Planning is your friend

If you love mysteries, you may have the makings of a great family detective! To begin, ask yourself: what specifically do I want to learn about my family? What am I trying to resolve? Family origins? Validating family stories? Determining where I got my red hair from? Or perhaps leaving a legacy for future generations?

Careful planning and note-taking will keep you aware of your genealogical objective and the facts. It will help you plot the next steps in your research. Hopefully the basic guide below will help get you started to self-discovery.

Steps in the process		Resources to help you	AGS can help with
Start with yourself	List what you already know by filling out ancestral and family group charts. At the beginning, the importance will be on collecting names, dates and places of events. Include yourself, your parents, siblings and grandparents. As time progresses in the months ahead, your research will include biographical information for each person.	Free online genealogical forms: Ancestry › BYU Family History Library › RootsWeb ›	There are eleven AGS Branches throughout Alberta. Each branch hosted by volunteers welcomes members and the public to join them in monthly meetings, workshops and browse their library collection or use their computers. Volunteers are eager to assist researchers of all knowledge levels with their genealogy.

Search your home for clues	Scrapbooks and photo albums often yield important clues for family historical research. Search your home for family memorabilia such as, vital records (birth certificates), family bibles, old letters and diaries, high school yearbooks fraternity memberships and more. Each has a story to tell about family members.	Some guidebooks to help Unpuzzling Your Past by Emily Anne Croom Family Tree Memory Keeper by Allison Dolan Genealogy Online for Dummies by April Leigh Helm Guidebooks or “How-to” books can also be found at your nearest public library or purchased at major books stores.	Most AGS Branches throughout Alberta have libraries with basic genealogical material that will help guide the beginner in the early steps of genealogical research. Our largest library is in Edmonton with over 5,000 catalogued items and computers with a subscription to Ancestry. Please check the AGS Branch list for your nearest locality and their contact information.

Interview relatives, especially the elderly	Auntie Em and Uncle Henry may have the wildest tales about witnessing their first twister in Kansas. Bring out the old tattered photo albums and page through them while you capture their stories on tape.	Links & books “20 Questions For Interviewing Relatives”—Family Tree Magazine “Interviewing Mom and Grandma”—Sharon DeBartolo Carmack Capturing Memories: Your Family Story in Photographs by Maureen Taylor	A number of AGS volunteers have successfully interviewed family members. Join one of the many Special Interest Groups (SIG) where members team up and help resolve each other’s challenges. Please check with the nearest branch regarding their meeting schedules.

Start with the basics	After rummaging through the house and interviewing family members, start building a solid foundation using census records to develop the family unit. Learn where your ancestors lived. Then move on to local sources.	Links & books Family Tree › Ancestry › FindMyPast › MyHeritage › Canadian Census forms › Counting Canada by Dave Obee	The majority of AGS volunteers are familiar in using multiple online databases. They will be happy to get you started. Please check the nearest branch regarding their operational hours and collections.

Search local sources	Local or community histories reflect the breadth and depth of Canadian culture and social heritage. The focus is on the community and its people. Most contain an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources. They may contain an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages—their improvements, industries, churches, schools and societies. Biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers will be the greatest importance to genealogists. The books are an asset to family historians giving them a glimpse into the community their ancestor lived in and possibly clues to further their research.	Our Future, Our Past (Alberta) Our Roots (Federal) › Alberta Genealogical Society › Edmonton Public Library’s Heritage Room › Provincial Archives of Alberta ›	AGS Branches generally have genealogical collections that are specific to their surrounding community. Members and the public are encouraged to use these resources to begin or continue their family research. Please check with the nearest branch regarding their operational hours, lending policies and collections.

Start an online family tree	To organize your results enter important information like names, dates and places, building a solid foundation of research.	Family Tree › Ancestry › FindMyPast › MyHeritage ›	Our AGS volunteers have lots of experience with a wide selection of online family trees and genealogical software to keep your information organized. They will be happy to assist to get you started. Please check the nearest branch regarding their operational hours and collections.

Connect with like-minded people	Join list-serves, enroll in courses, attend workshops and conferences, become a member of a genealogy society	Alberta Genealogical Society (AGS) ›	AGS encourages beginners to join any genealogical society that provides opportunities for the exchange of ideas and information. Many societies hold regular meetings on many topics for the education and interest of members, along with a quarterly magazine featuring “how-to” genealogical articles. With the Alberta Genealogical Society, we strive to collect, index and publish genealogical material related to Alberta. Come and join us, we would love to help you start your family tree.