How to Start Your Family History

Family history research involves 6 basic steps. Each step is briefly explained in the following article found here at Familysearch.org.

Resources

Select the link to go directly to the resources on FamilySearch.org.

• Pedigree Chart—Download or print a form to list your pedigree: your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on.
• Family Group Record Form—Download or print a form to list an entire family and their information.
• Personal Ancestral File—Download a Windows®-based program to help you organize your family history information.
• Search for Ancestors—Search for deceased individuals in the FamilySearch.org database.
• Family History Library Catalog, Surname Search—Search for published histories of individuals in the Family History Library collection.
• Family History Centers—Locate a family history center near you.
• Web Sites—Locate other family history Web sites that may contain histories or information about your family.
• Research Guidance—Search for records that may have information about your ancestors.
• Research Helps—Access forms and other helps to download or print.
• Go to a printable list with instructions for how to navigate to the resources in this guide.

A Genealogists Dream by Sue Seniawski

Sue Seniawski writes this ... .

"Picture a whole week of looking for your ancestors in the world’s largest genealogy library from daylight to dusk with no distractions. "

"All the arrangements were made for you. The comfortable, clean bus picked you up Sunday morning, September 20, 2009. The bus was filled with genealogists from northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. It made frequent stops so you could get up and stretch your legs. The bus dropped you off at your hotel. The driver even helped unload your bags. "

"On Sunday evening there was a pizza party and talk by George Ott, Getting the Most Out of Your Research at the Family History Library. Professional genealogist D. Jane Carpenter was there to greet you and sign you up for your first consultation on Monday."

"On Monday you had a choice of a library orientation at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m."

"All week long you had the individual assistance of professional genealogist D. Jane Carpenter to help you with your brick walls or to guide you where to look next."

"On Tuesday evening there was an informal “How Goes It” at the Plaza at 8:00 p.m. where you shared what you’d dug up on your ancestors."

"On Sunday, September 27, 2009 the bus picked you up at the hotel door and returned you home in the same comfortable fashion with the same congenial bunch of genealogists. "


"The Cheyenne (WY) Genealogical and Historical Society and the Larimer County (CO) Genealogical Society are sponsoring a research trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Everything mentioned above is included in the $159 early bird registration fee good until July 20. After that date the registration fee goes to $185 and is subject to availability."

"We’ve negotiated fantastic prices at the following hotels, be sure to mention WYCO 09 when you make your reservations at The Plaza Hotel, right next door to the Family History Library (Restaurant on premises.) http://www.plaza-hotel.com; or the Crystal Inn Hotel, 7 blocks from the Library, two blocks from the light rail, hotel shuttle available. (Free hot breakfast daily.) http://www.crystalinnsaltlake.com/ "

Registration forms are available at HTTP://wyco-09.blogspot.com

For more information contact Sue at sseniawski@aol.com or (307) 638-6519, Paul at phsmith@intergate.com or (970) 613-1930 or Ken at goldsdlf@lamar.colostate.edu

Church History Library

Participants that have in interest in LDS history may like to see the new Church History Library on their research trip. (See Tom Kemp’s article “Church History Library Opens in Salt Lake City - June 12th & 13th” posted yesterday in the Official GenealogyBank.com Blog. ) Author Note: the Church History Library is not the same as the Family History Library.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance gives you the comfort that you are protected for emergency medical expense, trip cancellation, trip interrruption, lost luggage and emergency evacuation. Included in your reservation packet is a Travel Guard Essential insurance brochure provided by Rocky Mountain Travel King (RMTK) of Fort Collins that explains the benefits. Please take a few minutes to read and study it. You may easily obtain this coverage by calling Laura at RMTK (970)484-5566 (800)525-5306 at least 48 hours prior to departure. All the arrangements can be handled by phone.

A "one size fits all" approach to purchasing travel insurance may not be to your liking or you might want to find out more information about travel insurance and do some comparison shopping. I suggest you try InsureMyTrip.com -- a travel insurance comparison site at http://www.insuremytrip.com/. They have a a 24/7 chat line and an 800 number to get help (800-487-4722). Trip insurance may be purchased directly in a secure environment from this site.

For more information about Travel Guard Essential trip insurance, click on the following link:

http://www.insuremytrip.com/certificate/TGE/all.html

Who can go and why the non-member fee?

Our trip is not limited to members of any particular genealogical society, ethnic group, or research interest. However, we do think that belonging to a local genealogical society is of great value and so we encourage membership by charging extra for non-members.

We would like you to check out the Cheyenne Genealogical & Historical Society and Larimer County Genealogical Society, who are the co-sponsors of this event, or any other that may be close to your residence.

Gone Researchin'

WYCO-09 Genealogy Research Trip
20-27 September 2009
Family History Library (FHL), Salt Lake City, Utah

Gone Researchin’

Travel with a group of genealogists from southeastern Wyoming and northeastern Colorado to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. All the arrangements have been made for you. We’ve chartered a bus that’ll leave from Fort Collins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, September 20 and return Sunday evening, September 27. Special group rates are available for Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, right next door to the Family History Library (Restaurant on premises.) http://www.plaza-hotel.com; or the Crystal Inn Hotel, 7 blocks from the Library, two blocks from the light rail, hotel shuttle available. (Free hot breakfast daily.) http://www.crystalinnsaltlake.com/.

Research your family history at the world’s largest genealogy library with one-on-one assistance from professional genealogist, Jane Carpenter.

For more information contact Paul Smith, phsmith@intergate.com at (970) 613-1930 or Ken Goldsberry, goldsdlf@lamar.colostate.edu, at (970)227-5091. Sign up for the “Early Bird” rate now. Registration fees increase after 20 July.

Share this opportunity with your friends.

Family History Library Floor Plans

The library has five floors for public use. Three floors are above ground and two are below ground. Each floor has a reference help desk, library attendants' window, copy center, restrooms, FamilySearch computers, and drinking fountain. Detailed floor plans show the location of services on each floor.

When you register for WYCO-09 (see the side bar for the registration form) you will receive a reservation packet containing maps of the Family History Library's Main Level, Level 2, Level B1, Level 3, and Level B2. This handy guide lists the library hours, rules and places to go for additional information.

Also included in your reservation packet is a Salt Lake City Visitors Map that shows prominant places to visit (museums, historical sites and the route for TRAX (Light Rail Line).