Boomer Bucket List Item – Trace Your Family Tree

Have you ever wondered about your ancestors and their stories? Do you want to learn more about your family history and heritage? If so, you might be interested in genealogy research, the study of family lines and origins.

Genealogy research can be a rewarding and fascinating hobby for anyone, especially for us Baby Boomers, who have more time, experience, and curiosity. It can help you discover your roots, connect with your relatives, and preserve your legacy for future generations.

Here are some tips and resources on how to get started with genealogy research, and how to overcome some common challenges and pitfalls.

Tip #1: Start with what you know

The first step in genealogy research is to gather and organize the information that you already have. This can include:

• Your own personal details, such as your name, date and place of birth, and parents’ names.
• Your immediate family members’ details, such as your spouse, children, siblings, and their spouses and children.
• Your extended family members’ details, such as your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their spouses and children.
• Any documents or records that can prove or support these details, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, census records, immigration records, military records, etc.
• Any photos, letters, diaries, or memorabilia that can illustrate or enrich these details, such as family portraits, wedding invitations, postcards, medals, etc.

You can use a variety of tools and methods to collect and organize this information, such as:

• A family tree chart, which is a visual representation of your family relationships and generations. You can draw it by hand, use a software program, or create an online account on a genealogy website.
• A family group sheet, which is a form that records the details of one nuclear family, such as the parents and their children. You can fill it out by hand, use a template, or download a printable version from a genealogy website.
• A research log, which is a document that tracks your sources, findings, and questions. You can create it in a notebook, a spreadsheet, or a document.

Tip #2: Interview your relatives

The second step in genealogy research is to interview your relatives and ask them about their memories, stories, and knowledge of your family history. This can include:

• Your parents or any older relatives who might have firsthand or eyewitness accounts of your ancestors and their lives.
• Your siblings, cousins, or younger relatives, who might have inherited or collected some family documents or artifacts that you don’t have.
• Your distant or estranged relatives, who might have different or missing pieces of information that you don’t have.

You can use a variety of tools and methods to conduct and record these interviews, such as:

• A list of questions, which can help you guide the conversation and elicit specific or general information. You can prepare your own questions, or use some sample questions from a genealogy website or book.
• A way to capture the audio or video of the interview and preserve the voice or image of your relative. You can use a phone, a camera, or a dedicated device.
• A transcript, which can help you review and analyze the content of the interview and extract the relevant or important information. You can transcribe the interview by hand, use a software program, or hire a professional service.

Tip #3: Search for online and offline records

The third step in genealogy research is to search for online and offline records that can provide more evidence or clues about your ancestors and their lives. This can include:

• Vital records, which are official documents that record the major events of a person’s life, such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death. You can find them online on genealogy websites, government websites, or church websites, or offline at local or national archives, libraries, or courthouses.
• Census records, which are periodic surveys that record the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a population, such as name, age, occupation, and residence. You can find them online on genealogy websites, government websites, or historical websites, or offline at local or national archives, libraries, or genealogical societies.
• Immigration records, which are documents that record the movement of people across borders, such as passenger lists, naturalization papers, and passports. You can find them online on genealogy websites, government websites, or immigration websites, or offline at local or national archives, libraries, or immigration centers.
• Military records, which are documents that record the service and involvement of people in wars or conflicts, such as enlistment papers, pension files, and medals. You can find them online on genealogy websites, government websites, or military websites, or offline at local or national archives, libraries, or military museums.

You can use a variety of tools and methods to search for and access these records, such as:

• A search engine, which can help you find and browse the websites that contain or link to the records that you are looking for. You can use a general search engine, such as Google or Bing, or a specialized search engine, such as FamilySearch or Ancestry.
• A subscription, which can help you access and view the records that are not freely available or require a membership fee. You can subscribe to a genealogy website, such as Ancestry or MyHeritage, or a record collection, such as Newspapers.com or Fold3.
• A request, which can help you obtain a copy or a certificate of the records that are not online or require a formal application. You can request a record from a government agency, a church, or a private organization, by mail, phone, email, or online form.

Tip #4: Evaluate and verify your sources

The fourth step in genealogy research is to evaluate and verify your sources and the information that they provide. This can help you avoid or correct some common errors or pitfalls, such as:

• Incomplete or inaccurate information, which can result from human or technical errors, such as typos, omissions, or misinterpretations.
• Conflicting or contradictory information, which can result from different or multiple sources, such as oral or written accounts, or primary or secondary sources.
• Duplicate or similar information, which can result from common or shared names, dates, or places, such as John Smith, 1900, or London.
• False or misleading information, which can result from intentional or unintentional deception, such as fraud, forgery, or fiction.

You can use a variety of tools and methods to evaluate and verify your sources and information, such as:

• A citation, which can help you identify and document your sources and their origin, author, title, date, and location. You can create a citation by hand, use a software program, or follow a style guide, such as MLA or APA.
• A comparison, which can help you cross-check and reconcile your sources and information and look for consistency, discrepancy, or similarity. You can compare your sources and information by hand, use a software program, or create a timeline or a map.
• A proof, which can help you establish and demonstrate your sources and information and their reliability, validity, and relevance. You can prove your sources and information by hand, use a software program, or follow a standard or a method, such as the Genealogical Proof Standard or the FAN Club.

Tip #5: Share and preserve your findings

The fifth and final step in genealogy research is to share and preserve your findings and your family history. This can help you:

• Communicate and collaborate with other researchers and relatives who might have similar or complementary interests or goals.
• Educate and inspire other people who might want to learn more about your family history or genealogy research.
• Honor and remember your ancestors and their stories and contributions.

You can use a variety of tools and methods to share and preserve your findings and your family history, such as:

• A publication, which can help you present and distribute your findings and your family history in a printed or digital format, such as a book, a magazine, a newsletter, or a blog.
• A presentation, which can help you display and explain your findings and your family history in a visual or oral format, such as a slideshow, a poster, a speech, or a podcast.
• A donation, which can help you contribute and archive your findings and your family history in a public or private repository, such as a library, a museum, a genealogical society, or a family association.

If you decide to try tracing your family’s history, be forewarned (in a good way). Thousands of people have tried this, found it fascinating, and have been hooked.