 Millions of people are interested in genealogy, most for personal interest.  When searching for information researchers' need to remember quality is more important than quantity.

 Many people liken genealogy to a puzzle.  Locate information that you already have.  Involve family in the process.  Begin your ‘Information I Already have” sheet.

Primary Sources Secondary Sources  Diaries  Pictures  Letters  Records created after the event took place, by someone who was not an eyewitness. Vital Records  Can be part Primary and part Secondary Sources.  Birth Records, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates.

 Make sure the information you already have is accurate.  Work backwards through generations.  Choose an event which is missing.  Don’t make goals too complex.  In order to have a common goal for the training the goal is: What day did Rosa Parks die? OUR GOAL

 Below is a list of some of the sources which can be used to locate specific types of information compiled from Research Your Family History Genealogy for the First Time by Laura Best (2003, pg 27). If you needPrimary Sources:Secondary Sources: Birth Date & PlaceVital records, family Bible Military, cemetery, obituary. Death Date & PlaceCemetery, vital records Obituary Maiden nameVital, family Bible.Census, newspaper. Marriage Date & Place Family Bible, marriage certificate. Journal, newspaper. OUR GOAL  In order to have a common goal for the training the goal is: What day did Rosa Parks die?  Source: Vital records.

 Keep a list of all documents which have been searched.  Keep a research log of the date, the source, comments and results to stay better organized.  Information such as the county of birth will assist searchers in locating information. OUR GOAL  In order to have a common goal for the training the goal is: What day did Rosa Parks die?  Source: Vital records.  Social Security Death Master File Social Security Death Master File

 By entering Rosa Parks name and date of birth into the a list of individuals named Rosa Parks is found. OUR GOAL  In order to have a common goal for the training the goal is: What day did Rosa Parks die?  Source: Vital records.  Social Security Death Master File Social Security Death Master File

OUR GOAL  By entering Rosa Parks name and date of birth into the a list of individuals named Rosa Parks is found.  The top entry listed is Rosa Louise Parks. This is the entry we were looking for. It gives her date of death as October 24,  Ancestry does host a variety of records for genealogical research. However, a subscription is required to access a majority of the information.

 Does the information found make sense?  Does it follow the research which has already been completed?  Is it the correct person? Or just someone with the same name?  The more information you have to verify with the findings, the more accurate the results are.

 If the information fits, put the puzzle piece where it belongs.  Keep your information organized, in what ever way makes the most sense to you.  Concept charts, fan charts and pedigree charts are all methods to keep track of this information.

 Print Sources  Best, L. (2003). Genealogy for the first time: Research your family history. United States: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.  Helm, M. and A. L. Helm. (2008), Genealogy online for dummies. New Jersey: Wiley Publications.  Melnkk, M. Y. (2002). The genealogist’s question & answer book. United States: Betterway Books.  Renic, P. (2003). Genealogy 101: How to trace your family’s history and heritage. United States: Thomas Nelson.

 Local Sources (Tehama County, CA)  Tehama County Genealogical and Historical Society. (2008). Retrieved from  Periodicals  Family Tree Magazine. (2009). United States: F + W Media Inc.  Online Sources  Ancestry. (2009) Ancestry.com. Retrieved from  Ancestry. (2009). Genealogy.com. Retrieved from  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (2008). Family Search. Retrieved from

 Best, L. (2003). Genealogy for the first time: Research your family history. New York: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.  Clifford, D. (2009) The research cycle. Genealogy.com. Retrieved from