Skip Navigation Michigan.gov Home HAL Home Site Map ... HAL Press Releases Genealogy Sprouts: Family History for Kids Abrams Collection Genealogy Highlights March-April 2001 Volume 3, number 2 What is genealogy? Genealogy is the history of your family. Completing a family history is a process of arranging your family members in order by generations. It is often necessary for you to search for information by interviewing relatives, consulting family documents, visiting libraries and contacting county courthouses and churches. Researching your ancestors, and discovering the significant events of their lives, can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. How do I get started? Genealogy is not an expensive or difficult hobby to start. You need a pad of paper, some folders and a couple of pencils. The key to success is organization. Start keeping a folder with dividers for each family name you are researching. Lack of organization will make your search more confusing. Start with yourself (what you know) and work back in time (what you don't know). Some people think that genealogy is only done in libraries, archives, and courthouses. Actually, one of the best places to go for information is our own homes or the homes of our relatives. Before tackling the resources at your local library or archives, take time to explore family bibles, scrapbooks and photo albums. With permission, check out grandma's closet, attic or storage area in the basement. You may find a stash of genealogical information in those hidden treasures. Look at your family history as a treasure hunt or a mystery. | |
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