You should either be registered for Religion 261 or simply wanting to learn how to do family history on your own. These lessons will guide you through the general research process for doing your own family history. You will follow step-by step guides of what to research and how to use various family history computer programs. This course will follow an Internet track, but will also tell about resources available in family history centers. If these lessons are used to their fullest potential, you should end this course with an intermediate knowledge of how to do family history research.

How to begin:

Proceed through each lesson, reading and following the directions. Use the navigation bar on the left to jump to different parts of the lessons or assignments. When you are learning about a program or website, open it if possible. You will benefit the most by using the programs alongside the lessons. Most of the resources should be available on the internet. You may need to visit a family history center, depending on the expectations of your class or what you would like to research.

In order to use these lessons to the fullest potential:

1. We will assume that you have done little or no family history and want to learn how to do so.
2. We will assume that you have a general knowledge of computers and using the internet. If not, click here.
3. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is a free, quick download. Click here to download it.
4. You may have to go to a family history center. To find the family history center nearest you, click here.

Lessons and Corresponding Assignments:

Programs you will learn:

• Personal Ancestral File
• FamilySearch.org
• Ancestral File
• Pedigree Resource File
• Family History Library Catalog
• International Genealogical Index
• Ordinance Index
• US Social Security Death Index
• Vital Record Indexes
• Research Guidance
• Temple Ready for Windows