Ever wonder what countries your ancestors came from? Where did your great grandparents live? What about their great grandparents? One way to find the answers to these questions is to trace your roots. If you have been gathering information to set up a family tree, you might have already found some answers. What about the blanks? Here are some resources to use as you continue to trace your roots.
Speak with your relatives. There are going to be a lot of family stories that have been passed down from one family member to another that are not written down anywhere. These stories will provide links, and may help you fill in some blanks. You may be able to trace your roots from one relative to one you hadn’t heard of yet, based on the knowledge that your older relatives can give you. Ask questions for clarification as needed. Perhaps one relative will be able to refer you to another who might have more details than the first person you spoke with. Often, people know partial stories, and putting the story fragments from several people together will give you a bigger picture, or more clues. Write down what is said, or, find a way to do an audio recording, so you can refer back to details as you continue to trace your roots.
Photo albums are another source of information. People tend to write the names of the people in the photo on the back of it. Sometimes there will be a little note about the location, or details about the significance of the event. You might find a year the photo was taken. All of these details will make tracing your roots a little easier. If possible, go through the photo album with an older relative, and ask questions about who is in the photos.
Some families will write down a family tree inside the cover, or on the blank back pages, of a bible. This bible would be something that had been handed down from one generation of the family to another. This can help you trace your roots farther back than what your living relatives may remember.
Seek out important documents. Look for birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates. These will give you specific dates of events, as well as lead you down more roads to help you trace your roots. Enjoy this exciting and interesting adventure!