A beginner's guide to creating a family tree
First thing’s first, to begin research into your family is to collect basic biographical details about the people you want to find out about. To do this, you should start with the events that are shared by everyone – birth and death. In many cases, marriage will also be on the list. By compiling these preliminary facts centred on these events from legal or church records, you can then continue to build out other aspects of your family tree.
FIRST STEPS
Talk
When starting to create your family tree, the first thing is to talk to as many family members as possible. This way you can obtain the crucial first-hand accounts, memories and stories that will set you on your way, especially from older generations. They can often provide you with details of names, dates, and key family events - although you should never take anything at face value, as it will be your job to investigate family myths. You may uncover skeletons in the cupboard as well - sometimes the most interesting part of your research.
Look
Now it's time to look through old family correspondence, photos, heirlooms and other material that can find its way into trunks, drawers, attics or cellars. You will be amazed how much information you can extract from these objects to obtain vital clues as to who exactly your blood relations were, when they were born, when they died, who they married and about their children.
While doing this, be sure to note down any key figures in your family, as this will play an important role when you start looking further afield for relevant records.
GETTING STARTED
Visit a records office
The best place to start your research is at an archive or records office – think state libraries or your local registry for births, deaths and marriages. Read the relevant leaflets and information available to you at these offices and on their websites. A good place to start is at the enquiries desk or help/introduction section on a website. Summarise what information you want - be it a birth certificate, record of baptism or a will - and who the person is that interests you. This way you will probably receive a much clearer answer than if you fall into the trap of recounting your entire family history. Just remember, there are usually fees involved for requesting information from such offices as well as fees if you want print outs of documents.
Many records offices have compiled basic name indexes. Check these first, in case you uncover immediate references to an ancestor. Work from known facts and move backwards from the most recent piece of information. Then you can use other catalogues and reference works, to identify material that might contain information on relatives. You can then ask to see the original documents and work through them, looking for the information you think might be there.
Seek out organisations and events
There are many established professional organisations of genealogists of all levels of experience or services like Ancestry.com.au – a family history website which offers members access to one billion searchable Australian, New Zealand and UK family history records. Another resource out there is the Society of Australian Genealogists.
Family-history societies can also provide a ready-made support network of other genealogists working in your area. Most of these societies hold regular meetings and welcome new members. They hold activities and events, such as talks by members on their own research, visiting speakers and professional genealogists, and even excursions to record offices or other institutions.
Family history fairs are another popular way of finding out more about genealogy and are designed to allow researchers to meet representatives from major organisations. Many of the larger fairs are accompanied by lecture programmes and are great fun for beginners looking for inspiration.