Conduct Family Oral History Interviews
2-3 hoursRecord names, dates, and places from living relatives starting with oldest family members.
Beginner4-8 weeks
Family Tree Research Start
Complete guide for family tree research start — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
beginning genealogistsfamily historians
Workflow
Build Three-Generation Pedigree Chart
1 hourDocument yourself, parents, and grandparents with birth, marriage, and death dates where known.
Gather Home Source Documents
1 weekendCollect birth certificates, marriage licenses, obituaries, letters, and photo inscriptions from family.
Verify One Fact with Primary Source
1-2 weeksOrder or locate one vital record to confirm a date or parentage from oral history.
Tools Used
- Age CalculatorPrimary
Calculate ancestor ages at marriage, military service, or migration events from birth and event dates.
- Date Difference CalculatorPrimary
Verify that parent was at least 15–20 years old at child birth to catch date errors.
- NotepadSupporting
Maintain a research log of interview notes, source citations, and conflicting evidence.
- Image CompressorReference
Optimize scanned document file sizes for cloud backup and genealogy software upload.
Checklist
0 / 6 completedLoading your checklist…
Research
Documentation
Preservation
Quality
Tracking
Reference Materials
Genealogical Proof Standard ElementsTable
Five elements required for credible conclusions.
| Element | Requirement | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Exhaustive search | Check all siblings' records |
| Citation | Full source detail | County, volume, page |
| Analysis | Correlate sources | Census + baptism agree |
| Resolution | Explain conflicts | Nickname vs legal name |
Relationship Age CheckFormula
Parent age at birth = event date − parent birth date — flag if <15 or >55 years for verification.
Start Close, Go BackStandard
Begin research with yourself and work backward one generation at a time — never skip generations.
Interview Elders First
Memory and health change quickly — prioritize interviewing the oldest relatives before details are lost.
Cite Everything
Write the full source citation the moment you find a record — retrofitting citations costs hours later.
Sensitive Discoveries
DNA and records may reveal adoptions or NPEs — prepare family before sharing unexpected findings.
Safety Notes
- Verify sources independently — family stories often contain errors passed down for generations.
- Be prepared for unexpected discoveries — DNA results can reveal unknown relatives or misattributed parentage.