Genealogy 101: Becoming a Family Tree Sleuth

There are two common methods to organize and collect family documents based on your preferred method. Some people like to collect information on paper and others prefer to use their computer to stay organized. I will show you how I suggest organizing family history documents.

Family stories will serve as the foundation for your family research. Names, dates, locations, etc. You will need this information to get started on your research.

I will provide a family tree template for your use. I linked cells in a GEDCOM tab to ensure you can later convert to a GEDCOM file format for more elaborate family tree software.

This popular site was created and maintained by the Church of Latter Day Saints and is 100% free for users who would like to perform family research. I will perform sample searches to familiarize you with this site.

Google is an unexpected family tree research tool. It is also free. I will show you how to locate existing family trees to make your family research easier.

Rootsweb is a free Ancestry.com owned site that allows users to engage with one another on forums and perform searches across many international family history sites.

The U.S. National Archives (also referred to as "NARA") is responsible for preserving America's history. Because of this mission, this organization has many family history-related documents, such as military records, census records, and pictures.

This site documents the final resting place of people across the United States. I will show you how to search for relatives and find potential relatives buried in the same location as known ancestors.

The birth certificate is the first document we will examine. We will identify the critical information that you need to be aware of when you locate an ancestor's birth record.

The death record contains lots of information and may reveal the burial locations of other family members.

The U.S. Census (and other schedules) is another common family history document. In addition to collecting population data for the purposes of accurately apportioning congressional districts, the federal government uses census data, among other reasons, to determine: The allocation of federal funding for education programs in states and communities. Also, this document gives a glimpse into the life of our ancestors: their education-levels, occupations, places of birth, native languages, and more.

Marriage records were usually kept by churches and governments. Whether a civil or church authority performed the ceremony, local laws usually required that the marriage be recorded in civil records. This is an excellent family history research document.

This online magazine is focused on genealogy. And has information, tools, and resources that will be helpful to both budding family history enthusiasts and experts.

In the alternative sources lecture, we will explore a few unconventional family history resources. And I will offer some tips and tricks to help you find useful family information.

Libraries (and librarians) are amazing family history resources. Libraries often house family collections, donated materials, local records, and out-of-print newspapers that may lead to more information about your family's time in a particular location.

African-American family history research is complex and closely tied to individual state laws and record-keeping practices; and the particular rights and classifications used in each state. The existence of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade makes it very difficult for many African-Americans to trace their lineage; however, DNA testing and various tools are making it easier to bridge this enormous family history gap. (Part 1)

African-American family history research is complex and closely tied to individual state laws and record-keeping practices; and the particular rights and classifications used in each state. The existence of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade makes it very difficult for many African-Americans to trace their lineage; however, DNA testing and various tools are making it easier to bridge this enormous family history gap. (Part 2)

African-American family history research is complex and closely tied to individual state laws and record-keeping practices; and the particular rights and classifications used in each state. The existence of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade makes it very difficult for many African-Americans to trace their lineage; however, DNA testing and various tools are making it easier to bridge this enormous family history gap. (Part 3)

Many Americans have family stories about Native American ancestors. But how many of these stories can we backup with historical records? In this lecture, we will learn how to search for Native American ancestors.

European genealogical resources may be the most plentiful out of all of the ethnic groups due to the cultural practices of passing down surnames and keeping extensive genealogical records. Once you trace family back to the European continent, you may likely be able to tap into existing family trees dating back hundreds of years.

Western Asia, commonly referred to as the Middle East, is the area where Arabs live. The Arab people have migrated extensively and intermarried across various borders to become a very genetically diverse ethnic group. Learn more about the resources for related countries in this lecture.

The Jewish Diaspora is large. Jewish people live all over the world. This ethnic group is comprised of people from the European, Asian, and African continents. Many forced migrations via exiles and the Holocaust have greatly impacted this community, led to greater genetic diversity, and has caused family history to be lost and to take on an entirely new level of cultural importance.

Within Eastern Asia and Southeast Asia lies the two largest countries in the world (by population), China and India, respectively. These two countries share a similar, rich tradition of both oral and written family histories being passed down from generation to generation. I will share some resources and show you how to search for country-specific family resources in this lecture. 

Much like the Jewish people, the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group is comprised of many people. Each nation that identifies with Hispanic/Latino culture has different ethnic identities, genetic compositions, and histories. I will provide an example of one such country and we will search for family history resources using an example.

In this lecture, we will review basic concepts of DNA that you will need to understand as you become more advanced in your family history research.

There are many DNA Testing companies today. I will discuss the four testing companies I have used and which ones I prefer. 

Gedmatch is 100% free and is for those who have used a DNA testing company. Users gain access to more genetic tools that can help you determine how you are related with test results from 23andMe, FTDNA.com (the Family Finder test), and Ancestry.com.

In this lecture, I will provide closing remarks.