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Learn more about genealogy
- Findmypast.com in the Huffington Post
- Google your family tree
- Use census records for family history
- Free 1940 census records online
- Newspaper archives for family history
- Analyzing records for family history
- Name variations: tips & tricks
- The importance of citing your sources
- Connecting census records, passenger lists, and naturalization Papers
- Adoption records and genealogy
Explore our records
How to Start Your Family Tree
1 Start with what you know
- Start your family tree
using your parents, grandparents, and
immediate family members.
2 Struggle with name variations?
- Learn about Name Variations
and why your family name didn't change
at Ellis Island (learn the urban myth!).

3U.S. Military Records
- Pro tip: Our military records cover people
who may not have served in the military. - See draft registration cards and
enlistment records
5 Search the U.S. Census
- Search the U.S. census
and compare conflicting info
with Vital Records collections.
4Newspaper archives
- Newspaper archives
are invaluable
resources to find detail about your U.S. family history and
tales from Great Britain.