A professional degree is not required, nor do you need a great amount of money: a willingness to learn and time to spend delving into the mysteries of the past are the defining criteria for researching a family tree.

Mature researchers often have more patience and time to spend on a family history project, and they tend to be more thorough. The same holds true for doing research in court houses, libraries and historical archive museums: you get better results by consulting the oldest person serving the reference desk.

Taking a "how-to" genealogy class at a local college or community center is very helpful in getting started in the process of researching your family history. You will learn the types of sources most likely to give you accurate information and tips on how to maximize your leads. Another big help is a guide book on genealogical research. Generally, one can often be picked up at your local bookstore or library.

When possible, enlist a family members "network" : each person or group takes a specific era or family branch to research. The internet can also be very helpful. You can consult family history web pages, investigate state resources and find county records sites.

Getting pointers and tips from other researchers is invaluable for the "hands-on" experience that may not be taught in a course or listed in a reference book. It may also be helpful to join a local genealogical society and subscribe to a specific publication such as The Genealogical Helper magazine. (See address at end of article.)

In Montgomery, the State of Alabama Archives and History building, 624 Washington Avenue, directly across from the State Capitol, houses census records, photos, newspaper files, military records, county and family histories and numerous other items dear to a genealogical researcher's heart.

Interviewing the oldest living family members and asking questions is very important. Family reunions can be a wonderful source of information about various family lines and ancestors. When participants know research is underway, old photographs and letters may surface from attics and basements. Treasured Bibles, replete with family births and marriages, are another informative source that tends to be handed down in families.

In some instances, a researcher has been fortunate to find a deteriorating ancestral photo album in a flea market, second hand or antique store. For the dedicated researcher, old, out-of-the-way cemeteries in areas where ancestors were known to have lived, can be a treasured discovery.

Perhaps the single most heavily-documented genealogical histories are those recorded by the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Here are some helpful addresses and phone numbers of reliable source material:

The Genealogical Helper Magazine
Everton Publishers
P.O. Box 368
Logan, Utah 84323-0368

The Montgomery Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 230194
Montgomery, AL 36123-0194

The Montgomery Genealogical Society holds monthly meetings, produces an excellent quarterly publication, and offers a great network of helpful people.

Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Branch Library
3460 Carter Hill Road
Montgomery, AL 36106

The Church of the Latter Day Saints Branch Library is staffed by volunteers for certain hours on certain days (not every day). Call (334) 269-9041 for days and hours. This branch of the Mormon Church Genealogy Library has computerized records from all over the world, and has microfiche and microfilm for research.

Please be aware that in addition to reputable sources, there are companies that exploit the desire for people to know about their roots. You may have seen ads or received letters indicating that a certain publisher has a book about your family tree. The information in many of these books is often very general in nature and may even be misleading. Ask your local librarian or fellow researchers about reliable sourcebooks.

~