How do I get Started with my Family History?
How do I get started with my Family History?
This is certainly the question Genealogists most often get asked by Beginners, who are, understandably, at a loss (as with any new task that seems like a massive undertaking) as to where to actually begin. Put simply, it all starts with You and your accessible family members. That is, it starts at home, with a basic Family chart, and Birth, Marriage and Death certificates of close family. Dust off and gather those folders full of family documents and certificates, memorabilia, photograph albums (and make sure to take copies / scans of them; avoid using Originals repeatedly, as they need to be Protected) and start writing names, places, dates and events down on the back of those Photographs. Talk to your Mum, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and siblings. Get them to fill out a questionnaire. You may have heard stories in the Past about Great Uncle Cosmo, a relative with a dodgy past, but the Facts have possibly become a bit murky over time. It is important to sort out what is Fact from what is Fiction. Make the effort to organise a specific, allotted time to interview each knowledgeable Family member, this should be complementary or supplementary to your questionnaire. Generally, an interview should be no more than one or two hours at a time (unless you both agree otherwise). Ask them if you may record the interview. This will help you pick up any little bits and pieces you did not get a chance to write down during the interview, while you're asking probing questions. Try and remember that it's not an interrogation; so you should tread carefully (or not at all) with any particularly sensitive issues. Be mindful that you don't want to overstay your Welcome, get people's noses out of joint, or relay sensitive information without the information provider's say so.. ALWAYS NOTE AND RECORD THE SOURCE FROM WHICH YOU HAVE OBTAINED ANY INFORMATION. There are plenty of basic resources on the Internet that will get you started with every aspect of this.
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