Explore Your Roots / Retracez vos origines

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Let's Get Started! To start your genealogy research, lay out a simple strategy, or action plan, that will help you decide where you want to go with the research and how you think you will get to your end results. Like any project, having a strategy will keep you organized and on the right track. Once you have a goal, outlining the steps you will take to reach this goal is the next milestone to get you on your way. The goal and steps make up your research strategy.
Example of a Research Strategy Set a goal: I will trace my mother’s family line back to England in the 1700s. Determine where and how to reach the goal: Family – I will ask family members for documents. Library – I will look up sources for how to do genealogy and where to find other information. Provincial Archives – I will look at public information including passenger lists for ships from England. Research Process 1. Record what you already know. 2. Start with your information and that of your parents. 3. Gather information from documents you already have. 4. Organize the information. 5. Find out what gaps need to be filled. 6. Figure out what information you need now and the best place to get it. Here are some examples:
Family – Family documents, Bible (births, deaths, marriages) Library – How to do genealogy guidebooks Archives – Census, Immigration records, Military records 7. Visit your public library, archives or historical society – not sure where they are? Check with your public library for listings and addresses. 8. Record all facts and details carefully and confirm information. Record the source of all information. 9. Write to or visit the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. 10. Once your research is done, offer a copy of your work to your public library and the Provincial Archives.
Resources to get you started The public library has resources to help with every step of your project. Find blank family tree charts, addresses for archives, research calendars, genealogy guides, local history books and more. But before you find all that, why not learn how to do genealogy research? Here are some books and websites to give you background information on doing genealogy. Books on Getting Started with Genealogy Find them at your public library under the Dewey Decimal System in section 929.1. If you aren’t sure where to find the section, just ask the staff at your library or bookmobile who will be pleased to help! Popular Websites on Getting Started Here are some sites we would like to suggest so that you can find out more about getting started! Canadian Genealogy Centre – How to Begin http://www.collectionscanada.ca/genealogy/022-600-e.html Canada GenWeb – Research – Where to Start Your Canadian Research http://www.rootsweb.com/~canwgw/wheretostart.html Cyndi’s List – Main Index – How to http://www.cyndislist.com/howto.htm Ontario Genealogical Society – Resources tab – How to Research Your Family History http://www.ogs.on.ca/ Geneawiki – Premier pas (Available in French only) http://www.geneawiki.com/index.php/Accueil France GenWeb – Pour débuter, guides – Comment débuter en généalogie (Available in French only) http://www.francegenweb.org/~standard/index.php?page=debutant So if you’re ready to get started, let’s explore the resources you have access to through New Brunswick’s public libraries and bookmobiles! We’ve also put together some of our favourite websites and tools for genealogy research for you . Come see for yourself!


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