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Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
If you are just getting started on family history research, this page will give you a few ideas about where to begin. This can be an exciting adventure and the beginning of a rewarding lifetime hobby or profession. Those of us who have been involved in genealogy research for years welcome you to our community.<br> | If you are just getting started on family history research, this page will give you a few ideas about where to begin. This can be an exciting adventure and the beginning of a rewarding lifetime hobby or profession. Those of us who have been involved in genealogy research for years welcome you to our community.<br> | ||
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*preserving your family's history for future generations | *preserving your family's history for future generations | ||
After your initial search, you may find yourself drawn to a particular family group, geographical region, or historical period. Focussing your work this way helps you become familiar with records available in this area and become more productive as your research progresses. | After your initial search, you may find yourself drawn to a particular family group, geographical region, or historical period. Focussing your work this way helps you become familiar with records available in this area and become more productive as your research progresses. | ||
== Start with What You Know == | == Start with What You Know == | ||
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=== Names === | === Names === | ||
Ask about names of people in your family. Was someone named after a particular relative? Why? Are certain names traditional in your family? (If so, they can give you clues to which names to look for later.) Is there a tradition about how people are named in your family (naming a child after a parent or grandparent, for instance). | Ask about names of people in your family. Was someone named after a particular relative? Why? Are certain names traditional in your family? (If so, they can give you clues to which names to look for later.) Is there a tradition about how people are named in your family (naming a child after a parent or grandparent, for instance). | ||
== Keep Good Notes == | == Keep Good Notes == | ||
As you find information, be sure to take good notes about what you have found. The [[ | As you find information, be sure to take good notes about what you have found. The [[Document AS YOU GO!]] article has some good suggestions for how to do this. Experienced researches find it helpful to keep research logs which record: | ||
*what records you searched | *what records you searched | ||
*what information you were looking for | *what information you were looking for | ||
*where the records were found | *where the records were found | ||
*when you were doing the search | *when you were doing the search | ||
*what information you located (or didn't locate) | *what information you located (or didn't locate) | ||
Recording this same kind of information when you're just starting out will pay big dividends later in avoiding repeated effort, sorting our questions, and explaining your conclusions to others. | Recording this same kind of information when you're just starting out will pay big dividends later in avoiding repeated effort, sorting our questions, and explaining your conclusions to others. | ||
As you think of ideas of other places to look or things to do, write them down in a To Do list. Then, when you put down your project and pick it up later, you'll have the benefit of youru previous thinking to get you started again. | As you think of ideas of other places to look or things to do, write them down in a To Do list. Then, when you put down your project and pick it up later, you'll have the benefit of youru previous thinking to get you started again. | ||
== Organize Your Information == | == Organize Your Information == | ||
Genealogy work is a lot like putting together a giant jig saw puzzle. As you're getting started, you will be looking at bits of pieces of information you will be putting together over time. It's helpful to gather the information together in ways that will aid you in refining and improving your information as you find additional puzzle pieces. | Genealogy work is a lot like putting together a giant jig saw puzzle. As you're getting started, you will be looking at bits of pieces of information you will be putting together over time. It's helpful to gather the information together in ways that will aid you in refining and improving your information as you find additional puzzle pieces. | ||
=== Filing Systems === | === Filing Systems === | ||
Develop some kind of filing system which will grow with you as your research expands. When you first get started simple box, notebook, or portable filing cabinet will probably be sufficient. Later these may expanded to larger filing systems or collections of notebooks. The [[ | Develop some kind of filing system which will grow with you as your research expands. When you first get started simple box, notebook, or portable filing cabinet will probably be sufficient. Later these may expanded to larger filing systems or collections of notebooks. The [[Organizing Your Files]] is a good article about a system for organizing your files. Although that system may be more involved than what you need when you first get started, its good to keep in mind where you may eventually be headed. | ||
=== Computer Programs === | === Computer Programs === | ||
Computer programs can be helpful in organizing the information you have found, locating previous notes, and documenting how you determined the places and dates you have decided upon. It is helpful to make connections between your paper files and computer files so that you can related these two records. The [[PAF and Other Genealogy Software]] page discusses the free Personal Ancestral File (PAF) program and has links to free and commerical programs that run on Windows and MacIntosh operating systems. Find a program that suites you and use it to start recording and organizing the information you have found. As you record information in the computer program, reference your paper files in a way that will let you locate this information later. | Computer programs can be helpful in organizing the information you have found, locating previous notes, and documenting how you determined the places and dates you have decided upon. It is helpful to make connections between your paper files and computer files so that you can related these two records. The [[PAF and Other Genealogy Software]] page discusses the free Personal Ancestral File (PAF) program and has links to free and commerical programs that run on Windows and MacIntosh operating systems. Find a program that suites you and use it to start recording and organizing the information you have found. As you record information in the computer program, reference your paper files in a way that will let you locate this information later. | ||
== Rules of the Road == | == Rules of the Road == | ||
As you begin your family history research, it is important to keep in mind proper etiquette, ethical behavior and legal issues. There is a good article at [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Family_History_Etiquette,_Ethics,_Legalities www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php]. Summarizing some of those principles: | As you begin your family history research, it is important to keep in mind proper etiquette, ethical behavior and legal issues. There is a good article at [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Family_History_Etiquette,_Ethics,_Legalities www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php]. Summarizing some of those principles: | ||
*be polite and respectful when working with others | *be polite and respectful when working with others | ||
*be prepared when asking others for assistance | *be prepared when asking others for assistance | ||
*thanks people for their help | *thanks people for their help | ||
*be careful when handling records of historical signicance | *be careful when handling records of historical signicance | ||
*respect other peoples privacy, being especially careful with information about living people | *respect other peoples privacy, being especially careful with information about living people | ||
*report your findings honestly | *report your findings honestly | ||
*be sure to appropriately credit the work of others (avoid plagiarism) | *be sure to appropriately credit the work of others (avoid plagiarism) | ||
*don't infringe on others' copyrights | *don't infringe on others' copyrights | ||
[[Category:Getting Started]] | |||