First Steps in Genealogy: Start Local, Find Your Stories

Diving into the past to uncover the stories of our ancestors is a journey filled with excitement, discovery, and sometimes mystery. When I first started doing genealogy as a hobby, I realised that the key lies in knowing where to look and asking the right questions.

Some of my most powerful moments have come from simple discoveries. Reading my grandmother’s memoir gave me a glimpse of her world in her own words – something I’ll always treasure. My great-grandad Jack, a sapper in the Great War, was interviewed by my aunt, who transcribed his words. Reading about his WW1 experiences has brought his story to life in a very personal way. And the day I opened my great-great-uncle Ted’s World War I archive file, I uncovered truths that challenged the family story I had grown up with.

If you’re just starting out, keep it simple and start local. Talk to relatives, look through old photo albums, and ask questions of the older generations. You can also visit local libraries and archives. When my grandmother began her genealogy research, she had to visit the records offices in person, as no online archive existed. Today, we have access to online archives and databases that put millions of records at our fingertips – resources she could only have dreamed of.

Family history isn’t always straightforward. Records can be missing or conflicting, and stories change in the telling. But that’s part of the thrill and what keeps me interested and going back for more. More documents are being released to online sources every day, and each new piece of information has the power to shift your understanding, bring clarity, and bring you closer to the people who came before you.

In a future article, I’ll share more detailed tips on digging deeper into archives and uncovering those harder-to-find stories. For now, enjoy beginning your journey – I wonder what your ancestors can tell you about your own past.