|
 |
Family ResearchFamily history is simply learning about your family in the present and the past. As a family historian, you are a detective searching for clues that will help you find information about your ancestors and the world in which they lived. To assist you in your search, the staff of the Local History and Family History Section has prepared this information to help you begin your search.Before you begin your research at the library, you need to gather and record information about yourself, your parents, and if possible, your grandparents. Identify their names, the dates of important events in their lives (such as birth, marriage and death) and where these events occurred. With this basic information, you can begin to identify the records you need to investigate. Family history research begins in your home. Look for documents (such as birth, marriage and death certificates; photographs; newspaper clippings; letters; diaries; military service records; a family Bible or school diplomas) that will provide you with information about your life and that of your parents and other family members. Record the information you find on the ancestor chart which is available from the Family History section. Talk or write to other relatives: parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. Ask them to share family information, documents and photographs with you. Older relatives are often an important source of information for the beginning researchers. They also may be able to assist you in contacting other family members researching the history of your family. Remember that family history research begins with gathering information about you and your parents. With basic information, you can begin to find out about your grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-greatgrandparents etc. Begin your research with yourself and work back by generation. DON'T SKIP GENERATIONS! As you gather additional information, record your findings on the ancestor/pedigree charts and family group sheets available in the library's Local History and Family History section. You will also want to begin a research calendar to record all sources of information you have used and where they are located. Read a basic book about family history research and become familiar with the records you will be using (such as vital records, census, schedules, land records, military service records, and cemetery records) and the types of information they contain. Family History CollectionsListed below are a few titles in the Pikes Peak Library District's collection that are available for check-out:
Some basic books published for younger researchers interested in genealogy include:
|
|
|
||
Pikes Peak Library District
|
Back to Top | |