Genealogy Start Here

This summary details what is in this Genealogy group of pages, and ties together quite a lot of information. This page describes the content of pages, and how to get best use out of the content. There is a lot going on, I am writing content, pages may look disjointed for a while, but this happens when you try to download your brain. Please wait . . .

Just as an aside, if you click on the menu item 'Genealogy', you get this page. If you click on the little triangle/arrow, you get the sub-menu, which in this case, is quite long.

There is a huge amount of information available to teach best practice for genealogists, but the first thing to say is that you probably have a lot of family information already. The learning relates to how you store this information, and how you go about finding out more about your family. Simply put, there are a few stages you could follow: 

  • Write down what you know.
  • Talk to relatives that might know more. Older relatives won't be around forever
  • Try to record sources and evidence to show the links from you to your parents, grandparents, etc. You should have reasonable proof of the child parent linkages, but be aware that sometimes there will be surprises about parentage, and this information may be very sensitive
  • Find a way to store your information as you go. Most people will use a computer or web program, but there are any number of paper based solutions too
  • Devote time to learn about good research practice, and discover the resources available
  • Join a local family history group, and become involved. This is one of the best learning pathways there is.

In this series of pages to learn about genealogy best practice, I make some assumptions.

  • Most people coming to genealogy now will be comfortable using computers, and will prefer to use a computer to store and organise their family information.
  • Most genealogists will want to use the internet as their primary information source
  • People will want to find ways to share their information on the web so that wider family members can find it and make contact
  • Privacy will be important
  • Those new to genealogy will want to take time to learn best practice, and want to learn about the best sources to be a productive researcher
  • Genealogists will understand they need to be a meticulous researcher, a careful documenter, a counsellor in dealing with people with different social backgrounds or delicate information, and a good time manager

From here, I am writing (downloading) my collective memory, and am using these headings, which also align with the menu items under 'Genealogy', above. I also (will) include links to various segments that you can follow as your interests take you.

  • Recording systems
  • Genealogy Methods - the basic skills that will make our activity enjoyable
  • Being Professional - more advanced skills that are worth following, to ensure your work is best practice
  • Key Knowledge - fundamental information you should understand 
  • Specialised knowledge - those topics that require their own page to properly describe
  • Geographical Knowledge - England, Australia (my main skill areas), Australian States, Europe, the Americas, Africa

Now, work through the menu headings as listed above. This order is suggested, but you can easily work your own way through the material in any order. Enjoy.