Tracing a Family Tree
What is a Family Tree?
Basically, a family tree is a chart that indicates relationships between the different generations of a family. A conventional tree-style chart is used to illustrate these relationships, which is why it is called a family tree. The branches of the tree are the different sides and generations of each family. The branches stem from a root or seed ancestor – this is the person/s in the base of the family tree chart, the person/s from whom the whole lineage began.
Other Types of Family Trees
Through the years, new and innovative versions of the family tree have been created. Instead of the tree form, there is also the bow tie chart. This family tree chart extends outwards in the shape of a bowtie. Another innovation is the fan chart, which takes the shape of a fan. Then there is the colorful scrapbook family tree which incorporates family photos, newspaper clippings and civil documentation to display the family ancestry.
Gathering Information
The first step in creating your family tree is gathering information about yourself and the members of your immediate family. This will include information you are already aware of, as well as documents you already have on hand such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, pictures, baptismal certificates, and newspaper clippings. Some of these documents may seem unnecessary in the beginning, but as you go along you will see how the information they contain can prove helpful. As a rule, you should go from “known to unknown.” What you now know may later on lead you to information that you did not previously know, with the help of the documents you have on hand. When scrutinized closely, documents may provide data about other relatives.
Obituary Records
Surname Records
Marriage Records
Death Records
Cemetery Records
Birth Records
1851 Census
Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes 1837-2004
Search the 1930 Census!
Search Military Records
Historic Newspapers Online
Social Security Death Index
Search Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Obituary Collection
Find your African American Ancestry
Search Jewish Family History Records at Ancestry.com
Organizing the Information for Your Family Tree
You will need to implement some kind of record keeping system when you begin creating your family tree. You could use your computer, a loose leaf binder with section dividers or separate notebooks for each family name. The aim would be to give you an easy way to accurately and quickly store whatever information you gather. Many people choose to store data in computer filing systems. There are many downloadable programs that are specifically designed to make the process of constructing a family tree easy and uncomplicated.
Expand Your Family Tree
From information you have about yourself, your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, expand your tree to include great grandparents, great great grandparents and move further down the tree. Aside from information provided by personal documents and clippings, you may interview family members about your genealogy.
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