It is surprising how many distant cousins you make contact with once you start researching your family history. Through your local family history society you will also have access to a library and bookstall, as well as to various indexes and genealogical aids. Most societies, including Glamorgan, exchange journals with all the other Federation members, so you can scrutinise the members' interests sections of other journals. Your local authority will probably be running one in your area starting in September. This will give you basic information and advice as well as introducing you to other beginners for moral support.
Family history is one of Britain's fastest growing hobbies.
The magazine also prints helpful articles and items of information, and runs a genealogical helpline. Everyone has four grandparents and eight great grandparents and so obviously the further back you get the more names you will be interested in. It is wise to set yourself an objective from the start and decide which lines you are going to concentrate on. Unusual surnames are clearly easier to trace than Smith or Jones, but it is wise to start with the family about which you have the most information or else a family that lived locally, where the records will be easier to consult. If your ancestors were spread about all over Britain and the colonies and you have limited time and money at your disposal then it might be a good idea to embark on several lines.