Hi Everyone, I am writing up a booklet with a lot of the comments and suggestions on how to do genealogy and research logs etc as we go along. I will get it in to a file to share when its done or if you wish to pay for postage etc I will send the pretty version with colored pictures, sample forms and all the trimmings. It will be a while before it is done and it is going to be titled "GenRooters Mailing List Version of Genealogy on the Internet" Compiled Efforts of all the Gen Rooters Mailing List members (or close to that LOL) It will be your suggestions on the how to's and sharing of ideas on your way of doing things. I will not have all ideas in it, just a sampling of several different methods for things to give the reader a choice of how to do their own. I think it is time to go forward to lessons on how to do genealogy-both off and on the net. Just basic lessons on to expert researching :-) I never know what I am going to say till it comes out so I get confused a lot (haha). Please continue to geive input and ideas on how you do things and what you have learned along the way. It will help others learn-and you will be surprised how much you learn too. I always find lessons to be a very learning experience. Any time you have something to add or comments on what I say -please do so. I am still a novice compared to many of you. I am knowledgeable on the net somewhat but need to improve my methods also. Many of you have been teaching and doing research years longer than I have. I am counting on you helping us newbies :-) LESSON ONE: Start with yourself. You will be surprised how much information you already have in your grasp. Start with yourself. Write down all your pertinent information. Full Name-(If you were named for someone in the family be sure and make a note of who you were named for- any nick names and how you got them too) Date and place of birth- tell all you know about your birth- weight-length, born at home or in a hospital? Who was physician? Who was there? Nowadays, fathers are at the births many times so this would add to the history. When you have written about yourself, go to writing about your parents. Once you get the basic- birth, marriage etc. be sure and include the story of how they met, where they lived when they were first married, what kind of wedding did they have etc. Your siblings come next. Once you have done this, do the same with the information about your grandparents, great-grandparents etc as far as you can. Include pictures and descriptions whenever possible. I feel it is just as important to tell of the lives of these loved ones as much as the dates and places. Family stories add so much to the family history. You should fill out a family group sheet for every marriage in the family. Including siblings for each generation. You will be surprised how much you know already. When you have done all you can, this is the time to start asking relatives for information about the family. Their line as well as what they remember about other family members. Remember to try to get family stories where you can and include pictures wherever possible. Try to get a photocopy of documents, like birth, marriage and death certificates; DD214 forms from the military; confirmation and baptismal records; school records and diplomas; whatever you can find. It is not necessary to have the original unless it is important to you. It is more expensive to get originals. Well, This should be a good starter. Any one have suggestions on things I have forgotten?? Input please. Dianne