How Do I Start Researching Genealogy?
Building your family tree starts with digging a littler deeper into your family history. With the abundance of historical information available today, it’s no wonder this is a frequently asked question in genealogy. To get accurate information regarding your family history, we have a few steps outlined to prepare the way for further research, whether you plan to dig deep on your own or hire a professional.
Start with What You Know:
We suggest keeping it simple. Start by having a chat with your family, taking notes on what information they know and what records they have like names, birthdates, marriage dates, and locations. This can help you sketch out a basic family tree.
Note: Old family photos, documents, and heirlooms can also provide valuable clues.
What is the Best Way to Make a Family Tree?
While there is no pressure here and this sketch of your family lineage can be rough, we have some helpful tips to make the research process a bit more clear for you.
- Use ALL CAPS for Surnames to record with clarity!
- Spell Out Middle Names if you know them.
- Record Nicknames in Quotation Marks.
- List Women’s Maiden Names, even when married, to provide more insight into their lineage.
Once you've got that down, take a look at where the gaps are and consider deciding on a few research questions you would love to have answered.
Wendy Wood Genealogical Research
I am here to help make this process as simple and rewarding as possible for you.
My fascination with genealogy began around 15 years ago when my father gave me a collection of my family's historical records, which sparked a deep interest in me as I traced and clarified my family's lineage. Since then I have worked on and am in the progress of becoming accredited by the Board of Certified Genealogists. Now I use both my expertise and fascination to provide curious people like you with the insight you’re looking for about your own family's background, origin, and connections.
Working independently allows me to offer
you
a personalized and focused approach to help you uncover your family’s past. The process is made to be as simple, but effective as possible for you:
- Introduction - let’s talk about your research question! I’ll walk you through the process and help you narrow down what insights you want to uncover.
- Signing - let’s make it official! I provide services at $60/hour. When you sign your contract, we will set a cap on the number of hours you want to invest in.
- Background - let’s get started! Send over all of the information and records you have available. I’ll organize this to use as a starting point for my research.
- Research & Report - I will dig into the databases, libraries, public records, and connections I have to provide you with an accurate and well-documented look into your family history
**Note: A genealogist’s best efforts as a researcher don’t guarantee that an answer will be found, but it is always worth it to uncover what is available to be found!
I bring a genuine interest and a commitment to helping you discover your roots to every project.
INTERESTED? LET'S TALK!
