Ask yourself why are you doing this? Curiosity? You like to solve problems? You want to
join a society like the DAR or SAR? You want to meet distant cousins?
Your children and/or grandchildren are asking you questions you can't
answer? Whatever the motivation, some planning is necessary. You have
to determine how much time and money you are willing to invest. Will you
use a computer? Do you live in or near a city that has a genealogical
society, public library, family history center, etc.?
2
ORGANIZE
Set up
a system that you can use and that others can understand such as a good
computer program. Record what you know. Show all your sources. A space set
aside for research can be as simple as a desk small file cabinet or as complete
as a room with computer, legal size file cabinets, book shelves, desk, copy
machine, etc.
3
START
WITH YOURSELF
Prove
that you exist (Birth Certificate, Bible record, Census record, etc.).Try
to find family Bibles, old photographs letters, yearbooks, etc. Then prove
your parents, grandparents, etc. If possible, talk to your closest older
relatives. Don't forget your distant cousins. Ask questions that will
jog people's memories. Utilize old photographs family heirlooms. Ask older
relatives what they remember about their parents and grandparents. Write
letters to others who share your surname if it's not too common (resource:
white pages on the Internet or software of the same).
4
YOU
ARE NOT ALONE
Work
with others. Enroll in a genealogy class. Join a genealogical society.
Network with others via the computer, telephone or mail. Visit cemeteries,
libraries and archives with other researchers. Have fun!
5
UTILIZE
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Access
to computers and the internet is as close as the public library if you
don't have your own system. Find a website that you are comfortable with. Cyndi's List is a good place to
start. Visit your public library and see if it has the materials you need.
Even a library that claims not to have a genealogy section will have many
reference works such as city directories, local regional history books,
biographies, etc. that will help you in your research.
Local resources Jacksonville - Duval County
SGES
Library, 6215 Sauterne Dr., Jacksonville, FL.
Jacksonville Main Public Library, Genealogy Dept, 4th floor, 303 N. Laura Street
LDS Family History Centers, 7665 Ft Caroline Rd and at 461 Blanding Blvd.
Museum of Southern History, 4304 Herschel St., Jacksonville, FL 32210
904-388-3574
Jacksonville Historical Society, 317 A Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville,
FL 32202, 904-665-0064
One's
Day Drive
Orlando
Public Library Orlando, FL
Florida Archives Tallahassee, FL
Huxford Genealogical Society Library Homerville, GA
Ellen Payne Odom Library Moultrie, GA
Ladson Library Vidalia, GA
Washington Public Library Macon, GA
Georgia Historical Society Savannah, GA
US Archives SE East Point, GA
Georgia Archives Atlanta, GA Bryan-Lane Library, Woodbine, Ga.
South
East States
Libraries
with good genealogical collections
Birmingham, Chattanooga,
South Carolina (Columbia SC), Knoxville, Louisville Public Library, The
Filson Club in Louisville, The SAR Library in Louisville, Lexington Public
library. Several university libraries contain excellent historical collections
including Duke and the University of North Carolina. The North Carolina
Archives in Raleigh is one of the finest in the nation.
Washington
DC area
The
National Archives
The Library of Congress
The Daughters of the American Revolution
Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA
Enoch Pratt Public Library Baltimore,MD
Peabody Library
Maryland Historical Society
Maryland Hall of Records Annapolis
Other
noteworthy libraries archives
LDS
Family History Center Salt Lake City, UT
Allen County Public Library Ft Wayne,IN
New England Historical Genealogical Society Boston, MA
New York Public Library 5th Avenue New York City
Cincinnati Public Library
Pennsylvania Archives Harrisburg, PA (One of the best)
Ohio Genealogical Society
Newberry Library Chicago, IL
When researching your ancestors in new libraries and locations, be sure to ask if they have files on local
history and families. Also check for local genealogical historical societies.
