1) Talk to your family.
Here are a few resources to help you start your family history:
Tips on Tracing Your Family Tree
Watch this recorded class: Foundations of Genealogy – Part 1 Class Handout
2) Organize what you have.
While you are discovering your roots, it’s important to stay organized!
We have helpful paper forms: Census Sheets, Source Checklist and more!
Consider using genealogy software. Here are some great options.
Roots Magic (Win, Mac)
Roots Magic Tutorial Class Handout Video Password: yb+G1.%t
Family Tree Maker (Win, Mac)
Reunion (Mac)
Reunion Tutorial Class Handout Video Password: 7&sM*Cw.
Legacy Family Tree (Win)
Legacy Family Tree 10 Tutorial Handout 1 Handout 2 Video Password: W+u56Tkq
Check out these excellent genealogy websites:
Ancestry.com (Subscription website)
Tutorial Class Handout No password required
FamilySearch.org (Free!)
Tutorial Class Handout Video Password: e#U?5EgR
MyHeritage.com (Subscription website)
WikiTree.com (Free!)
Search online for birth, marriage, and death records.
3) Don your “Sherlock Holmes” cap.
Once you have some of the basic information about your family members, watch Foundations of Genealogy – Part 2 to see how you can branch out to find more hints and clues. Class Handout
StLGS has published “Secrets of the Census,” a multi-part series of articles that explain some of the evolution of the census process over the decades as well as the many insights to be gained about your family through careful examination of the census pages.
4) Learn how to cite your sources.
Keep track of where you find your information. You will need it again!! The more you search, the more you will find . . . but what about the duplicates? If one source of truth contradicts another source of truth, how do you discern which one is correct? Citing your sources allows you to re-examine your “facts” to discern the truths.
Watch this recorded class to help with this process: Citations: You Hate Them But You Need Them!
Class Handout Video Password: 6@Pm+3Np
More goodies about citing your sources: “Citations: A Guide to Creating Proper Source Citations”
5) Review what you have.
Every once in a while step back and see how your story is growing.
We can help you create a Fan Chart.
OR
Download and fill out the do-it-yourself Family Tree Chart from the Missouri State Archives.
Last modified: 31-Aug-2026 13:16
