littleoakjournal

Family History checklist

16 steps to starting your family history the right way.

Track your progress with a free accountGet the free Family History Starter Workbook

Getting started

With what you know.

  • Fill in four generations from memory Guide
  • Interview one older relative Guide
  • Gather family papers into folders Guide
  • Record names and dates the same way Guide

Finding records

One person at a time.

  • Find one ancestor in the 1950 or 1940 census Guide
  • Request one birth, marriage or death record Guide
  • Search for a draft card or service record Guide
  • Look for an immigration record Guide

Free tools and places

No subscription needed.

  • Create a free FamilySearch account Guide
  • Search a historic newspaper Guide
  • Visit or contact a library or archive Guide
  • Find an ancestor's grave Guide

Preserving it

For the next generation.

  • Scan and label ten old photos Guide
  • Move originals to acid-free storage Guide
  • Read the privacy policy before any DNA test Guide
  • Share your tree with a relative Guide