Beginning Research
Begin at home! The first step is to collect together all family papers, such as old letters, deeds, wills, photographs, scrapbooks, passports, diaries, vital statistics (birth, marriage, and death records) and any other family documents. If there is an old family Bible, examine it carefully to see if there are special pages where names, marriages and birth-dates are recorded. These pages are usually in the center of the book, between the Old and New Testaments.
The second step is to contact older family members and relatives. Plan your questions in advance. Ask about birth, marriage and death dates, and be certain to ask about places — find out where your ancestors were born, where they were married, and where they died, because this is often the key to doing further research.
Finally, organize your findings on standardized charts, using printed charts or a genealogy computer program. There are three basic rules about chart designs:
- the charts shouldn’t appear too cluttered when filled in;
- if the charts have a numbering system, it should be simple and clear;
- charts should be on a standard sizes of paper for ease of copying or publishing as a booklet or book, or storing in a three-ring binder.
You can create many gifts from one family history, for other family members and relatives. These gifts are highly personal and can be presented on any special occasion.
Online Databank Search
Over the past several years, a multitude of genealogy websites and searchable databases have proliferated on the internet. They range – as you might expect - from the amateur to the professional level.
The GRL is Canada’s premier nation-wide online databank and provides you with powerful search tools to find your ancestors. The GRL databank is designed to locate ancestors who lived anywhere in Canada during the period 1600 to 1900+.
To search the databank, see our home page to try out a free preview. This preview is restricted in the sense that it only shows ancestors names and the years associated with them. However, once you see this preview, imagine having a full view of all the names, places, occupations, types of events and year of each event, as well the images of century old documents! This full view is available when you become a member by registering with the GRL.
You can register to become a member on our home page. Members can register safely and securely on-line for a $10.00 fee. This fee provides you with one week of search time. $25 provides one month of access time, $45 provides three months access, and $75 provides you with a full One Year membership. As soon as you register as a member, you gain unrestricted access to all names, places, occupations, type of event and year of each event.