Home

Basically there are two ways of obtaining information:

1) Dig it out yourself from archives, old newspapers, gravestones etc.

2) Utilise the work fellow researches have already done and is often available on the internet or for the asking.

A lot depends on in which part of the world you live.
In Europe many cemetaries have disappeared; sometimes due to destruction in war. On the other hand there are valuable archives in Europe, often going back to Napoleon's time.

All over the world members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints have gathered information on past generations. This information is available on the Internet through their FamilySearch.

There are many Genealogical Societies all over the world, whose members are sometimes prepared to assisted others in other parts of the world.

One website you have to visit in your researches is the Family Search organisation of the Latter Day Saints. In their records are data of previous generations from all over the world. They provide a PAF (Personal Ancestor File) free, which can serve as a program for a Family Tree and connect directly into their archives on line. There is one proviso however. Their information must be checked from other sources if at al possible. You find them here:

Family Search

Another free Family Tree program, which may be downloaded free is provided by Legacy. This program provides more in the way of reports, notes, individual histories etc. than the PAF program, but lacks the direct connection to the LDS database. I suggest before deciding on one or the other have a look at both to see which suits your individual requirements best.

The Legacy free Family Tree Program.

If you have your Familty Tree on the computer, you may like to consider a back up on the internet, to which you control the access. This way others can directly contribute details to your Family Tree.

A free website for your Family Tree.

Research Tips

Here are some tips about researching a family tree, which every genealogist will recommend:

Start by asking older members of the family what they can remember of contemporaries and elders; do not forget to ask them also if they have any old family papers or documents, scrapbooks etc.

Remember, almost everyone has two family names: your father's, but also your mother's. Don't feel you must restrict your research to just your paternal family tree.

Be sure to evaluate the sources of your information. Remember, you can't believe everything you read!

THE SURNAME WEB

For researches in the United States of America, you'll find an enormous database at the National Archives.

National Archives and Record Administration, Washington, D.C. USA

For more detailed Genealogy portals and links go to the next page:

Researching Your Own Family History (2)