Beginner's Kit & Basic Genealogy DNA Class

 by Kathy Petras

New incarnation of the Family History Guide

Introduction to Family History: a guide for beginners

The Beginner's Genealogy Kit provided to novice family historians by the Library has undergone a transformation. Restyled as an Introduction to Family History: a guide for beginners, it has a more polished look and is now a booklet. The previous kit was a collection of handouts inserted into a folder.  

Previous Beginner's Kit

The new Guide covers the six major steps of beginning family history research:

1. Getting Started - with whom do you start?
2. Searching Your Home - what you already know.
3. Write Down What You Find - forms, formats and documenting what you find.
4. Interview Your Relatives - getting the most from their knowledge.
5. U.S. Census Records - documents where your ancestors lived and when they were there. Contains clues as to where to look for other documents.
6. Search for Vital Records - official documentation of the most important or "vital" events in everyone's life.

The Guide also contains many tips for organizing your records and covers special topics such as DNA Testing. 

Stop by the service desk in the Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center on the second floor of the Medina Library to pick up a copy or access it online at: Introduction to Family History: a guide for beginners

Considering DNA Testing for Genealogy?

With the holidays, most of the leading genealogy DNA testing companies have their kits on sale. Before you splurge for the cost of one, for yourself or as a gift, make sure you are aware of possible consequences.

On December 1st, the Library is offering a one-hour class on the basics of genealogical DNA testing, the types of tests, and a comparison of the five major testing companies: 23 and Me, Ancestry DNA, FamilyTree DNA, Living DNA and MyHeritage DNA.

Most people don't put much thought into testing before they swab their cheeks. This class urges you to think before you buy.

The class is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. 

Sign up HERE.

THE BLOG IS TAKING A SABBATICAL NEXT WEEK FOR THANKSGIVING DAY

IT WILL RETURN ON DECEMBER 1ST.