Step Two - Gather Family Information

Now that you've identified what you already know about your family tree, you're ready to gather information about the missing pieces.

• Gather together your home resources
  
• Interview immediate family members; compare your memories with those of your siblings, parents, cousins, grandparents, etc. The varying recollections of the same event will surprise you!
  
• Ask where things happened to get an understanding of "place" -- remember, location is key in genealogical research.
  
• Record the information you get from these interviews. For easy storage in a loose-leaf notebook or three-ring binder, use standard 8.5"x11" paper; or, use a tape or video recorder.
  
• Fill in a Family Group Sheet (FGS) to organize your ancestors according to marriages.
  

• Are there family photo albums?
  
• Are there old letters sitting in a trunk somewhere?
  
• Are there any family papers of any kind? Insurance papers?
  
• Think of things that are in your home that may give Dad's name or Grandma's recipes. Perhaps there's an old journal from the family farm business. Who ended up with Grandma's old Bible? Did anyone keep a diary?
  
• Has the family ever been mentioned in a book?
  
• Is there a famous person to whom you are supposed to be related?
  

Step Three - Contact Your Relatives

If you've gathered the information suggested in the previous steps, you've probably learned about other relatives--distant cousins, a great-aunt you don't remember--who are untapped gold mines of genealogical information. Contact them to share and gather new information about your ancestors or schedule a visit. As you move back through each generation, you'll uncover more and more relatives who can lead you to new information about your heritage.

Step Four - Write for Death Records

Now you're ready to take the next step in piecing together your heritage: obtaining death records for your ancestors. Because they include the following, death records are essential tools for discovering genealogical information:

1. Exact place of death--which leads you to other records about the person's death (and life)
2. Name of the person's father and the maiden name of the person's mother
3. Exact date of birth and death.
4. Possibly, the person's spouse, cemetery where the person was interred, Social Security number, information about the informant (who may be a relative).

1. Determine the state in which the person died. (Statewide registration of vital records started between 1900 and 1930. All but a few states have records from 1910 forward.)
2. Find the address and write to the vital statistics registration office and provide any known information about the deceased (name, approximate date of birth, parents' names, spouse, etc.).

1. Treat the brothers and sisters of your ancestors as equals--get death records for them too.
2. An estimated 20% of birth/death certificates have mistakes, thus, it's important to obtain many different kinds of records to compare for accuracy.

Step Five - Follow Up On Death Record Clues

From the information you've found on the death records, you're ready to search for other types of records. Each document about one ancestor may lead you to another ancestor you didn't know about before.

1. Birth records.
Does the death record give a date and place of birth? If so, write for a copy of the birth certificate. For births prior to statewide registration, about 1920, records may still be available from a county courthouse near the place of birth.
2. Funeral records.
Call or visit any funeral director in your area and ask if you can use their directory of funeral homes, The Yellow Book, which gives the name and address of every funeral home in North America. In your request for these records, include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), and be sure to ask about the cemetery where the person was buried and whether they can provide an address or phone number for the cemetery office.
3. Cemetery records.
A cemetery office will have information about those buried there. If a cemetery does not have an office, a local funeral director may be able to tell you who has the records for the cemetery.
4. Obituaries.
Most libraries carry the American Library Directory, published by the R. R. Bowker, NY, NY. From it, you can get the address for the library nearest the place where your subject died. Write a letter (with a SASE) requesting a copy of the person's obituary from the local newspaper, which most libraries keep on microfilm.
5. Social Security Records.
Since about 1967, death certificates list the deceased Social Security number. With or without the number, you can request a copy of the person's original application (SS-5) for a Social Security card, which provides the following information:
• Person's father
  
• Maiden name of person's mother
  
• Date of birth
  
• Address at time of application
  
• Employer at time of application
For a copy of your ancestor's SS-5, write to: Social Security Administration, Office of Earnings Operations, FOIA Workgroup, 300 N. Greene Street, P. O. Box 33022, Baltimore, MD 21290. The current charge for a copy of an ancestor's SS-5 application form is $27.00 if the social security number is provided. $29.00 if the number is not provided or is incorrect.

Step Six - Search the Census

Once you have gathered your family information, interviewed your relatives, and obtained vital records for your ancestors, you're ready to tackle the census.

Census records are a major source for locating the place where an ancestor lived, and those he lived with at that place. Since 1840, census records list ages, places of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education, spouse, children, hired hands, and immigration information. To protect individual privacy, the government doesn't release census data for 72 years after they take it, so the 1930 census is the latest available. Microfilms of the original records of the 1790 through 1930 censuses are available at libraries and archives. You may be able to use these records at a library near you; however, you are sure to find them at one of the regional branches of the National Archives. Here's why a genealogist needs the census:

1. For census years 1790-1840, it lists names of heads of household in every state.
2. For census years 1850-1930, it lists the name of every person in a household. (The 1890 census was destroyed by fire.) From 1880 forward, it shows the relationship of each family member to the head of household.
3. A census tells you precisely where a person lived, which opens the door to discoveries such as other families living nearby.
4. A census gives you the name of the county in which your ancestor's vital events occurred.

Step Seven - Search at the State and County Level

If you've located an ancestor on a census, you know their county of residence. Now you're ready to search for their records at the state and county level.

State and county documents to search for include:
• Newspapers
  
• State censuses
  
• State military records
  
• County histories
  
• Special genealogy collections
  
• Birth, death, or marriage records
  
• Tax lists
  
• Voter registrations
  
• Court records (vital records, land records, etc.)
  
• Coroner's records
  
• Probate records (wills, estate papers, etc.)
  
Places to search at the state and county level include:
• State archives
  
• County courthouses
  
• Cemeteries and funeral homes
  
• Land offices
  
• Libraries and museums
  
• Local genealogical and historical societies

Step Eight - Search the LDS Family History Library

If you are unable to visit the state or county of your ancestors, one of the best places to find this kind of information is the LDS Family History Library. The library has 2,000 branches throughout the US and abroad. To locate one near you, visit their online branch locator (http://familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp.

Tools available for genealogists at the Family History Library or local Family History Center include:

1. Catalog search.
The library has 4.5 million books on microfilm for cities and counties in the US and abroad, including city and county histories; original court records; birth, death and marriage records; and censuses, tax lists, and the like. Your local branch can borrow titles from the main library for use at your local facility.
2. International Genealogical Index (IGI).
The IGI lists over 225 million surnames organized by county. It references a name and a source (such as a parish register, marriage record, or census) -- all related to a place where a person lived.
3. Ancestral File.
This giant collection of pedigree charts submitted by thousands of genealogists worldwide makes it possible to find relationships to parents, grandparents, and several generations of a pedigree. It will also lead you to the name and address of the person who submitted the file.
4. Social Security Death Index (SSDI).
A searchable computer index of about 80 million Americans who died between 1962-present, the SSDI allows you to find the social security number, place of death, and the exact date of death of your ancestor. With your ancestor's social security number, you'll be able to get a copy of their original social security card application, or SS-5. (See "Follow Up On Death Record Clues")

Genealogy Terms:

Pedigree chart--A pedigree chart identifies the direct ancestors of one person. Using ID numbers to identify the names on the chart--the first person on the first chart should be number 1. With the man always in the upper position, all males have an even number and females an odd number. A wife's number is always one higher than that of her husband.

Family Group Sheet--A form used to record information about each married couple on a pedigree chart, including vital events (birth, marriages, death) and locations of vital events for the couple and all their children.

Informant--The person who provided the information for a death certificate for your ancestor.

SS-5--The application for a Social Security card. Because your ancestor filled it out, it is a reliable source for information about them.

Census--A count of the population, by order of the United States Constitution, conducted every ten years.

Bibliography

Allen, Desmond Walls.   First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner's Guide to Researching Your Family History.   1998.   929.1 ALL

American Library Directory 56th ed. 2 vols.   2003.   REF 027.073 AME 2003-2004

Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources.   1992.   REF 929.1 ANC

Baxter, Angus.    In Search of Your European Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in Every Country in Europe. 3rd ed.   2001.   929.1 BAX

Baxter, Angus.    In Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of Europe. 4th ed.    2001.    929.2 BAX

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty.    County Courthouse Book. 2nd ed.    1995.    REF 347 BEN

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty.    The Genealogists' Address Book. 5th ed.    2005.   R 929.1 BEN

Burroughs, Tony.    Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree.    2001.   929.1 BUR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.   A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Female Ancestors: Special Strategies for Uncovering Hard-to-Find Information About Your Female Heritage.   1998.   929.1 CAR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.    A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Immigrant & Ethnic Ancestors: How to Find & Record Your Unique Heritage    2000.    929.1 CAR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.    The Genealogy Sourcebook.    1997.   929.1 CAR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.   Organizing Your Family HIstory Search: Efficient & Effective Ways to Gather and Protect Your Genealogical Research.   1999.   929.1 CAR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.   You Can Write Your Family History.   2003.   929.1 CAR

Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo.    Your Guide to Cemetery Research.   2002.    929.5 CAR

Chapman, Colin R.   Tracing Your British Ancestors.   1996.   929.1 CHA

Colletta, John Philip.    Finding Italian Roots: The Complete Guide for Americans.    1993.   929.1 COL

Colletta, John Philip.    They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record.    1993.   929.1 COL

Crawford-Oppenheimer, Christine.    Long-Distance Genealogy.   2000.   929.1 CRA

Croom, Emily Anne.   The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook.   2003.   929.1 CRO

Croom, Emily Anne.    The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research.   2000.    929.1 CRO

Croom, Emily Anne.    Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best-Selling Guide to Genealogy. 4th ed.    2001.    929.1 CRO

Ernst, Carl R.    The Librarian's Guide to Public Records.   REF 929.1 LIB 2000

Everton, George B.    The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America. 10th ed.   2002.   929.1 EVE

The Family Tree Guide Book: Everything You Need to Know to Trace Your Genealogy across North America.   2002.   99.1 FAM

The Family Tree Guide Book to Europe: Your Passport to Tracing Your Genealogy across Europe.   2003.   929.1 FAM

Greenwood, Val D.    The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy.    2000.   929.1 GRE

Hartley, William G.    The Everything Family Tree Book: Finding, Charting, and Preserving Your Family History.    1998.   929.1 HAR

Hatcher, Patricia Law.   Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records.   2003.   929.1 HAT

Herber, Mark D.    Ancestral Trails: The Complete Guide to British Genealogy & Family History. 2000. 929.1 HER

Hinckley, Kathleen M. Your Guide to the Federal Census for Genealogists, Researchers and Family Historians.   2002.   929.1 HIN

Kemp, Thomas Jay.    International Vital Records Handbook. 4th ed.    2000.   REF 929.3 KEM

Kempthorne, Charley.    For All time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History.    1996.    929.1 KEM

Kurzwell, Arthur.    From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History.   2001.    929.1 KUR

Lainhart, Ann Smith.   Digging for Genealogical Treasure in New England Town Records.   1996.   929.1 LAI

Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze.    The Genealogist's Question & Answer Book.   2002.   929.1 MEL

Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze.    The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research.   2000.   929.1 MEL

Mills, Elizabeth S.   Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian.   1997.   929.1 MIL

Milner, Paul & Linda Jonas.    A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Scottish Ancestors: How to Find & Record Your Unique Heritage.    2002.   929.1 MIL

Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records.   1998.   REF 929.1 PRI

Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians.   2001.   929.1 PRO

Radford, Dwight A.   A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Irish Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage.   2001.   929.1 RAD

Rose, Christine.    The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy.   1997.    929.1 ROS

Schaefer, Christina.    The Hidden Half of the Family: A Sourcebook for Women's Genealogy.   1999.   929.1 SCH

Sinko, Peggy Tuck.   Guide to Local & Family History at the Newberry Library.   1987.   929.1 SIN

Smith, Juliana Szucs.   The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book: A Comprehensive List of Local, State and Federal Agencies and Institutions and Ethnic and Genealogical Organizations.   2003.   929.1 SMI

Sperry, Kip.   Abbreviations & Acronyms: A Guide to Family Historians.   2003.   929.1 SPE

Sturdevant, Katherine Scott.   Bringing Your Family History to Life through Social History.   2000.   929.1 STU

Szucs, Loretta D.    Chicago & Cook County: A Guide to Research.    1997.   929.1 SZU

Warren, Paula Stuart.    Your Guide to the Family History Library.   2001.    929.1 WAR

Periodicals:

Family Tree Magazine delivers tools, tips and leads right to your door.

Published bimonthly by F & W Publications, Inc.

Published bimonthly by ProQuest Company.

Cyndi's List--site to find links to over 80,000 genealogy websites:  www.cyndislist.com
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Library:  www.familysearch.org
RootsWeb--the oldest & largest free genealogy site:  www.rootsweb.com

Local Genealogy Related Websites:

Chicago Genealogical Society:  www.chgogs.org
Illinois State Archives:  www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/archives.html
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD):  www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/iradaddr.html
Morton Grove Public Library--Genealogy Resources on the Internet:  www.webrary.org/ref/genealogy.html
North Suburban Genealogical Society:  www.wpld.alibrary.com/geneal.htm

Compiled by
Colleen Ringel
Reference Department
Morton Grove Public Library
10/02. Updated 3/2003. Updated 5/2004.

"Webrary" is a registered trademark of the Morton Grove Public Library. All rights reserved.
All contents ©2008 Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, IL 60053-2989, (847) 965-4220.