The above and below pictures were taken and then altered using PHOTOIMPACT - a program that I LOVE so much - it's one of the few products I would try to advertise on this site, and there will be a flashy, clickable ADbox coming soon (hopefully).

My first year of genealogy research was 2003, and I spent SO MUCH time staring at family histories and census reports - I think my eyes STILL HURT! No matter HOW SURE you are of your lineage, it's still nice to have MORE info, printed out materials if possible, right? There is a site being kept by the Mormons, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints..Sometimes I ponder on WHY they are keeping such good records of ALL family records, but nevertheless - its BY FAR the best FREE site to begin your search. I did it opposite, which is why I know to tell you differently.

I also recommend ancestry.com. They contain a VAULT of everlasting knowledge on name fluctuations thru generations, and many other resources. You can locate and print out/save the census reports for your family - which have the households members JOB, DOB, country born in and parents' country as well. Tells of other people living there, etc. VERY HELPFUL! Often you will find the right census - and see the names of the neighbors on the street - then see that someone in your line married one from the neighbors line. Its nice to see your ancestors actual signature as well. There are military records with signatures too! While I DO believe the price for ancestry is well worth the yearly price- I suggest (insist if i could) - that you do all the research you can thru the first site mentioned,
(mormons), get yourself a list of people you are having trouble finding information on, THEN go sign up for ancestry! They offer a free trial - but once you use it - you WILL want to join..

I just hope you find a way to keep all the info straightened out! Mine is all on files "saved as", and handwritten in about 6 binders and 2 notebooks. Anoter neat trick that most of you will probably know is - but one of you may not - is to type in SEVERAL things, one at a time - and you may find some extra goodies. Sometimes they will be mentioned in an archived magazine or newspaper article - or there may be another genealogy buff out there related to your gr-gr-gr-gr grandmother with HER SIDE already laid out and documented..

Go to google and type in your ancestor. Lets say his name is Joseph Thomas Schmo from Ithaca, NY. first type it full, "Joseph Thomas Schmo" - if there r too many results then type in the state - "Joseph Thomas Schmo" NY. ALWAYS keep the name inside quotation marks! That way you only get the name in order. I just typed in that name without the quotations - and got 15,200 pages - you have the time for all that? NO. So after that, I would try the following phrases, one at a time, in google, "Joseph T Schmo", "Joseph Schmo", "JT Schmo", "Jos. T Schmo", "Jos. Schmo". FINALLY - I would do "Ithaca, NY" Schmo. You will find tons of info - plus always look up the word genealogy - with the location you are looking for - sometimes they have interactive websites you can explore for free! and transcribed obituary or wedding notices! I found this lady that had a bunch of my family obits - all from the county she was in - and if I remember correctly she would photocopy up to 3 for 1.00. I sent her 1.00 with the list and she sent them back to me.. I have put genealogy on the back burner for now - but if I find her name and web address I will be putting a link here..

EMAIL ME if you have any questions or want me to look for a grave/headstone for you...