Researching your family's history is called the study of genealogy. Tracing ancestry was once much more difficult than it is today; online resources have made tracing ancestry comparatively easy. Before diving in, create an outline of your family tree by filling in as many blanks as you can with names. Then, you can work to add to your family history by interviewing family members and tracking down records. Organization of your genealogical project will help you manage the large amount of data.
After conducting preliminary interviews of family members to learn background information, review official records of cities and states where family members have lived. Archived government census data will provide information, and you may also find details at public libraries. Strive to learn names, dates of births and deaths, and details about marriages and children. Check genealogy websites, as you may find that your relatives have already researched some portions of your family history.
Searching online for family members may require modifications to family names to find as much information as possible. Enter names into search engines surrounded by quotation marks. You might also alter the spelling of last names slightly, since often, surname spellings change or are incorrectly recorded over the years. Check military personnel archives, immigration records, and ship manifest lists also.
Complete a family tree using photos of each family member. Children often enjoy this activity as well, so it's an ideal way to involve children in your research. You can also print genealogical worksheets designed for kids. While you conduct your research for family details, kids can be exploring similar information.
A family tree can be mapped out in many ways. Blank family tree templates are available online for downloading and printing. Some templates even include diagrams that enable you to outline relationships across multiple generations. As you add information to your family tree, document it with charts and logs.