I was inspired to start my genealogical journey in the 1970s by the TV mini-series, "Roots." After talking with both grandmothers and taking down what they remembered, I ran out of ideas. After all, I lived in a small town with no genealogical resources and there was (gasp!) no Internet.

In the early 1990s, I started again with the considerable resources available at the Dallas Public Library. And while I appreciate the conveniences of the Internet, there really is research that still requires a real physical genealogical library. Support your local public library!

Here's what I've learned in my genealogical journey:

* If you simply absorb someone else's work, you haven't taken the journey -- you've just looked at the postcards. Do your own genealogical research!

* It's not all available on the Internet

* Get out in the field

* Go to the library

* Join a local genealogical society

* Don't believe everything you're told, especially if it doesn't seem to make sense.

* Back everything up with a source

* Share

I was inspired to start my genealogical journey in the 1970s by the TV mini-series, "Roots." After talking with both grandmothers and taking down what they remembered, I ran out of ideas. After all, I lived in a small town with no genealogical resources and there was (gasp!) no Internet.

In the early 1990s, I started again with the considerable resources available at the Dallas Public Library. And while I appreciate the conveniences of the Internet, there really is research that still requires a real physical genealogical library. Support your local public library!

Here's what I've learned in my genealogical journey:

* If you simply absorb someone else's work, you haven't taken the journey -- you've just looked at the postcards. Do your own genealogical research!

* It's not all available on the Internet

* Get out in the field

* Go to the library

* Join a local genealogical society

* Don't believe everything you're told, especially if it doesn't seem to make sense.

* Back everything up with a source

* Share