6 Tips to Getting Started with Genealogy Research and Genealogy Forms

Sunday, September 18th, 2011 at 4:58 pm

scrapbookingyourfamilytree-pedigreechart

Photo provided by: VintageKin.com

6 Tips to Getting Started with Genealogy Research and Genealogy Forms

Like most every project doing family research is not really hard, the getting started is the hard part. There are many places on the internet where you can download the forms to get started on your search.

Getting Ready…

1. Gather some forms together. There are lots of free ones available on the internet to start working with. Free Genealogy Forms and Charts The forms you will need the most to start with will be Pedigree forms, Family Group sheets and Research Log forms.

Find and print a few copies of a pedigree form to start with. Much to my own aggravation I’m always trying to reinvent the wheel and often times create my own forms.

I’ve made a couple of Pedigree forms that you can download for free to get started and a Research Log. The download links are at the end of the post. These Pedigree forms are 3 generation forms to include; you, your mom and dad and your grandparents. The Family sheets, I really have not come up with a better reinvention of those – YET.

2. Start a numbering system right from the beginning. You will be SO sorry later on if you don’t. You will be #1, your Dad #2, your Mom #3, your dad’s dad is #4, your dad’s mom is #5, your mom’s dad is #6 and your mom’s mom is #7. Once you get further back in your research the numbers will continue in the same manner as you have started here.

3. I also have created and added a “Blank-Family-Record-Documents-Collected” spreadsheet form that I attach to the front of the file folder of the family I am researching. You can also download a free copy of that below. To open this form you will need Microsoft Excel or you can use Open Office, which is free to download (Download Open Office)

4. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. When I first started I did that and still at times make things more difficult than they need to be. Just start with yourself and write down what you know and continue backwards. The main thing to remember is to write down the information you find and where you find it so you don’t end up retracing your steps again looking for the same information.

If you have your birth certificate; mark it on the form I’ve provided that you have attached to the outside of your family folder and the same with your parents. Any documents you have mark it down on the form and store the document in acid free sheet protectors.

5. Most of all, make your project fun. Add some scrapbooking touches to your pages. There are also scrapbooking pages with genealogy charts; kits are already put together with pedigree forms and family group sheets.

6. Another great tip is “digital scrapbooking.” If you would rather do all of your work on the computer, sign up for a free account at Scrapbook Flair. The software is a free download and a little large but well worth it. You can create your family pages in tree form, or chart form, add embellishments and print them out in whatever size you want; even 12×12 if you are lucky enough to have a 12×12 printer.

Have a great time and remember you can post information on the family lines you are researching on the “Add Your Family Tree” section of this blog. You never know when you may find a connection with someone who can help you in your research.

http://scrapbookingyourfamilytree.com/add-your-family-tree/

Share this post with friends and family. Best of all, get your children involved in preserving their family history with you.

Click here to download the Pedigree form above.