Start Here: New to Genealogy?

Discover Your Roots. Start With What You Know.

You do not need to be an expert to begin your family history journey.

Many genealogical discoveries begin with a single clue—an old photograph, a family Bible, a funeral program, a census record, a DNA test result, or simply one unanswered question passed down through generations.

Genealogy is not about knowing everything. It begins by asking the right questions.

Step 1: Start With What You Know

Begin with yourself and work backward.

Write down:

your parents
grandparents
great-grandparents
names, nicknames, and family stories
places they lived
churches they attended
schools, military service, occupations, and migration patterns

Talk to your oldest living relatives first. Their memories are records, too.

Step 2: Use Census and Vital Records

Federal census records, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and obituaries help build your family timeline.

For many African American researchers, the 1950 Census is often the best modern starting point.

Then work backward.

Step 3: DNA Is a Tool—Not the Answer

DNA testing through companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe can open important doors—but DNA is only one piece of the puzzle.

Matches must be connected to documents, records, and family history.

DNA supports research. It does not replace it.

Step 4: Local Records Matter

Some of the best clues are not online.

Look for:

funeral programs
church records
cemetery records
probate records
land records
county courthouse files
local newspapers
oral histories

This is where local genealogical societies like AAGHSC become invaluable.

Step 5: Research Faster Together

Genealogy moves faster when you stop researching alone.

AAGHSC offers study groups, genealogy education, experienced researchers, and a community committed to preserving African American family history.

Sometimes the breakthrough comes from someone who knows exactly where to look next.

Your Next Step

Join the Genealogy Reboot Series

Our Genealogy Reboot Series helps researchers return to the fundamentals, strengthen research skills, and discover new ways to move forward.

Whether you are just beginning or starting over, there is a place for you here.

Join AAGHSC

Help preserve what cannot be replaced.

Because what we do not preserve, we lose.