Don’t be put off by the strange-sounding name of this file format. At some point in your research program you are more than likely to come across a GEDCOM file. It can be very useful if it is used correctly and its limitations are taken into account.

GEDCOM is an acronym for Genealogical Data Communication. It was first introduced in 1984 and the present 5.5 standard plus dates from 1996. It was the brain-child of the LDS Church which has been active in the sphere of genealogy for a century now. It was developed by their Family History department to facilitate the exchange of genealogical information between different software programs.

The file is a plain text type and the format incorporates some meta data to link together records of Individuals on a Family Tree. It can contain data on important family events such as births, baptism, marriages and deaths. Baptism dates can be very useful if birth dates have not been recorded, or are now missing beyond recall. Sometimes we may be fortunate to find included details of people’s occupations, and even physical characteristics. The number of children may be recorded if not the time and the place of their birth.

There are two basic choices here. If you are using Family Search you can upload a GEDCOM file of your family tree from your computer onto their website. This means of course that it can be viewed by other researchers needing to consult these same ancestral files. The other option is to download a free PAF file [Personal Ancestral File] from their website and save your tree on your hard disk as a PAF file.

You might like to check out My Heritage and be welcomed to their Family Tree Builder. The Quick Start Wizard offers you four options, one of which is to import a GEDCOM or genealogical file. It’s a breeze! There are other choices of course. The writer has been very satisfied with Genes Reunited for some years now. Their Free Family Tree Searcher allows you to browse in excess of 750 million records. Then there is Free Genealogy software available from Legacy Family.

Finally, if you are only likely to consult a GEDCOM file occasionally you might like to download Gedscape. It’s available both in free and paid versions. You can browse, convert or exchange data and lots more. For further information it is well worth consulting their website which provides comprehensive notes on all aspects of what they are offering.

Take a minute to think about how you get to know someone. We mentally assess someone as soon as we meet them. The way they choose to dress, wear their hair, their skin tone, etc. tells a story. That story might not be correct, but it’s a start.

Then, if we are feeling particularly social, we might ask them their name. Some first or last names are so unusual you might feel like asking how they got it. Was it a family name or memorable event for their parents that gave it to them? I always ask.

Which usually leads me to where their ancestry originated. One country? Many? I’m always surprised at how willing complete strangers are to offer their story.

I then wonder why they’re doing what they’re doing right then and there. Usually I meet people who are at work and I’m the person they’re servicing at the moment. I might find out that they have two jobs and are working themselves through school. Or they miss their children at home because they recently had a setback and had to get a job, leaving them with a sitter. Often I meet people from other countries who come to the States to live and work for years, leaving family behind until they have the money to send for them.

Eventually I get a pretty good picture of the “skeleton” of their life. I always go away more appreciative of my life and motivated to apply the strengths I’ve witnessed.

Let’s apply that to your family history research. Why? Because when your ancestors become real people they will become a part of your present. You will feel like you have people who understand you because they came before you. They’ve been where you are! I can promise you that you’ll feel a unique kind of connection and love for them as soon as you start. And you may even find answers to questions you’ve asked for years.

Original documents like a census record or a birth certificate is where I usually start to figure someone out. I can Googlemap their hometown, and start mapping their journey through their life as they move for work, get married, or go to war.

Old photographs tell a lot about a person. The house they’re standing in front of, the clothes they’re wearing, who’s in the picture with them, even the vegetation or lack of it, add to the story.

I love photos of people. I try to discern their mood by their posture and facial expressions. I look for shared family traits like big eyes, a hooked nose, or a special way that they smile that I’ve seen on other in the family.

There are a lot of records online now that are loaded with information like that. And a lot of it is free. There are other websites that require a minimal monthly fee ( about the same or less than a monthly cable bill. I have cheap cable!) where you can get access to military, immigration, emigration, census, birth, death, and marriage records. When you subscribe to those websites you can help others who need access to those records but can’t afford it themselves.

Lastly, share what you’ve learned. There are so many people connected generations back who are looking for someone who you may have in one of your lines. When you share what you have via FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, or one of your favorite research sites others immediately benefit. Because I started a family tree on Ancestry.com I connected with distant relatives in Australia, Utah, and Arizona, Seattle, and California. I’ve reconnected with other closer living relatives whose work linked to mine and gave me five generations of families that I’d been researching for years with no success.

Starting your research experience right is vital. It’s easy for me to get lost in a family tree and wonder how to navigate my way back or around. And I’ve been at it for years. Since I started getting serious about my personal family research I’ve worked through the typical problems that we all face and have come up with a system that really works. You can see it at My Family Files Box and Pedigree/Family Group Worksheet.

You can create the system for yourself. You can use simple or elaborate materials, but the system is pretty basic and easy.

This much I’ve learned: it takes time to get to know someone, living or dead. Keep a file on each family group and periodically review them. The more time you spend with them the closer you’ll feel and the more accurate your story will become.

Tracing family history and finding long-lost relatives is very rewarding. Fascinating facts are in abundance with trace family tree searches, which prove fun and emotional at times. Due to the ever-increasing information available with Internet search engines and other means, it is now easier than ever before for people who want to perform these types of searches. There are numerous Internet websites available to help with this task. Some websites charge fees that prove helpful but there are free methods available for anyone who is currently strapped for cash.

Performing Trace Family Tree Searches Proves Easier With These Helpful Tips

Tracing family history is sometimes a hobby for most however; some researchers are on a mission as they prepare themselves in finding long-lost relatives. Fascinating facts are in abundance with these types of searches, which prove fun and emotional at times. Due to the ever-increasing information available with Internet search engines and other means, it is now easier than ever before for people who want to perform trace family tree searches. There are numerous internet websites available to help with this task. Some websites charge fees that prove helpful but there are free methods available for anyone who is currently strapped for cash.

Elderly relatives provide tons of information

Everyone has elderly people in their family. Even if you have never spoken with these people in your family now is the time to do so. Even if you think your Great Aunt Sally is grouchy and mean, you might find that she has an abundance of information about your past relatives. Interview Great Aunt Sally and you might discover that she is not so mean after all. Ensure that you take notes because your elderly relatives can offer great insight on where to begin your search with specific names, birthdates, marriage and death dates.

Local libraries are wonderful research tools

Your local library is a wonderful research tool. This building contains archived newspapers as well as genealogical records. If you cannot find books or papers, request to view their collections of microfilms that might contain information on your family. If you find some information you are seeking, ask the library if you can check out the material. Most librarians will be more than happy to aid you with your research requests. If you have a library card, this will not prove to be a problem.

Search free online databases

Free online databases often times contain information on family history. A great place to begin your research with online databases is the Ellis Island Foundation website. There are millions of names indexed in the Ellis Island Foundation website. The names consist of people who were searching for a better life in the United States. Numerous people have found their relatives listed in these particular archives. Be prepared to dedicate some time for this project because there are pages and pages of archived names on this website.

Search online forums

Genealogy online forums are in abundance on the Internet. You can go into these forums while posting information you are seeking about your family. It is highly recommended that you utilize forums in the areas or regions where you believed your family resided. Ensure that you are clear and concise with your questions. Provide as many details as possible in relation to the questions you are asking. You might be pleasantly surprised with either a family member or someone who is eager with information that will prove helpful with your research.

Verify family information

As you perform your trace family tree search, it is imperative that any information you discover is verified. Do not accept anything as fact until of course you research the facts of your discovery. Assess the information you have discovered in regards to reliability and the source it originated from. You will also want to search for documentation to back up the validity of any family information you discover with your genealogy task.