Back in the mid 1970’s when I first began my family history research, I made a lot of errors. I wish I knew about those guidelines.
Some included:
- asking lots of questions but not writing down the answers – I was young, I would remember what I had been told
- putting all my information in a big box – not sorting it into family names
- finding information in books or on microfilm or card catalogues but not writing down where I found it
But there were a couple of things I did early on that helped me:
- I visited my local Historical Society and asked them questions – they directed me to pedigree charts and family group sheets
- They also directed me to the state archives where I would find births, death and marriage records on microfilm or microfiche
But nowadays with the internet, family history researching is so much easier.
You could join a course like the one run by the University of Tasmania or you could:
Find some beginner guides for family history from the following places:
- GENUKI – genealogy UK and Ireland
- SAG – Society of Australian Genealogists helping you links
- LINC – Tasmanian Government family history resources page
- LINC – for family history outside of Tasmania
- National Library Australia – getting started help
- National Genealogical Society (USA) – guidelines for sound researching
To help document your research you can find online pedigree and family group charts
Download charts from here
- You find these charts from ancestry.com, familysearch.org, ancestors, Cyndi’s List
- Great information about research logs found here on familysearch.
Readers: What is something unusual you have found when looking at records about your relatives? Leave your story in a comment.