Monday, June 29, 2009

Making A Family Tree: Learning by Example

By Michael Beardon

If you still haven't gotten around to documenting your genealogy after all the research you have made and the info you have collected, you aren't alone. Many people are often stuck at when they reach this point because they don't know how to put their data together.

It is easier to get going when you have examples to guide you. A lot of great websites offer free examples of well-organized family trees. These will teach you how to correctly label and organize your work.

You can also choose to leave this arduous job to the pros. Some websites will offer this service for a fee. All you have to do is submit the necessary information and their corresponding pictures and important facts related to those individuals. This however zaps the fun out of this project. It is definitely more fulfilling to complete your tree with your own hands.

Another option is to look for a website that has templates for making family trees, where all you need to do is fill in the blanks. These templates allow you to add the names of your relatives, their birthdays, their spouses and their children. http://obituarieshelp.org/genealogy_forms_downloads.html offers various user-friendly templates that you can download for free.

For a more ornate template go to thetreemaker.com and check out their templates. The ones here are for sale though as they are well designed. This site offers ready-made templates but you may also make your own personalized chart.

about.com has a Genealogy section which provides a few family tree templates you can download on to your computer and print out yourself. The designs are great and they are free.

Family Tree Magazine's website provides tables and diagrams that are vital to completing your project. The forms can be downloaded for free. It is also a wonderful site that teaches you how to successfully complete your genealogy project.

There is nothing more rewarding that completing this project yourself or with the help of your family members. It is not only fun but is a learning experience. It teaches not only diligence but you are enlightened about your past as well.

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