Curious about your family history, but don't know where or how to start your research? In this class, you'll explore the basic sources of available genealogical information—both online and off—and the best places to get that information. The emphasis will be on practical research skills with the goal of getting you started on the fascinating voyage of family genealogy.
This lesson will explain basic terms used by genealogists and will outline the various types of records you'll need to explore to learn your family's history.
Now that you’ve become familiar with the types of information you'll be dealing with, Lesson 2 will teach you to make the most of the resources closest to you: your brain, your attic and your family members.
You've now gathered information from family members and may have organized it into a basic tree or family group sheet. In Lesson 3 you'll learn where to find documented information about your family and how to request it with an effective query.
After writing to courthouses, archives and historical societies, you'll need to know how to use the Internet to gather more research. Lesson 4 explores some common genealogy web sites and discusses the best uses of information gathered here.
Now that you've found some facts about your family members, you need to know how to organize them. Lesson 5 will detail several comprehensive pieces of genealogy software that will map out your family tree and help you focus future research efforts.
You've researched several generations of your family history, and organized your research. Lesson 6 will discuss the importance of publishing and preserving the information you've gathered.
I have taken this class in the past and hope to learn a few more things this time.
I'd enjoy a more indepth course as well as long as we could keep Rebecca! The class and the instructor are both amazing! I don't want it to end.
~Stachia
