Getting Started

There are many resource guides that will help you begin your research.   Below is a brief guide.

1. Interview your family (aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents), friends and neighbors.  Start with your elders. Ask for copies of all photos and documents pertaining to vital life events, immigration, naturalization and education. Take notes and record the interview on video or audiotape. Listen to these recordings, create a transcript and list important relevant information.
2.  Gather documents, photographs, heirlooms, and artifacts across generations.  These may include wedding invitations and photographs, metric documents (birth, death, marriage certificates), naturalization and citizenship information, ship manifest, passports, social security information, military papers, school reports cards, obituaries, diplomas, etc.  Make sure to preserve these valuable documents in archival quality ink, acid-free paper and speciality plastic.
3. Organize your information.  Begin making a family tree either using an online website or print one of our forms below.  Remember to be thorough and record the source of each document you find even if you have multiple conflicting information.