I stopped by the library yesterday and gathered as many of the how-to genealogy books as I could carry. I grabbed one off the stack yesterday, and it's going to be the first genealogy book I buy.
The Genealogy Sourcebook, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (McGraw-Hill, 1998) is everything you could ask for in a beginner's guide. She covers basic definitions, organizational methods (They're great! She has a follow-up book dedicated to this subject.), and gives a lengthy explanation of types of sources available to genealogists. Although a lot of the information is basic, it never feels as though the author talks down to the reader, as often happens in beginning how-to books. She also includes several short case studies, to share her thought process in discovering information on specific ancestors. Lastly, she recommends many books and publications that are invaluable to anyone jumping into genealogy.
If there is one fault with the book, it's the lack of technological advice. Having been a genealogist for so many years, the author decided that entering her gathered information (literally thousands of people) would be too time-consuming. While I agree with her assessment of her own situation, I encourage budding genealogists to research the many software options available. I've used Family Tree Maker in the past, although I'm not currently using anything beyond Ancestry.com. I may in the future, but it's not in the budget at the moment, and, frankly, I'm enjoying the process of writing it all out with my mechanical pencil. Knowing my addiction to my laptop, it will all be computerized soon enough.
So, yesterday evening and today, I designed my own Pedigree Chart and Family Group Sheet. I combined several forms I found online, but my main goal was to create a space on the Family Group Sheet for Sources.
My light-bulb moment in reading this morning was the author's suggestion to start with yourself - on your own nuclear family's Group Sheet - and source yourself! Don't just put down what you know, because you know it. Get your birth certificate. Copy down the information verbatim. Write up a source note on your own birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. Start with the easiest person in your family tree - you. So, although I'm interested in all these past generations, I've taken her advice to heart. I printed out my newly-designed charts and started from scratch today. For the first time since beginning my journey into genealogy, I feel like I'm approaching it in a manner that makes sense.
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Funny, that you just decided to start with you. That seemed the most logical to me. When I eventually have time to delve into this (seriously), my first thought was to get my parents BCs. I alreeady have my own, Brian's and the kids'. I thought naturally you would branch out that way. I had never thought to jump generations, lol. Your blog is fun to read and will be a great resource when I get around to it :-) It's fun reading about your family and I look forward to sharing mine with you!
Sheri
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