Genealogy Resources

 

Everyone’s journey of self-discovery is unique and personal. There are many factors to consider when looking for biological relatives or delving into your genealogy roots. Here are some questions you might ask yourself before you begin:

  • What is your goal?

  • How much information do you want to know?

  • How much time/resources do you have to devote to the project?

  • Do you want to contact potential family members?

  • What will you do if they don’t want to connect with you? In other words, are you prepared not only for acceptance but rejection?

  • Are you prepared for the possibility some discoveries might be unpleasant?

 In the search for my birth mother, described in “Somewhere Bluebirds Fly,” the most useful sources of information were Ancestry.com, the genealogy department at the local library and, believe it or not, non-identifying information from the adoption agency. They gave me the puzzle pieces to start putting together information about my origins. Then it came down to good, old-fashioned picking up the phone to have conversations with people. Not everyone I contacted was receptive, but several were and provided additional information that helped solidify my findings. Some of the newfound biological relatives I contacted remain in my circle of acquaintances and some have become friends.

This following list is by no means exhaustive of all the resources out there to help someone uncover their roots. But it’s a good place to start.

ONLINE TOOLS

 Ancestry.com or 23andme.com – Discover close and distant relatives through DNA matches.

 Gedmatch.com – More precisely determine biological connections once you’ve gotten your DNA results.

 DNAadoption.org – Connect with a team of volunteer genealogists, citizen scientists, and geneticists to help you in your search.

 Adoption.com – Utilize tips and tools on how to search for a biological relative, as well as links to other helpful sites, including adoption registries.

Your local library – This is especially helpful if it has a genealogy section. Included is accessing U.S. Census Bureau online information that allows you to search for family names, ages, births and deaths.

  Newspaper archives – Search for births, deaths, marriages, life events, etc.

OTHER TOOLS

 Make sure to keep and carefully organize records of your search. It can get complicated.

 Contact support groups, both online and offline. These folks might have additional tips to help you along your journey.

Good luck in your genealogy travels,

Rick