Dan Rottenberg mentions in: Finding Our Fathers:
A Guidebook to Jewish Genealogy, that individuals
need a degree of inner strength, since genealogy is
a very lonely hobby: nobody is likely to be interested
in your particular family other than you and your
relatives.  This inner strength is found in the concepts
presented by Norman Vincent Peale in his inspirational
bestseller:  The Power of Positive Thinking.  With belief
in yourself and expecting the best,  you are mentally
prepared to undertake genealogy research: personal
genealogy and family history.

Walter Rye, in his  A.D. 1897 edition of Records and Record
Searching, mentions the critical, significant
point that:  "In working up a pedigree you should always
begin with the earliest undoubted fact in your possession."
A reasonable self evaluation of one's own mind indicates
that doubt and belief upon a particular point of interest do
not exist in the mind at the same time.  Using only known,
undoubted facts generates mental power to solve personal
research problems in a relaxed, peaceful manner.  There is
a powerful inducement to believe in your own future after
literally and correctly determining your ancestors' past
accomplishments of survival as they relate to your present
condition and circumstance.

Each individual can, with proper education and training,
become proficient in genealogical research and have
the deep, satisfying experience of finding themselves
through the correctly related experiences of their ancestors.
New to computers or genealogy?  Welcome to Gen-Newbie.

In the Genealogical Journal, formerly published by the Utah
Genealogical Association for March-June 1976, an article
appeared ("Introduction to Professional Genealogy"),
as written by John F. Vallentine, Editor.  He mentions that
professional genealogy-and all genealogical endeavors
generally-can be placed in two major categories:

(1)  Record searching, involving the search of
      specified categories of records at specified
      locations and accurately reporting the contents
      of those records.
(2)  Analysis, the examination of known,
      undoubted data on your individual
      pedigree in evaluation of your research
      objective; accomplishing record
      searching considered necessary;
      analyzing the results of the searches
      as they pertain to the evaluated objective.

In performing one's own obligation to self, ancestry
and posterity, as well as to the general public at large,
(for those who publish), each individual must have
personal integrity in competently combining and producing
fundamentally correct, just and true findings from
the record sources reviewed.  This can be easily
accomplished by following the Professional Genealogist's
Standard, adopted on 31 Oct 1975 at a special convention
of the Utah Genealogical Association, by:

      A.  Explaining research steps taken;
      B.  Listing Sources searched;
      C.  Giving citations of documents supporting your
           oral or written compilation; and,
      D.  Obtaining and presenting all essential information
           to allow others  to carry on further research, at your
           suggestion, without unnecessary duplication of research
           already performed by you or from sources known to you.

In an individual's desire to achieve and maintain competence
in the compilation of a proper pedigree, an effort will
automatically be made to obtain a fundamental knowledge
of the history, legal statutes, social customs,  religion,
geography, and perhaps language acquisition for the area
of the ancestry involved.  This in turn will generally obtain,
with the aid of select genealogical guides and books, a good
working knowledge of pertinent genealogical record sources,
their content and availability (with the concurrent understanding
of their relative genealogical value), to achieve the goal of
establishing a correct pedigree.
* Cyndi's List - Hit a Brick Wall?
* Cyndi's List - Etiquette & Ethics
* Cyndi's List - How To
* How to "DO" Family History Research
* Starting Your Genealogy Research
* Your Family Legacy - Tips

Your families are unique.  Record the story of their family life.
The following guideline will assist you in compiling your family histories:

I.    OUTLINE:  A guide to important dates and
                       events in each family group lifestyle.

      A.  Names in full.

      B.  Births - When (day, month, year) and where.

      C.  Parent's names in full and names of grandparents.

      D.  Pre-school period - earliest memories,
           recollections of parents, older brothers and sisters,
           uncles and aunts, other relatives.
 
      E.  Childhood memories - early friends; schools; teachers;
           advisors; adventures; dreams of the future.

      F.  Young adulthood - thoughts on growing up; home life;
           high school days; choice of residences, college or work
           and the reasons for each choice; educational,
           governmental or military experiences.

      G.  Courtship and marriage.

      H.  Children - where born; church christenings or blessings,
           circumcisions, children's personality development as
           they grow; hopes and aspirations for the children;
           awards received.

      I.   Vocations - jobs held; preparation for life's work;
           success in work, awards and special recognition.

      J.  Church/Synagogue activities - positions held and
           services given.

      K.  Political or Civic activities - positions in organizations
           held and services given.

      L.  Religious convictions with spiritual or faith promoting
           experiences.

      M.  Various plans and hopes for the future.


II.   FILE SYSTEM:  Set up a file system in which you chronologically
      deposit the material (hardcopy) you have and that which
      you will gather in the future, for each family group.

      A.  Suggested file systems:
           1(a).  Use binders divided by time period for each area of interest; or,
             (b).  Use small boxes with each box representing a time in
                    the group family life such as  pre marriage experiences,
                    beginning married life, family formation, child rearing,
                    middle years, retirement; or,
             (c).  Use manila folders by time period, for each area
                    of interest.
           2.      Use a computer software program, or establish a set
                    of index cards, divided into appropriate sections.
                    Catalog in alphabetical order all family surnames
                    and given names, locations, or Key Words, contained
                    in your binders, boxes or folders.  Research Guidance

      B.  File your materials according to the categories you have
           selected in your filing system.   This is the basic format for
           the recording of a written or oral Family Group History.

      C.  Choose a computer software program (Family Tree Maker,
           PAF or TMG, etc.).  Create, compile, organize and upload your
           personal home page to obtain world wide Internet coverage.


III.  FAMILY GROUP RESEARCH:  Gather the necessary information.
      [Step 1 for LDS (Mormon) Church Members: Identify Your Ancestors]

      A.  Living collective memory.  This is a great beginning source.

      B.  Existing Records from the Family and from Genealogical Research.
           1.  Documents
           2.  Diaries
           3.  Family Records
           4.  Mementos and Family Tapestries
                [Note: use a scanner and enter all of the above items into
                a Computer Family History Program of your choice.]


IV.  WRITING SYSTEMS & HANDWRITING: Start Writing Family History
     
      A.  WRITING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS and WRITING THE JOURNEY™
           1.  Make an outline from areas of interest in your filing system.
           2.  Use your own language and natural style,  interjecting
                language of the family time frame where available,
                for compilation from original record  sources.
           3.  Explain how and why things happened, maintaining
                the integrity of the original record sources, but always
                emphasizing the positive experiences.
           4.  Use good, simply written expressions.

      B.  PERSONAL - ORAL HISTORY
           1.  To prevent rambling, make at outline from areas
                of interest,  obtained from your family filing system.
           2.  Use a high quality tape recorder or digital camcorder.
           3.  Record in a quiet, undisturbed location.
           4.  Record others and speak in a clear and natural voice.
           5.  Record musical or dramatic talent with
                appropriate background effects.
           6.  Add other people's voices who are
                important to each family group.
           7.  Convert to sound and video files for visual reproduction
                inclusion into your family history software program.
           8.  Make Home Movies: Camcorder.  Videos on ExpertVillage.com:
                How to videos, free video clips and making family movies.
           9.  References: EyeWitness to History
                History through the eyes of those who lived it.
                - Create a Biography Online and become part
                  of History through the eyes of those who lived it.
                  Include a Personal Health History.  See: The  Midwife's Tale
                  used as a Teacher's Guide for Active Learning.

Certificates of Marriage, etc.
Diplomas and Awards
Diaries and Journals, Family Papers
Family Bible Records
Interviews
Military Records
Old Fashioned Living.com brings old family traditions to modern families.
Old Letters
Oral Tradition
Obituaries and other Newspaper clippings
Patriotic and Fraternal and Service Organizations
Photography & Digital Preservation
Scrapbooking: Scrapbook Portal - Scrapbooking and How
* Cyndi's List - Scrapbooks
* SCRAPO™: Digital online scrapbooking, with fully customizable drag-and-drop web interface.
Unrecorded Deeds, Wills, Legal Papers
Yearbooks

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

Court Records
Wills, Inventories, Estate Administration
Guardianships, Adoptions

Birth Certificates
Church Baptismal and
Confirmation/Synagogue data
Marriage Certificates, Wedding Records
Death certificates, Sexton/Cemetery Data