AF-1266: Starting Your Family History the Right Way | Ancestral Findings

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of starting family history research with known relatives and building a trustworthy family tree.

Every family history begins close to home. Before you search old courthouse books, census pages, ship lists, military files, or newspaper archives, you begin with the people you already know. You begin with your own name, your parents, your grandparents, and the stories that have been carried through your family. That may not feel like much at first. You may only have a few dates, a few places, and a handful of memories. Maybe someone once told you that your great-grandfather came from Ireland. Maybe you heard that a family member served in a war. Maybe there is an old photo with no names written on the back. These small pieces are often where the search begins. The goal at the beginning is not to build the largest family tree possible. The goal is to build a tree that can be trusted. A careful start will save you from confusion later. It will also help you recognize good records, avoid wrong turns, and understand your ancestors as real people instead of names on a chart. Many people begin genealogy by opening an online tree and adding every possible match they see. It feels productive. Names appear quickly. Hints show up. Other people's trees seem to offer answers. The problem…

People in this episode

Host: Ancestral Findings

Topics covered

• family history
• genealogy
• record keeping
• ancestor research
• family tree building

Keywords

• family history
• genealogy
• ancestor
• family tree
• record keeping

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ancestral Findings

Places: Ireland

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