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Finding
Your Family
As you begin your journey of
discovery in Iowa, you will be seeking answers to several
basic questions about your ancestors:
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Who were they?
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When did they live in Iowa?
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Where did they live?
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Why did they come to Iowa?
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What was life like for them?
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How did their lives fit into the larger picture of the American Experience?
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What traits, talents, passions have you inherited from
your ancestors?
These are a few of the questions you'll find yourself asking
as you explore your family history, whether the search
centers in Iowa or in other areas of the country.
First Steps:
Get the "Big Picture"
The
basic structure of your family tree is constructed of names,
dates and places. Beginning with yourself and your immediate
family, write down as much information as you can, using a
simple
pedigree chart.
This helps you to visualize the "big picture" and
determine what information you may be missing.
Highlight or circle the information you are missing, then
think about where you might find those missing facts. Gather
as much information as possible from relatives, family
papers, photographs, etc. Work backwards, one generation at
a time, filling in your pedigree chart. Here are just a few
of the possible sources of information you may find among
your own or among other family members' keepsakes:
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birth certificates
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baptismal records
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marriage licenses or
certificates
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newspaper clippings:
obituaries, engagement/marriage announcements, baby
announcements, etc.
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school records: grade
cards, yearbooks, graduation announcements, diplomas
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photographs
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family scrapbooks
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diaries & journals,
family letters
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military papers
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family Bibles
Family Focus
You
will find it valuable to focus on family units: identifying
parents and their children, especially as you tackle
difficult-to-trace branches of your family. A
family group sheet
will help organize each nuclear family and reveal
missing elements for further research.
The
true joy of research comes as you begin to use the facts and
information you've collected to reconstruct a picture of
your ancestors' lives; you will get to know them as real
people, and find that you share much in common with your
past.
The Computer
is your Friend!
As
your project develops, you will accumulate not only names,
dates, and places, but photos, original documents, and other
mementos of your ancestors. The amount of paper can quickly
become overwhelming. The best way to stay organized is to
make use of one of the many excellent genealogical software
programs available.
With
genealogical software, your computer can act as your
personal assistant, organizing all your information,
including digital images of your irreplaceable photos and
documents. It will generate pedigree charts, wall charts,
and family group sheets at your command, and help you write
more detailed family history reports.
While you can spend a lot for software, there are free
versions and trial versions available of some of the most
popular packages. Visit the following links to learn more.
Keep in mind your goals and your needs as you compare the
different options.
Think of pedigree charts, family group sheets and computer
software as tools. They act as a road map that guides your
steps on the journey into the past.
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Prairie Roots Research
Prairie Roots
Research