7 Easy Tips for Researching Your Family History

Are you eager to research your family history, but are unsure where to start? Here are 7 easy tips for getting started on your family research.

1. Gather what you already know.

Believe it or not, you probably already know more about your family history than you realize. The trick is to gather all of your information in one place. By doing so, you are creating the basis from which to start your in depth family history. Start by creating a simple family tree and filling in as much information as possible. By identifying gaps in your knowledge, you will be ready to start researching your family history extensively and know where to start.

2. Contact relatives to fill in gaps.

Relatives, especially older relatives with good memories, are usually great sources of information, much of which you will be unable to research. Relatives can help give life to the information you have. In the best cases, relatives can provide information and stories that help to give life to your family history research.

3. Write down family stories.

Family stories can also help give life to your family history research. In including stories, however, be careful to acknowledge that memories can vary from person to person. This is especially true as more time passes. Be patient and include as many recollections of the incident as possible. By doing so, you are more apt to get a general sense of what happened.

4. Conduct informational interviews with older relatives.

Informational interviews are a wonderful addition to any family history research project. Not only does it give you the opportunity to ask poignant questions that may help you specifically fill in missing information, it can also give you an idea as to what life was like in an earlier era. The more informational interviews you are able to include in your family history research project, the more complete it will be.

5. Obtain copies of old family photos.