- 1). Interview older members of the family. Parents and grandparents are a useful source of information about family history. Remember the most innocuous detail might provide the vital clue to unraveling the family tree. A naughty relative might have a police record, a smart relative who attended a prestigious school might appear in a newspaper or a courageous relative could have a military service record.
- 2). Use online resources. The national archive contains a wealth of searchable information for amateur genealogists, from press clippings to military service records to various kind of official documentation. Also, Americans with European ancestors can use the searchable census records that many European governments post online.
- 3). Check state and county record offices. Even with the enormous amount of information available on the Internet, the best place to research family lineage is still official records offices. There are far more genealogical resources in hard copy than online, so once you have a few names, dates and few specific documents to search for, hands-on research will be required.
- 4). Check the records of historical societies. Large societies of this kind often have extensive collections as well as dedicated amateur genealogists who may well be experts in particular periods of North American history.
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