This may be a good place to start your family history search since death records list birth dates, names of any hospitals the deceased may have been treated in, the address of the deceased and the name of his or her next of kin.
* Libraries
The local library is good source of information on the history of towns and cities, including maps, cultural history and government offices and historical societies that may be able to help you search your family history. Libraries overseas may be able to point you to helpful organizations in that area.
* Deeds offices
Good for uncovering information on properties that have been bought and sold over the years and by whom.
* Cemetery records
Invaluable for uncovering the resting places of your relatives and the names of their friends or next of kin as well as their birth dates.
* Personal journals, letters and autobiographies
These can be excellent sources of information. Use them to list important facts like names of people and places, dates of birth, death and marriage that will provide a starting point for your search.
* Photographs
Old photogrpahs may help to piece together information about the time, place and location of your family members if you have very little other information to work with. The style of dress in the photos as well as makes and models of cars or airplanes may give clues as to the time the pictures were taken. Shops, restuarants or street names featured in the pictures may form the foundation of your search.
* Family stories
A history of storytelling within the family may provide valuable clues to your family’s history.
* Family members
Older members of your family may be a good resource. They may have personal memories that can provide clues to your family history. Conduct interviews with all your relatives and record everything they say no matte how irrelevant it may seem. It may make more sense once you extend your search further.
* Existing Genealogy
Bear in mind, as you search your family history, that others family members both living or dead may already have compiled substantial documentation on your ancestry. It is quite possible that you may be their missing link and vice versa. Join an online message board or chat group and try to make contact by posting a general message in the appropriate forum. You may be surprised at who and what you uncover.
Depending on the country of your family’s origin and on how far back you want to go you may have to search far and wide and make contact with organizations in that country. So be prepared to do a lot of mailing or e-mailing back and forth as you begin to search your family history.
Formal Courses
The above are all ways in which you can kick start your family history search and should provide most people with enough tools to uncover the secrets of the past. If, however, you are really enthusiastic about the subject you might want to consider enrolling yourself in a formal course at your local Community College.
As you start to search your family history keep a record of what you uncover in the form of an organogram or ‘tree’ this well help you to piece things together and give you a visual of any gaps you need to fill in as you go along.
Documenting What You Find in Your Family's History
You can choose to display your new found family history by means of journals, slide shows, compact discs, DVD’s or on paper you can even frame the details and hand it on your wall. The choice is yours but you will want to make it something that can be handed down to future generations who may want to pick up where you left off, so if you do use modern technology like your computer or CD’s make a hard copy to go along with it.
