New to Genealogy - Beginners First Step: Difference between revisions

The very first goal can be one of the easiest, one of the most rewarding, and is actually the most important. Other goals can be slowly and progressively added as one becomes more and more interested and confident when researching your family’s history.   It is important to remember that this endeavor can take the form of a hobby, a passion, a vocation, a career, or a legacy and if kept in the correct perspective it can be quite rewarding.  

[[Image:Wooden hourglass 3.jpg|right|60px|Wooden hourglass 3.jpg]]Just ask questions before it’s too late (before the information is forgotten or your ancestors are no longer accessible).&nbsp; Who are all those people in the old photographs?&nbsp; What was it like when you were a kid? How did you meet your spouse?&nbsp; Did you have a dog when you were little?&nbsp; Always remember that there are no stupid questions if there are answers to those [[Creating A Personal History|'''questions''']] but you have to ask those questions before time runs out.<br>  

*Get others involved (siblings or aunts and uncles) by asking them to ask more questions around the family while writing it all down.&nbsp; Don't forget that their input and stories are important as well.<br>

*Don't forget to use video recordings to capture the question and answer sessions.&nbsp; It is often less disruptive than taking notes and besides allowing for a smooth flowing interview it will capture a moment in time that may not be repeatable.<br>

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[[Image:Emperor penguins.jpg|right|200px|Emperor penguins.jpg]]Discuss your interest in genealogy with your family and build a small network of collaborators within your [[Involve Your Extended Family in Family History|'''extended family'''.]] This will also help you to weather any rough patches that you encounter as the unavoidable setbacks will not seem so severe if you can discuss them with others.&nbsp; And who knows, a collaborative effort from many individuals may solve the problems you have encountered.  

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[[Image:FileStack retouched.jpg|right|200px|FileStack retouched.jpg]]Too much data can quickly become overwhelming so at some point a better [[Organizing Your Files|'''filing system''']] will become necessary.&nbsp; The best approach is to document and organize as you are collecting the data because chances are you will get behind and never catch up, so document [[Document AS YOU GO!|'''as you go''']].  

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The time has now come that you have to interpret the data you collected in order to get the story right.&nbsp; No matter how good your sources are you should still be aware of some [[Rookie Mistakes|'''rookie mistakes''']] that can be made.&nbsp; Once you are confident in your facts, you can start the storytelling.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pick a single person (your favorite person) and tell a story about their life.&nbsp; You don't have to write a biography, just remember that this is about storytelling.&nbsp; The following are some suggestions.<br>  

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[[Image:CreateWebsite.jpg|right|300px|CreateWebsite.jpg]]Create a [[Create a genealogy web page|'''webpage''']] or [[Blogs|'''blog''']] so family members can access it to see your progress.&nbsp; Ask others to contribute more photos and documents as well as assistance if they are willing to do so.  

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Do you find genealogy interesting and enjoyable?&nbsp; Do you think it is worth pursuing in greater detail?&nbsp; Would you consider making a career choice related to genealogy?<br>  

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[[Image:Brick Wall.jpg|right|200px|Brick Wall.jpg]]When you hit the inevitable [[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|'''brick wall''']], take a step back to double check your research or redirect your goals to other family lines. That wall may never go away but as new information becomes available on-line that wall could just as easily disappear.&nbsp; When searching other family lines of your "cousins" (not in your direct lineage) clues have been known to appear which would take you around or over that brick wall. One thing to keep in mind is that your goal of documenting your family history will actually and ultimately be a great benefit for future generations (your kid's kids) so don't get discouraged by a little [[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|'''brick wall''']].  

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[[Image:Thumb DetectiveSilhoette.png|left|100px|Thumb DetectiveSilhoette.png]]You can utilize this Research Wiki for finding additional information to assist you in the learning process but its primary function is to identify the location of records and to provide the knowledge base on how to access and use those records. State and county information is available for the United States as well as many other countries.&nbsp; Please note that It is not required to have an active account with FamilySearch to browse this wiki but you must be signed in inorder to create or edit any of the articles.<br>  

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[[Image:Treasure-map1.jpg|right|250px|Treasure-map1.jpg]]If you are interested in proceeding or are still curious about what is next, then there are several articles at this site that will walk you through the process.&nbsp; This FamilySearch Research Wiki will guide you through all the steps to assist you in achieving your goals.<br>