Here are a few basic rules for anyone who would like to research their ancestors.
Where to Start
The first thing to do is to list as many of your family members as possible.
Once this is done, I would recommend visiting the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Temple History Library.
The West Los Angeles address is 10741 Santa Monica Blvd.,310.474. 2202. Their hours of operation are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 to 9, and Saturdays 9 to 5.
The Price Is Right
Their library is in the basement of the Visitors Center and is a truly amazing place. They have a vast array of tools to use, including computers and microfilm. Their genealogical website is free to the public, and it can be found at www.FamilySearch.org.
Once you have a basic list of your family constructed, the staff there will be happy to show you how to use Ancestry.com.
Where Did They Originate?
This is probably the largest genealogy website in the world.
If you would purchase the subscription for home use, it would cost over $200, and the website can be used free of charge at the Mormon temple.
The next important piece of data to acquire is where your family is from. For me, this is quite easy.
Choosing the Middle West
Practically all of my family emigrated from Eastern Europe between the 1880s and 1900. They settled in the Dakotas and Minnesota.
A few ventured south to Kansas or Nebraska.
But I know that not anyone else with my last name, outside of possibly New York, is a relative.
This narrows the field enormously.
Census as an Aid
Census information is extremely helpful.
Remember that 1930 is the most recent census available to us.
Legislators in Congress have decided that there is too much personal information in a census report. So any reports after 1930 will be made available only when those people are dead, after 2015 approximately.
Fluidities to Consider
When checking census reports, it is essential to remember several variables.
Your ancestor may be still using her maiden name.
The census-taker may have run across a name he could not pronounce or spell and become very creative.
Sweet Young or Sweet Old Thing?
Sometimes during the 1900s, women changed their birthdays so they would not appear too old for a prospective husband.
These birthdates became legal, and they are etched on marriage and death certificates. But they may not match official records.
When starting out, explore all the relatives you know before extending your research too far afield.
What Is in a Name?
An excellent way to find relatives you may not know is to simply type the last name in the surname bar on Ancestry.com or Family Search.
This will display everyone in the computer with the same last name as yours.
Remember, this may be several hundred or thousand names. So add a specific country or state to narrow your search area.
