1. Building a Family Tree - How to Start
You never knew your grandparents and your father never mentioned your ancestors. But you did watch a TV program once that traced the lineage of some celebrity. That was an interesting show, especially when she discovered some of her ancestors were slaves! Now, you are retired and finally have some time on your hands. Maybe you can finally try to figure out your own heritage? How to start? What software tools and which ones are the best? What online resources are available? How much is this going to cost? You suspect your family name is Irish, but you were never sure. How to find out? So many questions and so few ready, reliable answers it seems.
For the answers to these questions and many more, join your local Genealogy Society. Members will astonish you with their personal journeys into family history. They will also assist you in starting your own search. Building your own family tree will generate an asset for your children and grandchildren and beyond.
These organizations will help you get started, point you to various online resources (some free and others might require a subscription), desktop software choices, conferences, courses, DNA help, cemetery guidance, one-on-one coaching, and encouragement. Some groups even take field trips to museums, archive centers and cemeteries.
We know from experience, the easiest way to start is with your own family, your parents, and grandparents. Find a comfortable tool to use for your family tree; it could be paper or some digital format. Collect all the information you can and organize your filing. Start with what you know and begin to reach back through the generations. Seek ways to research and to share your findings. Genealogy is an enormous puzzle with pathways you cannot imagine.
Join an international movement of folks with a shared interest in family history. You will be amazed.
Ron Gilmore
Website: https://www.rgenealogy.ca