Family History as easy as 1 2 3

A - Receive a filled out card. (or if you are making a book for yourself, skip this step or fill out a pedigree sheet.)
A copy of the card should be kept by the ward Family History Coordinator.
Set a goal to have the research completed within two weeks. You may want to print a research log now. On your research log, note how many names you started with, typically about eight. Make notes of every place you search. Note what was found, or nothing was found. This will help as you write up your findings and recommendations at the end.

B - Enter names onto your family history software (PAF is a good one.) (detailed instructions)
Remember to add a source for each piece of information. Use rootsweb.com to add counties to each of the locations listed on the card.

C - Run PAF Insight (This automates your search of the IGI. It looks at your PAF file and compares it to the IGI - it could give you additional names, dates, places and temple ordinance dates.)
There are several options here:
1 -If you want me to run PAF Insight for you, email me a zip file. PAF – File – Backup – Backup the file with the same name as the original file and save it into the same folder.
Open an email to me, support@FamilyHistory123.com and attach the file. Send.
I am happy to do this for you (up to about 100 names).
2 -You can use PAF Insight at the Family History Center for free.
3 -If you want to install PAF Insight to your computer, go to http://www.ohanasoftware.com/?affiliateid=BEF6ABE7 and download the software for $20.
4-Of course, another option is to skip this step and check the IGI manually in the next step at FamilySearch.org.

If it would help, now might be a good time to print a pedigree or a family group sheet to use as a worksheet.

D - Run FamilySearcher or Check FamilySearch.org
1A-Setup the free software FamilySearcher and follow the directions. To begin, open FamilySearcher and open the family file you want to research. This will help automate your searching. If it is your first time at FamilySearch.org, you will need to register. You need your membership record number and the date of your confirmation. You can get that from the ward clerk.
1B- Or to do this step manually, go to http://www.familysearch.org and sign on. Enter the person’s name you want to research and click "search". If your search finds too many matches, you will need to add more info (like birth year).
2 -Get out your research log and get ready to work now.
3 -Write down anything that looks like a good clue onto your research log. You will keep researching and may find a connection. Do not add anything to your PAF file unless you are fairly sure it is the right person. And then remember to write your source (familysearch IGI or familysearch ancestral file, etc.)

E - Check rootsweb.com
This is ancestry.com's free website. Use rootsweb to find counties for each town, find possible people for future contact at surname list, search worldconnect for pedigrees, and maybe GenWeb or cemetery search will be helpful.

F - Check ancestry.com
This is a fee subscription service. You have 2 options:
1-You can use it for free at the Family History Center.
2-You can subscribe at Ancestry.com

Search ancestry.com. It is sometimes more effective to look at the census records, then the birth records, etc.

G - I like to run PAF Insight again on any new names that I have found on the pedigree. These should show up as the last RIN numbers on the PAF Individual list. (If you know you started with 8 names, numbers 9-?? will be new names that you found.)

The resource page may provide other helps for you. As you ask questions, I try to put the answers and resources on that page.

When you finish your research, you are ready to assemble the book.

And you can always email or call me for help, Cheri Haggard, 949-215-4678.

Family History Consultant Research Guide