A biography of the principal subject, including birth date and place, and the names of parents, starts the process. The previous step in the selection process is repeated by selecting the maternal or paternal parent's genealogy to follow for the second and third generations. The same information is provided in written biographies for these generations. Each biography should be at least one page in length and should include occupation, places of residence, religious affiliation, schools attended, military service, and other pertinent facts that round out the history of a family. Supportive documentation must accompany each genealogical biography and be cited in footnote form.
Documentation includes photocopies or certified statements of fact.
Documentation completeness will be an important part of the judging. An example of a biography is included with the guidelines sent to each applicant. Printed copy from a computer is acceptable if the printer is letter quality. There must be at least a one-inch margin on all sides of the text. Each footnote should be single-spaced, with a double space between footnotes.