1	Where Do I Start? How to Grow a Family Tree
2	Start With What You Know Start with yourself and work backwards in time. Record the names of your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. Record important dates such as birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, and deaths. “Interview” your family members. Call, write, email, or visit them. Keep them up to date on what’s new with you. Don’t just ask for information. Ask the elder relatives to identify people in old photographs.
3	Forms to Help You Stay Organized Family Group Sheet: Use to record information about individual families. (Ex: A married couple and their children) Ancestor Chart: Use to record birth, marriage, and death information for your direct line ancestors. Does not include space to record information about siblings, aunts, uncles (collateral lines), etc.
4	Gather & Copy
5	Newspaper Clipping
6	Obituary from Fraternal Organization Newsletter
7	Church History From a Plate
8	Postcard of Church in Oliva, West Prussia
9	Postcard sent from Oliva, West Prussia to Chicago, Illinois
10	Telegram announcing the birth of a child
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15	Funeral Prayer Card
16	Gravestones
17	Gather and Copy Family Records & Heirlooms Newspaper clippings Birth and death certificates Birth announcements Funeral cards Old photographs Books Furniture Old letters and envelopes Passports Diaries Family bibles Yearbooks Wills Jewelry
18	Beyond Family Papers Census Records & Vital Records
19	Federal Census Records 1790-1930
20	What are Federal Census Records? Since 1790, the United States has collected statistical information on individuals and establishments every ten years. After 72 years, these records become available to the public. Records currently open to the public include 1790-1930. 1890 Census was destroyed by fire.
21	Who was Recorded in the Census? 1790-1840 – Only the name of the head of household is listed (enumerated) in the census. 1850-1930 – Names of family members, lodgers, and resident servants are enumerated.
22	What Information Might I Find in Census Records? Names of parents Names of siblings Places of residence Places of Birth Native Language Approx. year of marriage Month and Year of birth (1900 census) Year of Immigration Naturalization Literacy Marital Status Occupations Rent or Own Property Native Language War Veteran
23	Where Can I Find the Census Records? Ancestry LE – Subscription database available inside the Library. Heritage Quest – Subscription database available from library’s web site. Microfilm – Available at large genealogical libraries, National Archives, and Latter Day Saints’ Family History Centers.
24	Searching Challenges Nicknames Middle Names Initials Misspelling Indexing/Transcription Errors Census Enumerator Errors “Evolving” Surnames
25	1930 United States Federal Census
26	1930 Census Record
27	What Have We Learned?
28	1920 Census Record
29	1920 Census Record
30	What Have We Learned?
31	1910 Census
32	1910 Census Record
33	What Have We Learned?
34	1900 Census Search
35	1900 Census Record
36	What Have We Learned?
37	1880 Census
38	1880 Census Record
39	What Have We Learned?
40	1880 Census
41	1880 Census
42	What Have We Learned?
43	Vital Records Birth, Death & Marriage Records
44	Location, Location, Location Vital Records are generally kept at the county level, with the exception of New England records which are kept at the town level. Need to know what county an event occurred in at the time when it occurred. Need to know when counties were formed and when boundaries changed.
45	Requesting Vital Records Usually kept at the county clerk’s office. Use www.vitalrec.com or Handybook for Genealogists to locate available dates and addresses. Call ahead or visit web site to determine cost and preferred method of payment.
46	What Information Might I Find on a Death Certificate? Name Date of death Cause of Death Place of death Age at death Date of birth Birthplace Occupation Place of residence Marital status Name of surviving spouse Wife’s maiden name Date and place of burial Name of the funeral director Father’s name Father’s birthplace Mother’s maiden name Mother’s birthplace Military Service
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48	1911 Chicago Death Certificate
49	1888 Chicago Death Certificate
50	How to Find the Death Date Social Security Death Index (Since 1962) Death Indexes (www.deathindexes.com) Gravestones and Cemetery Records Obituaries from newspapers
51	What Might I Learn from Marriage Records? Names of the bride and groom. Date of the marriage. Place of the marriage. Who performed ceremony. Witnesses. Groom’s name, age, birth date, birthplace, occupation, and address. Bride’s maiden name, age, birth date, birthplace, occupation, and address. Date and place the license was issued. Father’s name and birthplace. Mother’s maiden name and birthplace.
52	1910 New Jersey Marriage Certificate
53	1910 Chicago Marriage Record
54	1903 Chicago Marriage Record
55	1872 Chicago Marriage Certificate
56	Church Record from Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago
57	Where to Find Marriage Dates Published or Online Marriage Indexes Obituaries Church Records Pension Records 1900, 1910, 1930 Census (Approx. year) Newspaper articles
58	What Information Might I Find on A Birth Certificate? Name of child Sex of child Date of birth Place of birth Father’s name, age or date of birth, birthplace, occupation, and residence
59	1917 Chicago Birth Certificate
60	1886 New York Birth Certificate
61	Where to Find Birth Dates Best Sources Birth Certificates Birth Indexes Family Bible Social Security Card Applications (SS-5) Church Records Baptismal Records Other Sources Death Certificates Social Security Death Index Obituaries Gravestones 1900 Census (Month and Year)
62	Other Sources of Information Newspapers Church Records Military Records Immigration & Naturalization Records Cemetery Records City Directories Local History Publications Published pedigrees in books and on the Internet School Records Ancestor’s hometown library!
63	Where to Find Help & Support Books 929 Non-fiction section at public library Magazines Family Tree Magazine Genealogical Societies & Lineage Societies (MCIGS, NGS, DAR) Offer workshops, conferences, publications. Online Rootsweb listservs and message boards, Ancestry Daily News, Genealogy Blog (www.genealogyblog.com). Professional Genealogists For your toughest brick walls or “on location” research, consider hiring a professional.