- 1). Create a family tree by collecting information from your family members. Start with your parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins and ask them for any pertinent family information such as names, photographs, places lived, birth and death dates. The National Archives recommends you discuss family history with family members and ask for letters or documents that they might have in their possesion. Also look up newspaper archives and religious documentation, such as marriage, baptism and death records.
- 2). Use the information gathered and the family tree to begin your search online. There are websites that specialize in helping people find their ancestries, for example Archives.gov, CyndisList.com, Ancestry.com and many other websites. However, some websites offer their services for free while others charge a fee for services provided. Social networking websites are also another good source to locate and find lost and distance family relatives to help with your ancestry search.
- 3). Post inquires on online ancestry communities such as forums, message boards and chat rooms to connect with other members researching their Russian ancestry. Members from these online communities can offer you new information or suggestion you might have missed while researching.
- 4). Read books and articles about Russian ancestry and genealogy. Articles and book topics can provide information about genealogy research and it could offer readers with helpful information and resources to help their search. These articles and books can be found in a bookstore and your local library.
- 5). Plan a trip to your Russian ancestor's country of origin and visit towns and cities your ancestors immigrated from. While visiting check with the local record keeping facilities like the church, police station, libraries and the local government center for records.
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