New to Genealogy - Beginners First Step

 

This is an outline of the complete Family Search article located here:

New to Genealogy - Beginners First Step

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ONE. The first goal is to take care of the critical steps while there is still time to do so.

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• Don’t rush to collect names until the “perishable” things are collected and protected.

• Capture relatives' memories before they are forgotten or gone.

• Ask questions; record or videotape the answers if possible.

• Remember, the only dumb question is the one that was never asked.

• Preserve originals or copies of all the old photographs and documents. Identify those pictured in photographs while living relatives can still do so.

• Organize the valuables in at least two distinct formats and two separate locations.

• Retain paper copies and properly store the originals.

• Digitize for the future (keep your storage media up-to-date too).

 

TWO. Examine your choices and decide on your goals (use small manageable steps).

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• Is this a pastime, hobby, a passion, a calling, a vocation, a career, or a legacy

• Start slowly to build confidence.

• Build a cooperative network to share data and activities.

• Do not get overwhelmed and buried in an avalanche of paperwork (organize as you go).

• Tell a story based on the data (the life of your favorite relative).

• Share your results with others (Start a webpage or blog).

• Keep a research log to record clues and theories you want to prove.

• Constantly re-adjust your course in light of new data that is discovered.

• Safeguard your results for posterity.

• Create backups for both the physical documents and the digital data.

• Keep your storage media up-to-date so you can always access the data.

• Feed your information into a “world tree” program for the future generations.

• Continue to expand your genealogical education as your interest grows.

 

THREE. Always re-evaluate and re-adjust your goals and research objectives.

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• Rethink your objectives and pace yourself for the long haul

  (there is no hurry to finish a project that has no end).

• Don’t just stare at the inevitable brick wall, just take a step back and think.

• Try to side-step it by following other nearby family lines.

• Look for neighbors and nearby relatives in the census records.

• Double check your research and previous conclusions.

• Let it go for now as new online data will eventually be available

• After exhausting the on-line resources, "hit the ground running" by utilizing the Research Wiki for off-line resources.

• Study migration patterns for clues to missing relatives or to help build your storyline.

• Let your interests and experience guide where your journey is to go next.

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