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.