![]() ![]() Further research could end up showing they're someone quite important to your research.Ĭonsider keeping a written inventory of your family photos, including who's in each of them. Don't just throw it away because you don't know at the moment who they are. Even if they don't know, there probably was a reason the image was saved. If you're not sure who the people are, ask others in your family. Some might have writing on the back (or even the front) or other details that provide more information about the people in the image, where they were or what they were doing. Not only do photos provide a visual element to your family tree, but they also might contain valuable clues. Don't underestimate the power of old family photos, even if you don't know who the people are Don't worry: You don't have to belong to a particular religion or church they're open for anyone to use. Many free databases are out there, too, depending on the type of records you're seeking.Īmong them are, , and, the latter of which is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can also just do a bunch of research at once and save it to your computer, without having to pay. Many sites open their databases for free, especially during the holidays, if you'd like to try them out before committing to the extra expense. If you'd rather not spend the money, there are other options, too. They might be for someone with the same age and location - or simply for someone with a similar name. Be careful, though, as these helpful hints, as indicated by little green leaves, aren't 100% accurate. One of the advantages, at least for Ancestry, is that its algorithms will find possibly related documents once you find whom you're looking for. If you find yourself skeptical about whether to spend money on a membership to research sites like, you're not alone. Consider signing up for access to online resources, such as You might remember now where you found it, but you might not a year from now, and future generations likely won't have a clue. Think of it as keeping a bibliography or a sources list. ![]() Research your options online and pick what's right for you.Īlso, make sure you're documenting where and when you found the information - and be as specific and detailed as you can. I use a nice little program called Reunion for Macintosh, but there are a plethora of them out there. Some programs are free, though you generally get what you pay for. That's great if you're looking to connect, but not so much if you value your privacy. The downside: Unless you change the settings, your tree might show up in the online searches of other researchers. The advantage of using an online-based database, such as or, is that you can more easily track your sources whenever you enter a person. ![]() Most also offer options to export your database to an online format, if you choose to do so later. Start documenting the information you've learned in a format that makes sense for youĬonsider investing in a database system, either online or using a program you can save to your computer. Once you get the basics, even if it's back a generation or two, the greater the chance there will be others who are searching for the same family members you are. It also could end up serving as a neat keepsake for you and/or future generations, especially if you record a video. This will allow you to focus on the conversation instead of trying to spend your time taking notes on every detail. ![]() If they're OK with it, record the conversation. Be sure to ask about any children and extended relatives they remember from growing up. Ask what they remember about themselves and their immediate family members, including approximate birth years and locations, places where they might have lived, jobs they've had. Start with siblings, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, if they're still around. Not only is this good if you're looking to fill out your own medical history, but it also can at least provide you with a starting point for tracing your roots. Here are some of my helpful hints to help those of you who may be interested in learning more about the branches on your family tree: Ask family members what they know about themselves and previous generations, including names, dates and placesĪsk family members what they know about your shared history. Over the past two decades, I've sort of learned or figured out a lot of things myself. So when my interest began in earnest as a junior in high school, I already had access to a pretty decent starting point.Īmong the stories I discovered were those of a great-great-grandfather who had ridden the rails halfway across the country in search of his high school sweetheart a 4x-great-grandfather who had owned the barn that authorities had burned to the ground in order to smoke out a presidential assassin and a 10x-great-grandfather who had hidden the sixth and final wife of a king who had opted to kill his wives rather than divorce them. ![]()
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