Dig Into Your Genealogical Past

Text reading "Dig Into Your Genealogical Past" over a photo of a tree

If you’re interested in genealogy, the Library can help! Check out the quick tips and research guides listed below, browse the Library’s collection of genealogy and history resources, and join us for several upcoming programs this month: 

 

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  • Genealogy 101: Register and join the Lake County Genealogical Society in person for an introduction to genealogy including examples of records and tips for documenting your research. 

  • Genealogy Resources at the Library: Register and join us in person to learn about genealogy research tools available through Lake Forest Library, as well as Media Lab services to help you document your findings. 

  • Pin Together Your Genealogical Past on Pinterest: Register and join genealogist Debra Dudek on Zoom to learn how to use Pinterest to sort, share, and promote your genealogical projects. 

 

The National Archives and FamilySearch both have some great tips on getting started researching your family history. Here’s what they recommend: 

 

  • Start with yourself. Document what you already know about your family and work backwards from there. Start by writing down everything you know about your parents, then your grandparents, and so on. 

  • Talk to your relatives. It’s possible that someone else has already started compiling your family’s history, so it’s worth reaching out to see if anyone has research you can build on. Even if no one else has any research, it’s still a good idea to talk to relatives to find out family stories and other information that can be collected and preserved for future generations.  

  • Begin at home. Look around your house for different documents, such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, newspaper clippings, military certificates, scrapbooks, letters, baby books, or photographs. These documents can provide valuable information and give you a good starting point for future research. 

  • Focus on names, dates, places, and relationships. These are the four key items to find for each person when doing research, as they are important clues to identify your different ancestors and their relationships. 

  • Try a small project to start out. When you first start researching your family history, it can quickly become overwhelming. Try keeping a narrow focus on just a few people to start with, to familiarize yourself with different research tools and websites.  

  • Organize and save the information you collect. There are many different ways to organize your research, and over time you will develop a system that works for you, but it is important to make sure that all your research is properly stored and documented for the future. FamilySearch has a guide to organizing your files that may be helpful. 

 

Check out these additional online guides and useful organizations as you get started on your family history journey: