Learn basic genealogy research methods
Study family history records and sources
Understand vital records, census records, and immigration records
Learn how to use archives, libraries, and online...
Check the death certificate for burial or disposition details
Search cemetery records and grave indexes
Use online grave databases such as Find a Grave or BillionGraves
Contact...
Ask family members, friends, or the funeral home
Check the death certificate for burial information
Search online obituary notices
Use cemetery search websites
Contact local cemeteries directly
Search grave...
Gather family information
Ask relatives for names, dates, and places
Collect documents, photos, and records
Start with yourself
Add parents
Add grandparents
Add great-grandparents
Continue adding earlier generations
Organize by generations
Connect each...
Ask family members for the cemetery name, plot number, or burial details
Check death certificates, obituaries, funeral notices, and family records
Search online grave databases and...
Ask relatives for family names, places, dates, and stories
Collect documents such as birth, marriage, death, and immigration records
Review family Bibles, letters, photos, and old...
Search local newspaper obituary sections
Check funeral home websites
Use online obituary and death notice databases
Search county or state vital records offices
Visit public library archives
Look through...
Start with what you already know about your family
Ask relatives for names, dates, places, and stories
Collect family documents, photos, letters, and certificates
Record full names,...
Start with yourself and record your full name, birth date, and birth place
Gather family records, photos, letters, certificates, and heirlooms
Ask living relatives for names,...
Gather any adoption records you already have
Ask your adoptive parents or guardians for details
Request your original birth certificate if allowed in your location
Contact the...
Start with the oldest known family members and collect names, nicknames, approximate birth years, places, and family stories
Search census records, especially 1870 and later,...
Ask your parents, grandparents, or other relatives about your family’s origins
Review family records such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and immigration documents
Check family names...
Gather the full name of the deceased
Note any known dates of birth and death
Check the cemetery’s official website or map
Use the cemetery office or...
Start with what you know: gather names, dates, places, and family stories
Interview living relatives
Collect family documents, photos, letters, certificates, and Bibles
Organize information into a...
Start with yourself and work backward
Gather family names, dates, places, and relationships
Ask relatives for stories, documents, photos, and records
Record oral histories from older family...
Check your birth certificate
Ask your parents or relatives
Contact the hospital where you were born
Request records from the local vital records office
Search family documents or...
Gather family names, maiden names, and known ancestral locations
Ask relatives for stories, documents, photos, and heirlooms
Check birth, marriage, death, census, immigration, and military records
Trace...
Start with yourself and work backward
Write down your full name, birth date, and birthplace
Collect names, dates, places, and family stories from relatives
Gather family documents,...
Gather your family’s full names, dates, places, and known ancestors
Ask relatives for stories, documents, photos, and heirlooms
Check family records such as birth, marriage, death,...
Search state and county vital records websites
Check online public records databases
Use family history websites with free record collections
Search digitized newspaper archives for birth announcements
Look...
Start with yourself and record your full name, birth date, birth place, and known relatives
Ask living family members for names, dates, places, stories, and...
Start with yourself and work backward
Write down full names, dates, places, and relationships
Interview living relatives
Gather family documents, photos, letters, and records
Record maiden names, nicknames,...
Ask close family members or relatives
Check the death certificate
Review obituary notices
Search funeral home records
Contact the cemetery directly
Look up cemetery plot records
Search online grave databases
Check...
Start with what you already know about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
Ask relatives for names, dates, places, and family stories
Gather old documents such as...
Start with what you already know about your parents, grandparents, and other close relatives
Write down full names, dates of birth, places of birth, marriage...
Search online newspaper archives for the person’s name and the 1990s date range
Check local library websites for historical newspaper databases
Use genealogy websites with obituary...
Gather the full name of the deceased
Find the approximate date of death or burial
Note any known cemetery name, city, or family plot
Check cemetery records...
Ask family members, close friends, or the funeral home that handled the burial
Check death certificates for burial or disposition information
Search cemetery records and grave...
Gather names of family members
Start with yourself or the main person
Add parents above
Add grandparents above parents
Add siblings beside the same parents
Add children below
Add aunts,...
Gather your family’s surnames, places of origin, and known ancestors
Ask relatives for old documents, photos, heirlooms, and family stories
Search genealogy records such as birth,...
