Genealogy Research

Getting information from family members -- especially the elderly members -- is the first step when doing your personal genealogical research or research of anybody.  Be creative!

• Think out of the box -- Where else could I find information about my family members?  Who is that one person in my family who knows everything about everybody?
• Consider speaking with your older relatives to discover family facts in the past
• First, middle, and family (last) names
• Family names of female relatives who changed their name when married
• Dates and places of birth, death, marriage, burial, and other important events
• Social Security numbers for deceased relatives (with permission from beneficiaries) -- never ask for or use Social Security numbers of living relatives
• Passport numbers or naturalized citizenship papers
• Military records
• Letters from family relatives to you or other relatives
• Family Bibles, religious books with family information, church/temple/mosque records of members
• Talking with family members, local and distant, and be sure to take notes or record the conversations (get their permission first)