Even small local libraries usually have a basic how-to book , and some history about local families. Larger libraries, of course, will have much better collections. It is essential to record the source of all the notes that you take. If you choose, at some point, to share the information that you have found with others, you will want to be able to tell them where you found it so they can verify it for themselves if they wish to, and draw their own conclusions. A fact which can not be verified in the original source is of little use to a good researcher.
Conclusions based on unverifiable research are worse than useless.
So, for each note that you take, write down the title of the book or record from which you took it, the author, if any, the date, publisher and page number. If the information came from an interview, write the name of the person who told you, and the date and place of the interview. Appropriate forms for recording citations can be found in several books. See the list below for some suggestions. It is also helpful to keep a log of all the sources that you search.