Where do any of us come from after all? Wouldn't you like to find out? Most of us know or remember our grandparents, but beyond that, the shrouds of history are thick and severe. Seeing further back in time is either impossible or deeply obscured. But with the quick spread of the Internet and newly available public data bases, it's possible today to see more of your ancestry than ever before. This is the quickest and most complete guide to researching and getting to know all of your distant relatives, no matter how near nor how far. Creating and filling every branch of your family tree is simpler and more fun than it's ever been in the past. This book is deigned to give even total beginners what they need to seriously investigate, document and record ancestors and distant family members quickly and coherently. Use this genealogical guide to: - Search for and discover all of your family members - well into the distant past, on this continent and others - Quickly master all available public resources and records - Understand the importance of your inherited legacy - and where you came from - Use and learn from the important and deep knowledge of other researchers who've been drawing family trees for years. The rational and always engrossing study of genealogy is something that loads of Americans take part in. Whether you're ancestors were part of a well-documented diaspora, the great migration of the late 19th century, or more recent arrivals, there's a lot to learn. And a lot more ancestral and migration information is available and coming online every month. Don't leave you're kids wondering where they came from, but put it together, permanently, and keep it together so that your own history is well documented and treasured forever. Family members who immigrated to America by nearly any means are most likely already listed, but Native American ancestry and other interesting and newly available sources can also be tapped. No matter where your people came from, you'll learn to appreciate their struggles, their lives and something of the legacy they've left to you. This guide will also teach readers to: - Differentiate between truth and fiction in researching your family's history - Devise smart tactics for interviewing family members for better and more accurate results - Keep detailed records for future family research and safekeeping what you've learned - Arrange everything in a simple, understandable format - a family tree! This beginning guide to genealogy will allow you to quickly learn the easiest software and database tools to not only find your ancestors - but to permanently record them in a useful and fascinating family tree. You get hours of insight, entertainment and enlightenment to any discussion of just who came before you, and something invaluable to leave to your children and their children. Building and understanding your family tree doesn't take lots of money, or expertise. This guide provides simple step-by-step instructions for building your genealogical index and a sound reference tool for every one yet to come in your family. Research, find and really learn from all the available sources, including your parents and their parents. You'll also learn to appreciate the careful work of archivists and genealogists while discovering worlds you really belong to. Searching your ancestry starts with everyone you know now, but it finishes in places and peoples far distant, with stories you can learn and enjoy for generations to come.