Beginning your genealogy journey can be exciting and overwhelming. But there are many websites, blogs, books, articles, and how-to videos to set you on your path in a manageable way.
Gathering Information
If you are just starting to explore your family history, use the charts below to assemble what you know. Start with yourself and work backward in time. Once you've exhausted what you personally know about your ancestors, talk with members of your family. Flesh out as much information as you can so that you have a firm starting point for beginning to research in historical records. As you discover more information through your research, you will probably find it helpful to build a digital family tree on an online genealogy site or in a genealogy software program.
"Finding Your Roots: Genealogy Workshop" Webinar
This MGS webinar offers an introduction to genealogy with an emphasis on Maryland research. Produced in partnership with Maryland Public Television, this presentation covers:
- Getting started in genealogy (at 04:07);
- Online genealogy (at 15:56);
- African American research (at 28:36);
- DNA testing for genealogy (at 40:08); and
- Q & A (at 57:49).
Read biographical sketches of the speakers.
Learn More About Genealogy in Maryland
For more information specifically about discovering your Maryland ancestors, see: