Genealogical Research - How to Begin

Unless you are royalty or a president or other dignitary, finding your ancestor and making sure a "family tree" is kept for future generations may be up to you. Federal, state and local government agencies do not usually perform family research.  Books on family history and genealogy are compiled and published by individuals or family groups who do so because they are interested in discovering and preserving their family history.

Start With Yourself You are the beginning "twig" on your family tree. Start with yourself, the known, and work toward the unknown "roots". Find out the vital information about your parents, write it down, then look for data about your grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.

Names, Dates, Places, Relationships You will be concerned with pulling these four key items from the many and varied documents of recorded history. They are the tools of the family searcher. People can be identified in records by their names, the dates of events in their lives (birth, marriage, death), the places they lived, and by relationships to others either stated or implied in the records.

Home SourcesThe place to begin is at home. Here you may find many sources, such as in family bibles, newspaper clippings, military certificates, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, backs of pictures, baby books, etc. 

Relatives as a Source Visit or write those in your family who may have information, particularly older relatives. More often than not others before you have already gathered family data. You should write letters, make personal visits, and do telephone surveys to find out about such persons and what information has already been collected.

Finding Distant Relatives Before launching your research program in libraries and archives, search for distant relatives who may have already performed research. Advertise your family interests in the national, regional and local genealogical magazines. Such periodicals are available in the east room of the Tutwiler Collection of Southern History and Literature.

Church Records A few churches have records of important events in the lives of members but many do not. Investigate the possibility of finding genealogical data in the records of the church to which your ancestor belonged.

Vital Records Some states began to keep records of births and deaths earlier, but for most of the United States birth and death registration became a requirement around the turn of the century, about 1890-1915. Before that time these events will be found recorded generally only in church records and family bibles. Marriages will be found recorded in most counties, dating often as early as the establishment of the county.

Deeds and Wills Records of property acquisition and disposition can be good sources of genealogical data. Such records are normally in the county courthouses. Often the earliest county records or copies of them are also available in the state archives.

Federal Records The National Archives in Washington, DC has records of use in genealogical research. The Federal census, taken every 10 years since 1790, is a good source. The census records are also available on microfilm in the National Archives’ regional archives branches located in eleven metropolitan areas throughout the country. The National Archives also has military service and related records, passenger arrival records, etc.

Libraries, Societies, Archives Visit the state, regional or local institutions in your area. Libraries, historical and genealogical societies, and archival depositories are all good sources for genealogical and family history data. Be sure to find out what books are available on how to do genealogical research.