Getting Started
See also: Manatee County Items at the Family History Library

1. Start with yourself & work backwards to your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.

2. Gather documents from family sources including:

• vital records - birth, marriage & death certificates

• church records - christening, marriage burial

• military records - pension, discharge

• bible records - (photocopy those middle and front pages with family history notes.)

• family portraits 

3. Get organized by: 

• Entering names on Family Group Sheets and Pedigree Charts. Here are links to 2 from Everton Publishing Company of Hyrum, Utah. www.everton.com.

printable family group sheet	printable pedigree chart

• Placing documents & photos in archivally-safe top loading sheet protectors, boxes, file folders or albums, such as those provided by:
       www.officedepot.com 
       www.staples.com      
       www.lightimpressionsdirect.com 
       www.creativememories.com
  
• Using a genealogy software program that allows the import and export of GEDCOM (generic genealogy data) files. Those used most by our members include:

Family Tree Maker - www.familytreemaker.com
Legacy - www.legacyfamilytree.com 
PAF Personal Ancestral File - www.familysearch.org
RootsMagic - www.rootsmagic.com 

• While the Society doesn't endorse the use of a particular genealogy program, you will find tech support by attending our local computer-genealogy group. The  Manasota Genealogical Society Computer Interest Group.

4. Learn more about earlier generations

• Attend genealogy society meetings, take local genealogy classes and read online "how-to" lessons to learn about the genealogy research process.
• Begin to do research at local & regional archives, libraries & LDS Family History Centers. 
• Remember that books provide "second hand" evidence of our ancestors, shorting our search for original documents archived at courthouses, churches and other archives throughout the world.
• Consider that the bulk of your research will be done on microfilm of original records from those distant localities where your ancestors once lived. 
  

5. Hang in there!  The challenges are many, but the rewards are GREAT! 

Good luck in your ancestral quest!