Denise: You have asked an interesting question, how much data should you collect and how many lines should you research? The answer is not simple. You need to ask yourself "What am I interested in knowing about my family?" It doesn't matter what the rest of us suggest. What matters is what you want to know. I'm assuming that you are doing the research because you feel a need to connect with your past. But why? If you're trying to join the DAR or another similar organization then you only need to do your direct line back to the ancestor who's credentials will allow you join that particular group. You don't need siblings for this reason. Make sure that you have certified documentation if this is the case. However, if you're really interested in learning something about your own personal history, there's alot more involved than just collecting names and dates. It is this thing called "Context," which means putting the people you find into their particular historical background, or their context. I am an historical archaeologist and teacher by profession. If there is one thing I can tell you it is that the entire idea that the past was a much simpler place is pure horse apples, a complete myth. The past was every bit as complex as the present. Problems were different, but just as complex. Problems such as raising enough food to feed a family of 12 because there was no grocery store to run to for a quart of milk; or children dying of diseases that we seldom hear of now because there were no antibiotics. How your ancestors dealt with these challenges formed the character of their children, their children's children and so on down to the people who raised you. So what do you want ! to know? Just names and dates? Or do you want to know more? How did your ancestors live? What did they do? Why did some family members move west and why did others stay in New Jersey? If you want all this, then do the siblings and buy some good US history books. Reading the books will help you understand broad patterns in history and, sometimes, why someone picked up stakes in New Jersey and made tracks for Ohio of the Pacific coast. People don't move if all is going well. History helps you to understand why your family made the choices they did, whether wise or unwise. If you opt for more than just names and direct line ancestors you'll also learn the history of your country. If you hated history in school, this is a wonderful way to learn, its YOUR history and you do it at your own pace. Enjoy and welcome to the club of insane people who constantly pester their relatives for yet another story about great-great Uncle Fred and other long dead ancestors! Sincerely, Esther Doyle Read Director Baltimore Center for Urban Archaeology Read Family Connections www.charm.net/~edrtjd/readgen/