genealogy search tips

Here are a few tips that can help you on your way to finding about your ancestors:

Ask your relatives if they have any family history records or trees that have already been prepared. These can give you a good headstart. There is no point covering the same ground as someone else.
Compile a list of alternate spellings of the surnames in your family, as they may have been changed over time either deliberately, or recorded differently by mistake at some point.
Use a tape recorder to interview family members.
Use your camera. You can take photos to get a copy of any old photos or documents that your relatives might have. Also use the camera to take photos of gravestones or other historical sites (houses they lived in, schools they attended).
Visit the places where your relatives lived, and visit local churches, courthouses, and cemeteries to see if they have any relevant information.