**This email was sent to someone on my LEMASTER list who is just beginning to do her genealogy and she needed some pointers for BEGINNERS--- if you are not a Beginner, don't bother reading this as you will already know it!! But if you are a BEGINNER and need a little ADVICE, read on! *TINA/CA List Mgr.* HELLO PAULA: Let me go thru your email and see what I can advise...... First of all, you will want to get VERY FAMILIAR with your local FHC (Family History Center.....which will be located in many buildings of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAYS SAINTS....you can call a church in your area and ask them "Where is your church's Family HIstory Center in this area?" they will be glad to tell you! You do not have to be LDS to go there, there is no charge (except for films you may order sometime, or copies, etc., but no charge to use the FHC)...and non-members are more than welcome there!! In fact, the MAJORITY of people/patrons who use the FHC are NON-MEMBERS.... OK---- you will want to get copies of the CENSUS RECORDS for the people who lived in the early 1900s, back to the 1800s. This can easily be done by going to the FHC and showing them WHICH of your ancestors you want to search for, and show them the info you posted below (preferably, on a FAMILY GROUP SHEET or PEDIGREE CHART so they can see WHO LIVED WHERE, WHEN) --- There are excellent CENSUS RECORDS for the years 1850-1920, and you can get copies of all of them that pertain to your ancestors! You will first (with their help) view or order the film for SOUNDEX for the 1920, 1910, 1910 census. They will explain that further, but the SOUNDEX will tell you exctly WHERE your ancestors lived and on what PAGE of the CENSUS RECORD your ancestors appear...then you know exactly WHICH CENSUS FILM to order. These years, of early 1900s back to 1800s are THE GREATEST FOR SEARCHING!!! ALOT of info available! FHLC - Ask at the FHC about look'g at this...it stands for FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG ..... they will show it to you and how it can help you. You can look up your ancestors' AREA OF RESIDENCE FOR PARTICULAR YEARS, AND IT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IS AVAILABLE THRU THE GIANT FAMILY HISTORY *LIBRARY* (the "mother library" of all the FHCs worldwide), on your area of interest, and you can order most films from SLC to have sent to your FHC locally...alot of research can be done right from your own FHC. IGI and ANCESTRAL FILE....look up your ancestor's names on this! You can do it at your FHC (it's there on cd's), AND/OR you can look it up online now, at the FamilySearch site of the LDS CHURCH.... Go to: www.FamilySearch.org TYPE IN THE NAME OF INTEREST, and it will bring up anyone with that name who appears in the IGI and ANCESTRAL FILE (AF)... you then look at the info with it, dates, etc.,, and decide if that is your ancestor or not. Hope this helps ...... PRINT THIS OUT, if you need to, and take it with you to the FHC and show it to them, and ask IF THEY WILL HELP YOU LOOK THESE THINGS UP. They will!! In fact, I work/volunteer at my local FHC every Thurs nite, and that's tonite! I love it! I love helping others do their genealogy, and if not busy, I do some of my OWN!!! IF you ahve any other questions, or anyone else does, feel free to Email me.... Best to all, TINA/CA List Mgr. tina@tcsn.net