Many people are interested in the their family history, but are not sure where to begin. We know the names of our grandparents, and maybe our great grandparents, but little else. Finding our older generations may help to explain family traditions, identify potential genetic medical conditions, or prove those sketchy family stories. For many of us, finding the names of those past family members and unraveling their stories brings a sense of excitement. We find unusual stories, interesting names, and possibly other geographic areas where our families lived.
What do you already know?
The first step in the genealogy process is to write down and organize what you know.
Start with your parents. When and where were they born? When and where did they marry? If still living, ask them to share as much as they know about their families.
If you’re lucky enough to have living grandparents, do the same with them.
The next step is to look through those old family documents, photographs and heirlooms. Can you identify the people in the photographs? Do you have Grandma’s teenage journal? Is there an envelope full of old birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses? Pull as much information as you can from these documents and write it all down in one place.
Start your family tree
Either while you are doing the above, or after, organize your genealogical material. While there are numerous genealogy programs, as well as online platforms for creating family trees, you can simply write down the information on genealogy forms. We’ll look at all of these briefly.
• Genealogy Software
This Wikipedia article provides a full list of different programs. Some software – Ancestral Quest, Family Tree Builder, Legacy Family Tree – offer basic free-to-use options. Take note that not all software programs are compatible with macOS.
• Online Forms
There are several online platforms specifically designed for creating and storing your family tree. Those will be discussed in a future article. For a basic online drawing, consider using Lucidchart or Canva. Search for “family tree” templates on both sites – no need to start from scratch! (While both sites require that you create an account, they are free to use.)
Sample Family Tree template from LucidChart
• Printed Forms
There are only a couple of forms necessary to start your genealogy journey. The Ancestral Chart allows you to view several generations of your ancestors at one time. The Family Group Sheet is used to record more detailed information about one couple, and their children.
There are numerous websites that provide free printable forms to enter your information.
National Archives has a comprehensive list of charts. So does FamilySearch (scroll down to “Family groups, pedigrees, and research logs”.
UP NEXT: Navigating online family tree options.