How Do I Start Doing Genealogy? A Beginner’s Guide

So let’s look at our six simple steps on how to start doing genealogy – along with an example so that it’s super clear.

[{"selector":"#anim-95045117-dfb7-485d-9b8b-881333b53611","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Genealogy is such a big topic that'll make you feel overwhelmed. We remember feeling that way at first, too! So how do you start doing genealogy – without getting so overwhelmed you want to quit? View More

Identify a single question or a research goal.

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Write down what you already know.

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3

[{"selector":"#anim-ab2157e1-6d27-4f5f-b126-21c46fccb885","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bf72bb3-8fc9-43aa-8212-3689d9c451dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-126.36655%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3612616a-268d-4b5f-9afc-22f27544aec6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d751f1e-cc97-4b57-875a-5545a12c1cf1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-180.64517%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":900,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-044a0477-7305-4750-a17e-e1f4c0cc0399","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.05)","scale(0.995)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":3}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9c26d35-0abc-455d-b9d9-8eb0d2b14d15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35a724c2-ed87-47de-9627-c54070175202","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] I’ll use censuses to narrow my family’s known location, then search the appropriate state archives for marriage certificates. FIND OUT MORE Tooltip Notes and Examples

Find your answers and cite new sources found.

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5

[{"selector":"#anim-9067278f-d3e3-4e1c-9fdc-f419b4b4dcdf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Thanks to the census, I was able to locate the right state. I also found that my great-grandparents had another son, who died as an infant, that needed to be added to that family group record. Visit Website Notes and Examples

6.

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How Do I Start Doing Genealogy? A Beginner’s Guide

By Genealogy Pals

So let’s look at our six simple steps on how to start doing genealogy – along with an example so that it’s super clear.

Identify a single question or a research goal.

Write down what you already know.

3

Identify known and potential sources.

Find your answers and cite new sources found.

5

Analyze the results.

6.

Start again with a new goal or question.