Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS
It seems that every family has someone who feels that it is his or her responsibility to catalog all family history and pass it on to future generations. Geneaology requires extensive research. This research used to entail libraries, books, bureaucratic red tape, and paperwork. Thanks to the Internet, this research can now be done from the comfort of your own home, with very little effort.
The Internet is a great place to start doing genealogical research. Countless sites are available to help you with this work. An Internet search on AltaVista for the word "genealogy" yielded nearly 6 million sites to visit! Here is a short guide to help you through this process:
- Identify what you know about your family. This involves names, dates, and places of origin, the main tools used in genealogical research.
- Decide what you want to learn. You may need to answer questions regarding dates and places of birth, dates and places of death, marital status, and more.
- Select records to search. You will find two types of genealogical records: those compiled by others, and original records created at or near the time of an event. Look for compiled records first. This consists of research already done on your family tree, which could save you lots of time and effort.
- Obtain and search the records. Look at broad time periods, check for spelling variations, and write down the results - even if you think you have come up empty-handed.
The following sites can help you get started with family research and give you some great pointers and tips for using the Internet in your quest to construct a family tree.
I wish you good hunting!
Geneaology research sites:
www.ancestry.com
www.genealogytoolbox.com
www.cyndilist.com
www.usgenweb.com
www.gentree.com
www.rootsweb.com
www.genhomepage.com
www.gengateway.com
www.genealogy.com
Thanks to the Internet, this research can now be done from the comfort of your own home, with very little effort.
Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS, FACD, FAGD, practices general dentistry in St. Louis. He also is the editor of St. Louis Dentistry Magazine and spokesperson and critical-issue-response-team chairperson for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. His address on the Internet is www.dfdasmiles.com. Contact him by e-mail at [email protected], by phone at (314) 567-5612, or fax at (314) 567-9047.
