Always start with what you know, you, your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Build everything you can with the knowledge you have. Ask all these people, if they still alive to help you with names, dates etc. Then your search can start
Every time you write down information, write where you got it from or how you know. For example, if Aunt Suzy says that your grandmother was born February 22, 1902, write that down, but somewhere near it, write, "Information from phone call with Susan Smith, January 13, 2013." Try to find proof of everything you write. Look for census records, birth certificates, et cetera.
Here's a suggestion to help people talk--look through photo albums and ask about the different people. Who was this? Was that person older or younger than you? Where did they live? Do you remember what occupation they went into? Sometimes, relaxing with a photo album helps them to just talk about people. The trick is to record it either in writing or with some kind of recording device if they'll let you.
Always start with what you know, you, your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Build everything you can with the knowledge you have. Ask all these people, if they still alive to help you with names, dates etc. Then your search can start
Every time you write down information, write where you got it from or how you know. For example, if Aunt Suzy says that your grandmother was born February 22, 1902, write that down, but somewhere near it, write, "Information from phone call with Susan Smith, January 13, 2013." Try to find proof of everything you write. Look for census records, birth certificates, et cetera.
Thanks
Start now while your older ancestors are still alive
That's the problem, my family doesn't keep track and the ones who remember don't like to talk about it.
Here's a suggestion to help people talk--look through photo albums and ask about the different people. Who was this? Was that person older or younger than you? Where did they live? Do you remember what occupation they went into? Sometimes, relaxing with a photo album helps them to just talk about people. The trick is to record it either in writing or with some kind of recording device if they'll let you.