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.