Tag Archives: genealogy basics

Online Genealogy Courses

If you are a complete novice to genealogy you may want to sit down and take an actual class or tutorial to help you know how to start. There are several classes available to help you begin your genealogy work. Additionally these may lead you down the path to become a certified genealogist. There are universities that offer a degree in genealogy or family history. One free class is offered through BYU’s online courses. Finding Your Ancestors is a free course. It provides two lessons that can be completed all at once or at different times. This class is designed … Continue reading →

Why Do Genealogy?

Genealogy is one thing that allows you to connect to your past. It helps you to learn where your family came from and how it was shaped in preceding generations. As the world has become more global and the United States has become much more of a melting pot there are people who do not know where their ancestors originated. Genealogy allows you to do all of these things. Genealogy is also a way to pass things on to the future generations. Often people only look backwards from themselves with a desire to learn about their past, but do not … Continue reading →

What Is Genealogy?

Genealogy is the study of your family lineage. It traces your ancestry back through time giving a name and a place where you came from. Genealogy focuses mainly on tracing the names and people. It does not go into the stories and occupations of a person. This is a straightforward approach to learning about your lineage. Family history looks at the bigger picture. A family history will contain the genealogical records of a family, but it will also look at the lives of those people in your family. A family history may share the occupation, look at journal entries, old … Continue reading →

Getting Started: What Do I Need?

If you are just beginning your genealogy journey you may be wondering what you need in order to do the research. The Internet, online access to census information and databases have made having a computer and Internet access much more important to making your research easier. However you can still do the research if you do not have a computer at home. You can visit a genealogy center, your library or a family history center to complete the research. Computer Programs and Basic Information You need to have the basic information to have a starting point. This can be as … Continue reading →

Getting Started: Where Do I Start?

If you have never done genealogy before you may be wondering where to start and what to do. First you should realize that genealogy is the study of your ancestry and through it you can learn where your family came from. It allows you to learn more about your past, your heritage and your family. It can be overwhelming and difficult when you think about how to start. Your family tree stretches back forever, and there is so much information available. The easiest place to start is with what you know. You can begin by jotting down names or using … Continue reading →