- Start with what you know by writing down parents' names and grandparents' names and when and where they were born, got married, and died. When you have this foundation to start from, online sites such as FamilySearch or Ancestry can help you keep building out your tree. Keep in mind that information at these sites may not be accurate, especially when it comes from someone else's family tree. To ensure you are getting your tree right, you should have at least one source to verify each fact.
- Through Ancestry's subscription services, you can save records to your tree, print pedigree charts, and create keepsakes. Some people prefer to purchase software such as Family Tree Maker or Legacy Family Tree so that their tree is stored on their own computer. You can link your Ancestry or FamilySearch data to your software so it updates as you research. You can also download your tree as a GEDCOM file to move it between programs.
- Family stories and anecdotes can help color historical facts and give clues for new places to search. Interview your older relatives using an audio or video recorder to dig deeper into your history and, most importantly, preserve precious family stories for future generations.
- Your local library has resources and staff who will be glad to help you get started. Genealogical Societies, such as the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society, have specialized resources and can connect you with people with expertise to help you dig deeper.
Here are some helpful guides:
- Getting started in Genealogy: https://smarterhobby.com/genealogy/
- How to Start Your Genealogy Research from Genealogy Explained: https://www.genealogyexplained.com/start-genealogy-research/
- The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Genealogy: https://www.dnatestingguides.com/blogs/the-ultimate-beginners-guide-to-genealogy/
- Getting Started from the Norwegian American Genealogical Center: https://www.nagcnl.org/getting-started/
- The Oral History Interview: https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2017/09/10/the-oral-history-interview-dont-miss-a-chance-to-record-family-stories/
- Researching the history of your house: https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/a-guide-to-researching-the-history-of-a-house/
Forms can help:
Record keeping and organization is essential for effective genealogical research. Many people like to keep a paper copy as well as electronic copies. The SVGS library has paper forms, 4X5 leatherbound notebooks for research notes, and 4GB flash drives to store digital copies. See what we have available.
Here are some sources for free forms you can download:
- Family History Forms from Midwest Genealogy Center: https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/resources/family-history-forms
- Charts and forms from Ancestry.com: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Free-Charts-and-Forms
- Genealogy free forms: http://www.genealogysearch.org/free/forms.html