Beginners Guides, Hints & Tips

• 26 Genealogy Tips to Get You Started 
  From Robert E. Bickham.
• 30 Seconds: a Guide to Organizing Your Genealogy Files 
  A book by Robert R Langman.
• 500 Brickwall Solutions to Genealogy Problems 
  A book by the Publishers of Family Chronicle Magazine.
• AFHC - Frequently Asked Questions about Australian family tree research 
  From the Australian Family History Compendium.
• Ancestors: The First Series - Viewer's Guide To Getting Started 
• Ancestry.com - Common Research Wrong Turns 
  Article by George G. Morgan.
• Ancestry.com - Learn 
• Awesome Genealogy: Awesome Tips 
  General tips for beginning genealogists and researchers.
• Discovering Family History 
  The latest magazine from the publishers of Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine. This bi-monthly magazine is targeted at people who are starting their genealogy, need a refresher course or are tackling a new aspect of genealogy.
• Family Chronicle - In the VERY Beginning 
• FamilySearch.org - Discovering Your Family Tree 
  This outline will teach you the five steps of research. 1) Identify what you know about your family. 2) Decide what you want to learn about your family. 3) Select records to search. 4) Obtain and search the record. 5) Use the information.
• FamilySearch.org - A Guide to Research 
  This guide teaches you how to find out more about your ancestors using the records available in the Family History Library or one of the Family History Centers throughout the world. It will help you learn to identify what you know about your family, decide what you want to learn about your family, select records to search, obtain and search the records, and use the information.
• FamilySearch.org - Research Guidance - How Do I Begin? 
• First Steps in Family History 
  From the Federation of Family History Societies. This online brochure provides answers to a new researcher's first questions about family history.
• First Steps in Genealogy 
  From the Greene County Public Library, Ohio.
• The Folk Historian 
  Help for beginning and experenced researchers.
• Genealogy 101 
• Genealogy 4 Beginners 
  Information on how to start your family research.
• Genealogy for Beginners 
• Genealogy & Kentucky History - How to Begin 
  Tips on how to begin your genealogy from the Kenton County Public Library.
• Genealogy Knowledgebase 
  Tools to aid the beginning researcher in this very addictive hobby.
• Genealogy Pathfinder for Beginners 
  From the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System in Georgia.
  From the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System in Georgia.
• Genealogy Research Associates - Free On-line Lessons - The Great Ancestral Hunt 
• Genealogy Tips and Guidelines for Beginners 
  Genealogy Tips, Guidelines and How-Tos for Beginners on how to begin the research on your Family Roots. Included are 25 tips from organizing your papers to conducting interviews with family members.
• Genealogy Tips for Beginners 
• Genealogy Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid 
  Ten key mistakes that you will want to avoid in your genealogy research including hints, tips and strategies for a successful search. From the About.com genealogy section.
• GEN-NEWBIE-L Home Page 
• Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History 
• Guide to Family History Research 
  By Desmond Walls Allen and Carolyn Earle Billingsley.
• The History Slice - Getting Started 
• How-to Get Started on Your Family History 
• How to Get Started With Your Family Tree 
  From the About.com genealogy section.
• Introduction to Genealogy: An Online Course 
  The National Genealogical Society's online course for beginners.
• Life on the Net - Genealogy 
  Articles on how to make the most of the web for genealogy.
• Life Span Genealogy 
  Surname registry & tutorials.
• Lineage Web 
  Genealogy help for newbies, family researchers, genealogists and professionals from Mike Mullins.
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)  ~ United States
  • Genealogy FAQs 
  • Research Topics of Genealogical Interest 
  • Start Your Genealogy Research 
• Newbies helping Newbies..Forbes Computer Group 
  Newbies helping newbies in the areas of Internet, genealogy and computers.
• NGS | The Learning Center | Suggestions for Beginners 
• The Old Front Porch - Family History 
  Genealogy how to information and unique research message boards geared towards how to and sharing progress in your research.
• Research Aids for the Family Historian 
• Researching Your Family Tree: An Introduction to Genealogy 
• ROOTS-L Resources: Info and Tips for Beginning Genealogy 
• RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees 
• Searching Your Family Tree 
  A series of articles by Richard A. Pence.
• Sicily 
  A place to begin your genealogy for any nationality.
• Sue's Genealogy Recipes 
  Articles with genealogical helpful hints.
• Surfing Genealogy Style - Finding Your Ancestors on the Internet 
  From the About.com genealogy section.
• Things I Hate and Love About Genealogy and Family History 
• Tips & Tricks for the Beginner - Genealogy 101 
• Tracing Your Family Tree 
  From the State Historical Society of Missouri.
• Tracing Your Family Tree 
  By Brian W. Hutchison for the Alberta Family Histories Society.
• Tutorial (Starting your family tree) 
  Flash plug-in tutorial for beginning your family research from the Wolverhampton Archives in England.
• What Are Archives? 
  From the Archives Center of the National Museum of American History.

Mailing Lists, Newsgroups & Chat

• Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Mailing Lists 
  Most of the mailing list links below point to this site, wonderfully maintained by John Fuller. John indexes links for all known genealogy mailing lists, including RootsWeb and others.
• RootsWeb: Genealogy Mailing Lists 
  The majority of genealogy mailing lists are hosted by RootsWeb.com. Messages on RootsWeb lists are archived. The links to RootsWeb below point you to the archives (browse or search).

• Chat Genealogy 
  From the About.com genealogy section. Scheduled weekly chats for the following topics: Native American, Genealogy How-To, US Southern States, Genealogy Social, British Isles, French, Canadian.
• GEN-Beginners Mailing List 
  Specifically for those who are beginners with interests in family history. The experts (and other beginners) on the list will be able to help you to get started in tracing your family history, and point you towards resources, and other places where you can get help.
• GENEALOGY4DUMMIES Mailing List 
  For those who are new to genealogy to request and/or provide help to others. Archives: browse or search.
• GENEALOGYFORKIDS Mailing List 
  For youngsters to discuss anything having to do with genealogy. Archives: browse or search.
• GENEALOGY-RESEARCH-CLUB Mailing List 
  For novice genealogists to discuss and share information that will help them improve their genealogical research skills. Archives: browse or search.
• GEN-NEWBIE-L Mailing List 
  A mailing list where people who are new to computers and genealogy may interact using a computer's e-mail program. Archives: browse or search.
  • Gen-Newbie Mailing List 
    Companion web site to the mailing list.
    • Newbie List Tips & Guidelines 
• GENTEEN Mailing List 
  For teenagers and young adults who are interested in genealogical research or others who have suggestions or ideas for young genealogists. Areas that will be addressed by the list include general genealogical concerns, keeping records, finding information and clues, or any other concerns dealing with genealogy and young adults. Archives: browse or search.
• Lost_Newbies Mailing List 
  For people who are new to genealogy and/or the use of the Internet in genealogical research. Archives: browse or search.
• NEWGEN Mailing List 
  Created to assist those who are quite new to genealogy. Archives: browse or search.
• RESEARCH-HOWTO Mailing List 
  For those who are just getting started in genealogy research and those who are not novices but need information on where to go when "dead ends" are encountered. This list will deal with such things as courts' records, other official documents, ships' logs, genealogy societies, on-line databases, web Pages, mailing lists, historical societies, libraries dedicated to genealogy, locations of LDS Genealogy Centers, and any other subjects that arise in the discussion of Genealogy Tips, Tricks, Methods, Techniques, etc. Surname searches or any other specific ancestor searches are not an appropriate topic for this list. Archives: browse or search.
• ROCKINGCHAIR-ROOTS Mailing List 
  For "Seniors" who are new to genealogy. Archives: browse or search.
• ROOTS-L Mailing List 
  Broad-based genealogy topics - over 10,000 subscribers. Archives: browse or search.
• SENIOR-NEWBIE Mailing List 
  For people of all ages who would like help learning to use the internet and/or their computer for genealogy purposes in a safe environment, without being made to feel stupid. It is not for queries related to specific ancestral searches. Archives: browse or search.
• UK-GENEALOGY-NEWBIES Mailing List 
  For those who are unfamiliar with genealogical research in the United Kingdom. Archives: browse or search.
• Yahoo! Groups - Genealogy-101 
  This email group is for those just beginning their genealogy quest . . . Where to start, where to look, who to talk to, and what to use. This group is NOT for surname queries, but for advice on any of the above issues. If you are stuck on the ground under your tree, or are stuck somewhere in your family tree, this group will help get you up the tree or unstuck! Remember, the only dumb question is an unasked question!
• Yahoo! Groups - Preserving_Our_Heritage : Preserving Our Heritage 
  A mailing list to discuss all things about gathering and preserving our family history. Help to those new to genealogy as well as for those who have spent many years of research and now want to preserve it for future generations. Discussion for heritage scrapbooking, journaling, photography, and anything that will encourage others to preserve their heritage.
• Yahoo! Groups: yahoo-cls-basicgenealogy - Basic Genealogy Course Mailing List 
  A free, self-paced course designed to help people get started in tracing their family tree.

Publications, Software & Supplies

• Cyndi's List Genealogy Bookstore 
  A categorized list of genealogy research books that looks a lot like my bookshelf at home.

• Amazon.com Genealogy Bookstore - Beginner 
  The following are individual book titles of interest for this topic. The book links below point to the Amazon.com bookstore online where you may purchase the book if you wish. These links are provided to bring these published resources to your attention as an aid to your research. Follow the links to books of interest to make note of their title, author, publisher, and ISBN. You might then use this information to obtain the book from your local library or your favorite corner book shop.
  • The Board for Certification of Genealogists' Genealogical Standards Manual 
    A book by the BCG.
  • The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy 
    A book by Christine Rose & Kay Ingalls.
  • The Everything Family Tree Book : Finding, Charting, and Preserving Your Family History 
    A book by William G. Hartley.
  • Family Chronicle's Introduction to Genealogy 
    A book by Family Chronicle.
  • Finding Your Roots : How to Trace Your Ancestors at Home and Abroad 
    A book by Jeane Eddy Westin.
  • The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook 
    A book by Emily Anne Croom.
  • The Genealogist's Handbook : Modern Methods for Researching Family History 
    A book by Raymond S. Wright, III.
  • Genealogists Question and Answer Book: Solutions and Advice for Maximizing Your Research Results 
    A book by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk.
  • Genealogy 101: How to Trace Your Familys History and Heritage 
    A book by Barbara Renick.
  • The Handybook for Genealogists 
    A book by Everton's.
  • How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy 
    A book by George G. Morgan.
  • How to Trace Your Family Tree : A Complete and Easy to Understand Guide for the Beginner 
    A book by the American Genealogical Research Institute.
  • The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy 
    A book by Val D. Greenwood.
  • Shaking Your Family Tree: A Basic Guide to Tracing Your Family's Genealogy (2nd Edition) 
    A book by Ralph J. Crandall.
  • The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research 
    A book by Emily Anne Croom.
  • Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy 
    A book by Emily Anne Croom.
  • The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook : Essential Forms and Letters for All Genealogists 
    A book by Emily Anne Croom.
• Ancestry Magazine 
• Cyndi's List - Books 
• Cyndi's List - Software & Computers 
• Cyndi's List - Supplies, Charts, Forms, Etc. 
• Family Chronicle Magazine 
• Family Tree Magazine 
  Subscribe to Farmily Tree Magazine  for 33% off the cover price.
• Genealogical.com - Guides and Manuals 
  The online store of Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. & Clearfield Company.
• Global Genealogy - General Genealogy Topics & How - To Books 
• Heritage Books: Research Aids 
• NGS | Bookstore | Beginner's Kit 
• Repeat Performance - Audio/Video Recording Services 
  Tapes of classes and presentations at several genealogy conferences and seminars for the last 18 years.
• Rooting Out Your AnceStory: A Primer for Beginning Genealogy 
  A quick-read primer for beginning and organizing your quest for your family roots, 79 pages available as PDF (Adobe Acrobat) download or hardcopy.

Researching: Birth, Marriage and Death Records

• Cyndi's List - Births & Baptisms 
• Cyndi's List - Death Records 
• Cyndi's List - Marriages 
• Cyndi's List - U.S. - Vital Records 
• Family History SourceGuide - Where to Write for Vital Records 
• Genealogy.com - Finding a Marriage Date 
  Article by Karen Clifford, A.G.
• Ordering Birth Registration Certificates from the United Kingdom 
  Using the LDS Family History Center Resources.
• RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees - Lesson 4: Vital Records: Death, Tombstones and Cemeteries 
• RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees - Lesson 5: Vital Records: Marriage Records and Evidence 
• RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees - Lesson 6: Vital Records: Birth Records 
• Vital Records Information - State Index 
  Information about where to obtain vital records (such as birth, death & marriage certificates and divorce decrees) from each state, territory and county of the United States.
• Where to Write for Vital Records  
  From the National Center for Health Statistics, United States

Researching: Census Records

• Cyndi's List - Census Related Sites Worldwide 
• Cyndi's List - U.S. - Census 
• Guide to the Soundex System 
• How to Use Soundex for United States Census Records 
• Using the Soundex System 
  
  Article from "Along Those Lines..." by George Morgan.

Researching: Land Records

• Cyndi's List - Land Records, Deeds, Homesteads, Etc. 
• How to Search Deeds 
  From DoHistory.
  • Form for Deed Research Notes 
• Land Record Reference 
• Land Records: History of and How to Use Them 
• Retracing the Trails of Your Ancestors Using Deed Records 
  By William Dollarhide, from the Genealogy Bulletin, Issue No. 25, Jan-Feb 1995.
• US Land & Property Research 
  By Bill Utterback for the IIGS University.

Researching: Localities & Ethnic Groups

• African American Lifelines 
  How-to for beginners.
• Ancestors from Norway - Getting Started 
• The Basics: A Guide to Finding Your Dutch Genealogical Roots 
  An excellent general resource site with detailed explanations of the intricacies of genealogy in The Netherlands.
• Beginning Genealogical Research for England & Wales 
  By Mark Howells.
• Czech Research Outline 
  Outline on conducting Czech research, with sections on Czech history, vocabulary and language, gazetteers, maps, records types (church, land, military, migration documents) conducting research through Czech archives, Internet research, etc. Includes bibliography.
• Finding Where Your Ancestors Came From in Germany 
• Genealogy in France - A Beginners Guide to Researching Your French Ancestry 
  Learn about the major sources for genealogical information in France, including the information contained by the various records, and how to obtain copies. From the About.com genealogy section.
• Genealogy Research in Stuttgart Libraries and Archives 
  Tips and hints by Lisa Petersen.
• German Genealogical Research Before The Church Records Begin 
  Tips and hints by Lisa Petersen.
• German Research at Libraries and Archives in Baden-Wuerttemberg 
  Tips and hints by Lisa Petersen.
• How To Guide for Native Americans 
• Have You Found a Swedish Ancestor? 
• Hvordan Finner Jeg Etterkommere Av De Som Utvandret Til USA? / How Do I Find Descendants of a Norwegian Immigrant to the USA? 
  In Norwegian; for Norwegians who are tracing descendants of a Norwegian immigrant to the USA.
• An Introduction to Jewish Genealogy in Manitoba 
• Native American Genealogy 
  A guide from the State Historical Society Of Missouri.
• Researching Ancestors from the United Kingdom 
  Using the LDS Family History Center Resources.
• Swedish Information Service - Internet Resources for Tracing Your Swedish Roots 
• Tim's Tips on Pennsylvania German Research 
• Who Wants to Be an Canadian Genealogist - Quiz - Test Your Knowledge of Genealogy in Canada 
  From the About.com genealogy section.

Researching: Military Records

• Cyndi's List - Canada - Military 
• Cyndi's List - U.K. - Military 
• Cyndi's List - U.S. - Civil War ~ War for Southern Independence 
• Cyndi's List - U.S. - Military 
• How To Obtain A Revolutionary War Pension File 
• How to Order Military & Pension Records for Union Civil War Veterans 
  From the National Archives .
• Obtaining Military Pension Files from the VA 

Researching: Ships, Passenger Lists & Immigration

• Cyndi's List - Immigration & Naturalization 
• Cyndi's List - Ships & Passenger Lists 
• How To Find Your Immigrant Ancestor - Passenger and Immigration Lists Index 
• LDS Passenger Manifests - A Guide to Using the Passenger Lists at Your Local Family History Center 
• Passport Application Record Information From the National Archives  
• Requesting Your Ancestor's Naturalization Records from the INS 
  A guide by Dennis Piccirillo.

Researching: Specialty Records or Topics

• Beyond the Index--Michael John Neill--Be Prepared (Starting Foreign Research) 
• Beyond the Index--Michael John Neill--Cold Calling 
  This article discusses how to prepare for calling that distant relative you just learned about in order to ask them for family history information.
• Genealogy.com - Locating Published Genealogies 
  Article by Donna Przecha.
• How to do Genealogical Research using FBI Files? 
• Passport Application Record Information From the National Archives  
• Using Federal Documents In Genealogical Research - U.S. 

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