Top tips to get started with genealogy and family trees this year

Want to trace your family history but don’t know where to start? This guide will help you get started with genealogy research. We’ll cover how to:

  • Start genealogy research by gathering personal and family information, including names, dates, and stories from relatives to build a strong foundation.
  • Utilize various sources such as military, immigration, and vital records to discover your family history through key life events and data.
  • Organize research findings methodically using genealogy software and share your documented research to preserve family history for future generations.

Begin your genealogy journey and family tree

Start your genealogy research by concentrating on what you know your own life. 

  • Write down basic information about yourself, your parents, and your grandparents
  • Record names, dates of birth, death dates,  marriage dates, and places of residence. 

This foundational information will serve as the cornerstone of your research. If you don’t know a date, an estimate is a great place to start. “Sometime in the summer of 1964” or “Late 1972 or early 1973” can really narrow down records in online databases.

Collect existing family stories and records

Reach out to older relatives who often hold a wealth of family history information. They can provide you with stories, photographs, and documents that you might not have access to otherwise or just didn’t know existed. They may also have questions about their parents or grandparents you should know to look out for.

Don’t overlook your home as a treasure trove of genealogical data, too. Family documents, old letters, and records stored in attics or basements can provide vital clues about your ancestors. Gathering information from personal and family sources sets a solid foundation for your genealogical research. Future generations are likely going to struggle with this as digital data is captured in inaccessible formats or proprietary sites like Facebook!

As you interview living relatives to gather anecdotes and memories that add life to your family’s history, they may be uncomfortable to talk. It’s not uncommon for divorces, deaths, and other challenging life events come forward. Use storytelling techniques to make your relatives feel comfortable and more willing to share personal stories. Ask open-ended questions like:

  • “What did you do after moving there?” 
  • “How did you two meet?”
  • “What do you remember about him?”

Documents like family Bibles, cemetery records, and other family records can provide crucial genealogical data, too. These records often contain birth, marriage, and death dates, as well as other valuable information about your ancestors. Photographs and images of vital records enrich your family history narrative.

Collaboration in genealogical research is important. Working with other family members can help overcome challenges and fill in gaps in your research. While you’re at it: digitizing, labeling, and restoring old photographs ensures that these memories are preserved for future generations. There are even apps that can do this from your phone. Just make sure you have files in an organized, sustainable system, not a proprietary app that requires a subscription. Avoid saving all your photos in iCloud or Google Photos, too, since these assets may get locked behind accounts as people die — or someone forgets their password!

Sharing your findings and publishing your family history can help preserve stories and genealogical data. You should print as much as you can, since creating a writte family history not only preserves your research but also connects generations, allowing them to appreciate their shared heritage.

Organize your findings and research

Once you’ve collected a significant amount of information, the next step is to organize your findings. Using software like RootsMagic, Ancestry, or Family Tree Maker can help manage family trees and attach documents and images to individual profiles, making it easier to track your ancestors. Genealogy software and databases like FamilySearch are essential tools for organizing your genealogical data, too, and some of the biggest options include search tools and databases as part of your subscription.

A well-organized family history enhances usability for future researchers, too. Whether you’re working digitally or in print, create a table of contents and a name index to make your family history easily navigable. Citing sources and documenting your research increases the credibility and usefulness of your family history and can help future generations tie up loose ends.

A systematic approach using spreadsheets and genealogy software ensures your family history is preserved in an orderly and accessible way. This organization is crucial for current research and passing down your findings to future generations.

Explore Census records

Census records are a goldmine for genealogy research, offering detailed insights into your ancestors’ lives. Start by searching the latest census and work your way backward to trace your ancestors through earlier records. Each census provides vital details such as approximate birth dates, birthplaces, and marriage dates. If you’re unsure where to start, start by looking at your tree and the first unknown. It might be, “When did grandma and grandpa get married?” If you know where they lived, a census record can tell you a decade they were married in.

  • The official census day for each record ensures accurate census data collection. 
  • Agricultural and manufacturing schedules from early censuses can offer statistical insights into your ancestors’ farming or business activities. 
  • Variations in names and spellings are common, so be mindful of how census takers might have interpreted or misspelled names.
  • Documenting details like the census year, location, and enumeration district helps locate records later. 
  • Mortality schedules from certain census years list individuals who died in the year preceding the census, providing additional vital information. 
  • Checking neighbors in census records might reveal relatives or familiar families from previous residences.

Search vital records

Vital records are essential documents providing key details about life events in your ancestors’ history. These records include birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death records, each offering unique insights into your family’s past.

Obtaining these documents can be simplified by using standardized forms provided by states to request vital records. Pension files related to veterans may also contain significant family records, including birth, marriage, and death certificates. Further, vital records can vary by state. Some states, like New York, Illinois, Utah, and Virginia publish marriage records online. You can even order the records by mail for a small fee. Other states don’t publish some records. In Colorado and Oregon, for example, marriage records are considered private for 50 years. In New Jersey it’s 100 years.

In Missouri, vital records prior to 1948 are typically available through local county clerks or archives, like here at our Warren County Research Library. Some state microfilm archives are available, but for records after 1948, these likely are held at a local county health department, Recorder of Deeds, or Clerk’s office.

Vital records are indispensable for building a comprehensive family history and vary by state and local government. Vital records, as the name suggests, are vital! They offer concrete evidence of your ancestors’ lives and are crucial for verifying information gathered from other sources.

Utilize military records

Military records are a valuable source of genealogical information, providing details about your ancestors’ military service as far back as the American Revolution! These records include names, residences, ages, physical descriptions, enlistment dates, units, and any injuries sustained during service.

Military records can reveal fascinating aspects of your ancestors’ lives, such as their participation in significant historical events.

Utilizing military records in your genealogy research adds depth and context, offering a fuller picture of your ancestors’ lives and contributions.

Investigate Immigration and Naturalization Records

Immigration and naturalization records are essential for tracing your ancestors’ origins and migration patterns. A-Files contain individual case files for all immigration records created since April 1, 1944. Alien Registration Forms (AR-2s) include approximately 5.5 million records completed by aliens aged 14 and older between 1940 and 1944.

These records include ship passenger lists and naturalization documents, which hold valuable data about when and where individuals arrived and how. Investigating these records can provide insights into your family’s historical context and movements across countries.

Your ancestors’ immigration and naturalization history reveals their journeys and challenges in their quest for a new life, adding another layer to your family’s history and genealogical research.

Visit local libraries and historical societies

Local libraries and archives like ours here at the Warren County Historical Society are treasure troves of genealogical information related to local families and the region. These institutions hold unique resources that can be crucial for your research, such as family Bibles, newspaper clippings not accessible online, and more. Libraries and genealogical societies often have access to information on local family history that may not be available online.

The Library of Congress holds over 100,000 U.S. local histories and more than 50,000 family histories. Its vertical files include materials related to specific family names and genealogical research. The Library’s Digital Collections offer access to newspapers, maps, and personal papers for free online, and a LoC Librarian may be able to help over the phone or via email for a nominal fee.

Experienced members at libraries and genealogical societies can provide solutions to complex genealogy research challenges. Attending workshops and conferences encourages learning new research methods and sharing experiences, too, if they’re offered in your area. We occasionally host a genealogy workshop each year here.

Join and support your local Historical Society

Joining a local genealogical or historical society offers a community for individuals engaged in genealogy research. These societies provide workshops, access to unique resources, and guidance on research methodologies. Forums and local historians’ expertise can help avoid burnout in your genealogy research, too.

But membership in genealogical societies provides access to unique libraries and archives, often unpublished records, and sustains the efforts of these organizations to literally keep the building maintained and the lights on. As you conduct research, be prepared to offer up a donation for people’s time and energy. It’s not always required, but most research libraries only charge a few dollars for admission and for paper copies made while you’re there. 

It’s also good etiquette to pay for copies even if you snap photos with your phone. Paper copies are frequently the only “profit center” libraries have, and most historical societies receive little to no public funding. Here in Warren County, we function with the support of private donations and volunteers only.

Use online genealogy websites, but be careful to question things

Online genealogy websites are essential tools for family history research. These platforms provide access to numerous genealogical records and databases worldwide, increasing the possibility of uncovering family history. Websites like Ancestry and MyHeritage offer extensive resources for genealogical research and can even “auto-fill” a family tree or history based on the research conducted by other users. But their research may be incomplete and errors are very, very common. Do your own research and fact-check everything.

Local libraries may have additional resources unavailable online, including unique collections and community records. Leverage online databases and local resources to uncover a broader range of historical information.

Online genealogy websites simplify the search process and connect you with other researchers and potential relatives. Utilizing these platforms can significantly advance your genealogical research early in your search. Eventually you’ll likely hit a wall where records simply are not digitized and only available in a local county library or archive.

Consider DNA testing

DNA testing has revolutionized genealogy research, allowing individuals to trace their ancestral roots and connect with relatives. More than 26 million individuals have participated in genetic ancestry testing through direct-to-consumer companies. These tests can reveal connections to distant cousins and offer insights into your genetic heritage.

Ancestry testing typically evaluates mitochondrial DNA, Y chromosome DNA, or a large set of autosomal variants inherited from both parents. The accuracy of these tests depends on the choice of reference populations and the specific DNA variants analyzed.

DNA testing may reveal unexpected results, such as non-paternity or unanticipated family connections, affecting personal relationships. DNA testing adds another dimension to your genealogy research, providing a deeper understanding of your genetic heritage.

But DNA testing has risks. Companies are bought and sold, and their privacy policies can be challenging to understand or skim through. Most DNA testing companies will ask you if you want to keep your DNA “on file” so future advancements in the technology can be re-run on your DNA, or if you want your DNA (usually submitted through a cheek swap or saliva) destroyed after the initial report. Just know that few legal protections exist at the state or federal level in 2025 as of this writing to protect your privacy here.

Document and share your research

Documenting and sharing your research is the final step in your genealogy journey. Preserving family records not only aids in genealogical research but also enriches family heritage. Creating a family narrative from collected stories helps connect generations and maintain family history.

The goal of storytelling in genealogy research is to get the story right about your ancestors. Pick a single person, preferably your favorite (we all have our favorite most interesting ancestor!), and start a project to share your family history with others. Involve younger family members in organizing and entering information into the computer.

Sharing your research with the general public or other researchers ensures that your family’s history is preserved and appreciated by future generations. Documenting all the information, citing sources, and creating a comprehensive family narrative are essential steps.

You may also use this as an opportunity to document your ancestry for application to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Many states also have a “Pioneer” Society, where membership is contingent upon showing your family was a native ancestor of a state or region during a specific time period.

FAQs about starting genealogy research

How much does it cost to have someone research your genealogy?

Hiring a professional genealogist costs between $30 to $200 per hour, depending on their experience, location, and project specifics. It is advisable to clarify rates and expectations before commencing any research. Our local Warren County Research Library has volunteers ready to help research families here for $25 per hour.

How do I begin my genealogy research?

To begin your genealogy research, start by documenting your own details and those of your parents and grandparents. Engaging with older relatives and reviewing family documents at home will also provide valuable information. You may want to download this free 5-generation pedigree chart to help.

What types of records are essential for genealogy research?

It is essential to gather vital records like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death records, along with census records, military records, and immigration documents, as they provide critical insights into family history.

How can I organize my genealogical findings?

Organizing your genealogical findings can be effectively achieved by utilizing genealogy software such as Ancestry or Family Tree Maker to manage family trees and documents while instituting a systematic approach with a table of contents and proper source citations. This method ensures clarity and accessibility of your research. Other apps and services exist for web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and other platforms and are not endorsed by the Warren County Historical Society. 

What are the benefits of joining a local genealogical society?

Joining a local genealogical society offers valuable access to unique resources and workshops while fostering a supportive community for shared knowledge. This environment can significantly enhance your research capabilities and experience.

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