Beginning Family History Class Notes

By Hazel Bentley

Slide 1 Beginning Family History Class Notes

Creative reconstruction of the past,

How do you spell [genealogy]?

Slide 2

Write your testimony. (LDS)

Why are we doing the work?

For some it is a hobby; and for some of us it is a commandment.

Slide 3

Begin with your descendants. Who is your youngest descendant?

1. Family group for yourself and husband fill in all blanks.
2. Family group for each of your married children fill in all blanks.

c. If you have grandchildren married do a Family Group for them.

Slide 4

Obtain a church record from your ward clerk and verify the information.

With your church record you can obtain a user ID and password for Family Search.org. (LDS)

Gather information that you have at home. As you fill in blanks on your family group sheets, document where the information came from.

Be specific about your sources for each person. Always ask yourself if the information is credible. Ancestry.com trees are full of errors. Census records are reliable sources. If there is documentation use common sense, or check it out.

Don’t get stuck on one piece of information about one ancestor.

Slide 5

Gather into one binder. BC/DC/ church records etc. This is not a scrapbook. It is a family record book.

Slide 6

Fill out a Pedigree Chart as far as you can.

Begin to enter information into PAF. Take a class or follow thru with the PAF lessons. If you do not have a computer come to the FHC and enter your work.

Bring a 3-½ disc or you can purchase one at the center. The volunteers will be happy to help you get started.

Slide 7

Gather Information from home for extended family. Make a questionnaire sheet and begin to ask relatives. If you live close to them, visit with a tape recorder.

Visit the FHC and ask for help. Visit the website: vernalfhc.org Take a class to help you where you need help, there are many classes available each month. You can retrieve a class schedule from the website or call the center 789 3618.

Now the fun of searching for your ancestors and their past history begins.

Slide 8

Set goals

Work on one line at a time.

Don’t get stuck on one piece of information about one ancestor. Move to another ancestor. Come back later to the brick wall.

Slide 9

Pray