National Genealogy Day

The definition of genealogy is: a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor, or the study and tracing of lines of descent or development.  My mother's brother, my uncle Gary, began researching his family tree many years ago.  At a point it involved travelling to different states and cities to research and solidify his findings.  What he has found is rather exhaustive, and I am amazed at his discoveries.  Often I tell people I am the artisan of genealogical efforts, but my efforts have been very poor and often lacking.  There isn't much excuse other than it does take money to travel, research, and gather resources.  (People aren't going to provide books and copies free of charge.)  In spite of this, I have made a few discoveries of my own.  I won't go in to detail so as to feed my ego or pride; however, I do strongly encourage each of my readers to begin piecing together your family story.  A common question may be, "How do I begin?"  That is a great inquiry, and one I often ask myself.  Researching anything creates analytical skills and hones one's mind.  The first question is to ask is, "Who are my parents?"  Then use their names to look up U.S. Government census records and their birth certificates.  Look at who their parents and children are.  This may provide a few surprises, but hopefully not any more shocking news than what you are prepared to assimilate.  Another tip is to ask other living relatives of what they know.  The information you gather makes for a great baseline to begin from, but always research and verify.  Another great resource is the county and federal archives.  Most counties won't have an archivist, but usually any town of size will have libraries with genealogical information.  Some will even have an institutional subscription to Ancestry (www.ancestry.com).  Take advantage of the free information, but keep in mind the cost of making copies.  I hope each of you will catch the bug of knowing where you came from.  It is fun, rewarding, and may make for a few surprises.  Have fun!