Thanks to the Internet, you now have access to a bazillion records and websites to assist you with your family history. It really is an incredible time to be alive!
.
The Internet is an amazing resource as you work on your family history. You get incredible access to all kinds of records and research tools. It lets you collaborate with others and benefit from their research, post ancestor-related questions on message boards, and even share your own family history research with others.
There are 5 main types of family history websites you need to be aware of:
- Records Sites – such as FamilySearch, Ancestry.com and Ellis Island
- Family Tree Sites – such as RootsWeb
- Resource Sites – such as FamilySearch Wiki
- Link Sites – such as Cyndi’s List
- Message Boards – such as the RootsWeb Message Board
- Plus… thousands of other family history sites of various types and descriptions.
Most family history websites are free — however, some of the major ones such as Ancestry.com require an annual subscription.
.
Now, let’s get you started on the Internet…
.
Use one Checklist per family.
This simple Family Research Checklist keeps your research focused, gives you a complete family overview of what records you’ve found, and helps you decide what records you want to search for next. It helps you keep track of the basic websites you’ve searched and what you’ve found for each of your families. Just keep the Checklist in the family’s file folder with the information you’ve found. It couldn’t be easier!
Tip: Download the Checklists and print up a bunch of copies of each one, so you have them handy and can quickly grab a Checklist when you need one.
Also, as you find documents, remember to jot down where you found them.
.
BELOW in the “Extra Stuff” are details on
each of the four Checklist Steps
.
.
Step 4c. Search For Original Records
.
.
.
When you start researching a family, grab a Family Research Checklist to easily keep track of where you’ve looked and what you’ve found. There are 3 versions of the Checklist to choose from — depending on when your ancestors lived, and whether they lived in America or in a Foreign Country.
Use one Checklist for each family unit (i.e., father, mother, and their children are all included on the same Checklist).
.There Are Three Versions
of This Family Research Checklist to choose from:
.
Now, fill in the names of the father, mother and their children — and, in the Census Records area, mark through the census years during which they weren’t living, as shown in the example here:
Click Checklist to enlarge
You can download and print a copy of this for your reference.
.
With your Checklist in hand, you’re ready to get on the Internet and start researching your family. We designed the Checklist to match up with your Internet Bookmarks to make it easy to track the main Internet sites you’ll be visiting.
The Family Research Checklist
MATCHES UP EXACTLY with your Internet Bookmarks
So, now that you see how this works, you’re ready to jump on the Internet and start marking off the sites you visit.
.
Mark off your Checklist as you research your family. This lets you see at-a-glance which of the main websites you’ve visited, and whether or not you’ve found anything.
You don’t need to find all the records shown on the Checklist — this just helps you keep track of the ones you do find.
Here’s an example of what your Checklist
looks like as you mark it up with the results of your research.
Click Checklist to enlarge
You can download and print a copy of this for your reference.
Keep your Checklist in the family’s file folder with the information you’ve found. It couldn’t be easier!
Now that you’ve found the information you need about your family, you’re ready to submit the names for temple work.
.
Step 4c. Search For Original Records
.
Family History Is Fun 