Start with the basics

New to Genealogy

You don’t have to know everything to begin. Start with what you know about your family, ask one clear question, and follow the records one step at a time.

Read the beginner articles

Your first three steps

Start with yourself

Write down names, dates, and places you already know. Add your parents and grandparents, and mark anything you still need to check.

Gather family clues

Talk with relatives. Look for photographs, certificates, letters, and other family records. Record who shared each piece of information.

Choose one question

Focus on one ancestor and one question. Keep notes on the records you search and what you find, including searches that turn up nothing.

A practical reading path

Helpful Articles for Beginning Your Family History

These selected articles cover the habits, tools, and records that help you build a sound foundation. Start with the topic you need today, or read through them at your own pace.

Before you begin

9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Researching Your Family Tree

Think through your starting point and what you hope to learn before you begin searching.

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Choose your tools

Must-Have Tools for a New Genealogist

Get familiar with useful tools for gathering information and organizing your research.

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Keep useful notes

Genealogy Notes: Why You Need Them and How to Take Them the Right Way

Keep track of your searches, discoveries, and unanswered questions so you can pick up where you left off.

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Record your sources

Why Citing Sources is Crucial in Genealogy and How to Do it Right

Learn why recording where information came from is an essential part of your family tree.

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Explore birth records

Genealogy Basics: Birth Record Research Advice for Beginners

Begin learning how birth records can help you identify an ancestor and trace family relationships.

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Explore death records

Death Record Research Advice for Beginners

Find out how death records can provide clues for the next step in your family history search.

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Check your family tree

How To Check Your Family Tree For Errors

Review the information in your tree and learn to spot mistakes before they lead your research in the wrong direction.

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Organize your family information

Charts and Forms for Genealogy, and How to Use Them

Learn how ancestral charts and family group sheets help you record names, dates, places, and family relationships.

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Genealogy Q&A

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