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[[Principles of Family History Research|''Previous page'']]
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'''Step 1: Identify What You Know.'''
Build your ancestor's identity.  


Start by reviewing what information you already know. Record that information on appropriate forms and keep your records organized.
'''Step 1: Identify What You Know.'''


By the end of step one you should have:
Start by reviewing what information you already know. Record that information on appropriate forms and keep your records organized.


* Facts and information recorded on family group records, pedigree charts, and if desired in personal and family history notes.
By the end of step one you should have:
* Organized copies of documents and family memorabilia.


= Use Appropriate Forms =
*Facts and information recorded on family group records, pedigree charts and, if desired, in personal and family history notes.
*Organized copies of documents and family memorabilia.


Begin by carefully recording and organizing your information so important facts and clues will not be lost. To help record the information you already know about family members, you may want to use forms including family group records, and pedigree charts designed for this purpose. Using forms familiar to other researchers assures that they will understand the information you have found. The following forms, used by most researchers, can be purchased at genealogical stores, the Family History Library, Family History Centers, and most genealogical libraries:
=== Table of Contents for Step 1. Identify What You Know  ===


== Family Group Record ==
1 [[Use Appropriate Forms|Use Appropriate Forms]]


[[Image:Family Group Record blank side 1.png|thumb|Blank family group record]]Family group records are forms with space to record information about the parents and children in one family. Good family group records show names, dates and places of births, marriages, and deaths (see the example to the right). Better family group records cite the sources for these events in the lives of family members. Thanks to computers, the best family group records also can easily display additional events such as censuses, change of residence, land purchases or sales, wills proved, and any other events in the family members' lives.
{{Block indent|1.1 [[Use Appropriate Forms#Computer_Programs_for_Generating_Forms|Computer Programs for Generating Forms]] }}
{{Block indent|1.2 [[Use Appropriate Forms#Family_Group_Record|Family Group Record]] }}
{{Block indent|1.3 [[Use Appropriate Forms#Pedigree_Chart|Pedigree Chart]] }}
{{Block indent|1.4 [[Use Appropriate Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log|Prepare a Research Log]] }}
{{Block indent|1.5 [[Use Appropriate Forms#Suggestions_for_Recording_Information|Suggestions for Recording Information]]<br><br>}}


Start research on a new family by compiling a well-documented family group record. This will help you gather, correlate, and analyze information. A well source-footnoted family group record bristles with clues to help you find further sources. For a more detailed explanation of their value see [[Family group record: roadmap for researchers]].
2 [[Recall Information|Recall Information]]  


You may need additional pages for large families. While modern family group records are usually letter size, other sizes such as legal size have been common in the past and can still be used.
{{Block indent|2.1 [[Recall Information#Types_of_Genealogical_Information|Types of Genealogical Information]]<br><br>}}


Create a family group record for each couple on your pedigree chart. A four-generation pedigree chart has seven couples, so you would make up to seven family group records for such a pedigree.
3 [[Gather Family Information|Gather Family Information]]


For a person who married more than once, make another family group record for each additional marriage, especially if the marriage produced children. <!--{12072814271253} --> <!--{12072814271254} -->
{{Block indent|3.1 [[Gather Family Information#Family_Records|Family Records]] }}
<!--{12072814271255} -->
{{Block indent|3.2 [[Gather Family Information#Family_Traditions|Family Traditions]] }}
{{Block indent|3.3 [[Gather Family Information#Family_Memorabilia|Family Memorabilia]] }}
{{Block indent|3.4 [[Gather Family Information#How_to_Gather_Family_Information|How to Gather Family Information]] }}
{{Block indent|3.5 [[Gather Family Information#Requesting_Additional_Information_from_Your_Family|Requesting Additional Information from Your Family]]<br><br>}}


== Pedigree Chart ==
4 [[Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources|Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources]]


Most pedigree charts, sometimes called “Ancestor” or “Lineage” Charts, have space for four or five generations (parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.) There is space for dates and places of birth, marriage, and death. See the nearby example. Ancestral lines can continue onto other charts. <br>
{{Block indent|4.1 [[Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources#Online_databases.|Online databases]] }}
{{Block indent|4.2 [[Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources#Family_histories.|Family histories]] }}
{{Block indent|4.3 [[Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources#County.2C_town.2C_and_village_histories.|County, town, and village histories.]] }}
{{Block indent|4.4 [[Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources#Censuses.|Censuses.]]<br><br>}}


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5 [[Record Useful Information|Record Useful Information]]  
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6 [[Organize Your Records|Organize Your Records]]
 
 
[[ru:Определите,_что_вы_уже_знаете]][[pt:Identifique o Que Você Sabe]][[es:Identifique lo que ya sabe]]
 
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[[Category:Principles of Family History Research Series]]
[[Category:Gathering Family Information]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 19 August 2025


Build your ancestor's identity.

Step 1: Identify What You Know.

Start by reviewing what information you already know. Record that information on appropriate forms and keep your records organized.

By the end of step one you should have:

  • Facts and information recorded on family group records, pedigree charts and, if desired, in personal and family history notes.
  • Organized copies of documents and family memorabilia.

Table of Contents for Step 1. Identify What You Know

1 Use Appropriate Forms

2 Recall Information

3 Gather Family Information

4 Gather Low-Hanging-Fruit Sources

5 Record Useful Information

6 Organize Your Records