Before venturing out on research trips, it is well worthwhile to look through scrapbooks and photo albums, closets and drawers, attics and basements to find any family records that contain genealogical information about your family. Some families record birth, marriage and death information in the family Bible. Often a family has saved marriage, birth or death certificates or announcements. Scrapbooks may contain a copy of an obituary or citizenship certificate. Perhaps your grandmother has a copy of her father s will in her desk drawer.
Family pictures can be helpful, too.
A wedding photograph might have the wedding date written on the back or the name of the church visible in the photo. All of these family records are research time-savers, not to mention intriguing in their own right. And you are performing a great family service by seeking, obtaining, and preserving your family s heritage materials. By gathering, copying and creating a centralized collection of family information, you are making it easier for others today and in future generations to learn about your family. To learn more about preserving these precious family records, see the episode guide for Records at Risk .