THE BASICS OF ARMENIAN FAMILY RESEARCH

(Note: This excerpt does not reflect how the book's 175 pages appear in print.)


The following basics of genealogical research provide an overall picture of fundamentals involved in gathering information needed to record and preserve your family tree.

Understanding the Research Process.
Five basic questions are involved in genealogy:

  1. What do I know about my family?
  2. What more do I want to learn about my family?
  3. What records are available?
  4. Where do I find the records?
  5. How do I evaluate and record what I find?
You need NOT be a professional genealogist to be successful in locating your ancestors. Any of the following aptitudes point toward becoming good at genealogy: like history, remember details, are able to solve problems, enjoy detective work. However, the most important element is desire. If you really want to find your ancestors, chances are good that you will. In the process, you will become an expert one step at a time.
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The goal of genealogical research is to assemble a Pedigree Chart of your ancestors and also a Family Group Record for every ancestral couple. The latter will show each ancestral couple with their children. Both forms are now considered to be the easiest way to present accurate, "quality" family genealogy.
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The place to start is with the known and work back to the unknown. In other words, start with yourself and work back one generation at a time. Do not skip a generation. Skipping invites errors. Since each generation doubles in number over the previous generation, one wrong ancestor could result in many false lines of ancestry.
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Begin with yourself as No. 1 on your Pedigree Chart. From what you know and from records in your home, fill in as much as you can on your paternal and maternal lines. Home records could be Bible, diary, journal, photographs, letters, marriage or death certificates, birth\christening\baptism, scrapbook, school papers, resume or job applications, wills, family histories, biographies, citizenship and naturalization papers, newspaper clippings, obituaries, and passports. These records give clues to names, places, dates and relationships and lead to other records. Assemble your home records into one place for easy reference...
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Copyright © 1996 GFA
Created Friday, February 02, 1996 - 10:00:00 PM MountainTime
Modified Thursday, February 15, 1996 - 9:23:47 PM MountainTime