Discovering Your Family Tree

By : Doug Woods  


A fabulous idea for your next family reunion is to put together your family tree. Discovering your family tree doing genealogy or family history research can be an exciting experience. Many people just like you have discovered who their ancestors are. You too can gain new insights into your family and feel a sense of belonging, perhaps in a way you have never felt before. 

There are several steps one should take when attempting to discover their family tree.

1. Write down what you know.
Start with yourself. Grab a notebook or create a database format, and enter the family history information you already know. You are entering information as to relative's names, birthdates, death dates, etc. If you do not know exact dates and places, estimate them. Take note of any missing or incomplete information, and decide what you want to find first. 

2. Talk with your family and friends.
Get together with your family and friends and record any useful information and stories they provide. This not only allows you to work on your project, but can also be a fascinating, exciting and fun experience at the same time. What a good excuse� to get together with loved ones. 

In addition to reminiscing, be sure to inquire if they have any copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates as well as newspaper clippings, diaries, journals, letters, photos, yearbooks and other records that might be available.

3. Search other sources.
Gather your research hat you have accumulated thus far and organize it. Next, there are many online sources that you can further explore that allow for free access to family history records, guides, and resources. A few examples of these sites are usgenweb, Rootsweb, or MyHeritage.

By searching through databases that are diverse in nature, free genealogy search engines help you obtain a lot of data about your ancestors and family. Combine data from various sources for a more comprehensive picture.

You can easily do the bulk of your genealogy research using free genealogy databases. Some websites will describe the methods of research as well as provide detailed sources on microfilms and papers; others may focus on searchable genealogy databases and online tools.

Some websites are free, while others require a fee. Those requiring a fee will typically offer a free trial subscription, and often times you'll be able to find what you are looking for even before the trial expires. 

4. Compile your research and share!
Put together a book and have several copies printed, as friends and relatives will certainly have an interest in your research. There are companies that offer software products to help you do this. What a great idea or gift that you can share at your next family reunion!

While researching and formalizing your family tree can take a good deal of time and effort, it can also be a very rewarding and fun experience as well. Take your time and enjoy the experience and be sure to preserve it, share it, and pass it along so that future generations of your family can appreciate and enjoy their family history as well.
Author Resource:- Doug Woods is a part owner of Legacy Publishing, which offers various specialty items and resources for all types of reunions. For a FREE sample of Legacy Publishing's Reunion Memory Book as well as other reunion resources, visit http://www.reunion-memory-book.com

Building And Researching Your Family Tree Online

Genealogy research has become more and more popular in the last decade as online resources have become available to assist people in researching their family tree. People have found it interesting and fun to take the time to trace their roots and look for more information about their lineage. Many people are finding it comforting to know who their ancestors are and have found that it may even affect their own life choices.

Some people's lives have been positively influenced and have based decisions on what they have learned about their lineage. Members of the military may have chosen that path because of stories of heroism on the battlefield by their ancestors. Politicians and lawyers may have chosen their path because of a long line of public service in their family tree.

Even if we don't have a specific calling or tradition to follow, learning about our heritage may provide a sense of connection and well being. While building a family tree may once seemed like a school project, genealogy research has gone far beyond that. With the help of the Internet, many resources and documents are now available to assist in researching a family tree.

Getting started with your own genealogy project can be challenging, especially if you come from a large family. With the help of the many resources now available on the Internet, however, finding records and data about your family far back into the past can be done much faster.

No longer do you have to rely on your local library or records center. Money and time can be saved by not having to travel from one place to another to conduct your research. The vast resources available on various genealogy and records website make research much easier and faster. You can now get all the information you need on your computer. With research and patience, you can find court documents, census records, military records and much more.

Most genealogy websites will require some information from you to get started on a search of their database. This is usually the name of the person you are looking for. The more information you have to start with, the better luck you will have. Date of birth, date of death and place of birth may need to be provided. This will help to single out the person you are searching for from others with the same name.

You may not be able to find everything you are looking for, however, since many records are not yet online or are in the process of being put online. This takes time, of course, so the information will become more complete as time goes by.

Family Tree Pods allows you to create a family tree for your immediate family, while other members do the same. As more data is gathered, these family trees, or pods, can be connected together to expand the research and to continue to go back further in time.

The idea is to start out with something manageable in collecting your family information, then expanding it once the first level of information is complete. This works well online, as each family can work on their own tree and then connect the information.

If you have finally completed your search, you can proudly show it off by creating you own genealogy site. Your finished product can be showcased in your site and you can let the whole world lean about your heritage.
Author Resource:- FamilyTreePods is a resource for information about family trees and genealogy. Learn more at FamilyTreePods.com
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