this webpage for a description of useful websites).
The first time you try a new website take the time to "look around" and see what information is available and how searches can be done and managed.
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When you have reached a reasonable stopping point, and you've got some results and some questions, come to one of the monthly meetings and review what you've done!!