Genealogy

Tips and tricks to get started researching your family history.

Getting Started

Start with yourself and work backwards 

Look at your mother and father, and then go back a generation and repeat the process. Don’t worry if you can’t figure out a family member on your tree. If you get stuck, work on what you know, then go back later. You can always ask family members for help. 

Take Notes 

Write down where you found the information, a family member, or a certain type of resource. It is a good idea to also keep track of the date when you learned a piece of information so you can easily keep track of what information didn’t pan out compared with those that provide a lead. It may be helpful to also use a worksheet like an ancestral chart to trace family trees. 

Interview Family Members 

Family members can help fill in the gaps and provide additional information.  The Hudson Library can provide you with suggested interview questions to get you started.

Searching Tips 

Records are often filled with spelling errors. Instead, pay attention to the surrounding information rather than name (i.e. birth and death dates, location, family members). Search results will vary based on the amount of information entered. If a particular ancestor is difficult to locate, try entering only basics such as a name and birthdate. Trying different combinations will yield different and potentially helpful results. 

Consult Vital Records

Birth, marriage and death records are helpful resources for family history research, but may not always be available as vital records were not always legally required. In the State of Ohio, birth and death records were required in 1908, and marriage certificates in 1949.

For more information on the availability of vital records in each state, visit the National Center for Health Statistics.

Genealogy Resources 

Once you have basic information, local records can help fill in dates, relationships, and context. Explore our genealogy resources page to learn more about available records, databases, and access options.