Heritage Album

what is the easiest way to update a family tree?

my grandma has recently given me a family tree(on a piece of paper) made by a family member in the 90s. i want to add on the new editions to the family and make a better version. what is the best way to go about this please help. i would like to give this to my grandma as a gift.

Public Comments

1. Here is my standard answer: You should start by asking all your living relatives about family history. Then, armed with that information, you can go to your public library and check to see if it has a genealogy department. Most do nowadays; also, don't forget to check at community colleges, universities, etc. Our public library has both www.ancestry.com and www.heritagequest.com free for anyone to use (no library card required). Another place to check out is any of the Mormon's Family History Centers. They allow people to search for their family history (and, NO, they don't try to convert you). A third option is one of the following websites: http://www.searchforancestors.com/... http://www.censusrecords.net/?o_xid=2739... www dot usgenweb dot com/ www dot census dot gov/ http://www.rootsweb.com/ www dot ukgenweb dot com/ www dot archives dot gov/ http://www.familysearch.org/ http://www.accessgenealogy.com/... http://www.cyndislist.com/ www dot geni dot com/ Cyndi's has the most links to genealogy websites, whether ship's passenger lists, ancestors from Africa, ancestors from the Philippines, where ever and whatever. Of course, you may be successful by googling: "john doe, born 1620, plimouth, massachusetts" as an example. Good luck and have fun! Check out this article on five great free genealogy websites: www dot associatedcontent dot com/article... Then there is the DNA test; if you decide you want to REALLY know where your ancestors came from opt for the DNA test. Besides all the mistakes that officials commonly make, from 10% to 20% of birth certificates list the father wrong; that is, mama was doing the hanky-panky and someone else was the REAL father. That won't show up on the internet or in books; it WILL show up in DNA. I used www.familytreedna.com which works with the National Geographics Genotype Program. If you check websites such as www dot howmanyofme dot com, you will find that oft times there are quite a few people with the same name; going back in time, there were more (not fewer) people with the same name. Sometimes they were related (as evidenced by my own family tree); sometimes not. The point is, to paraphrase Smokey the Bear, "Only you can tell if someone is/is not your ancestor".
2. I would buy a computer program so that you can retype all the information and it can be updated as needed. Most of the programs have a report function and can print out a professional looking report, which can include pictures and images of census records (if you add them). I found the Ultimate Family Tree at Walmart so there may be something fairly inexpensive for you to use. If you just want to update your Grandma's version, add Appendix 1 in the section you need to update and then make a separate Appendix one page with the information, continuing until all your updates are completed.
3. No need to buy a program. Register at familysearch.org; it's free. You will need a blank CD, as they do not offer on-line storage. Follow the easy instructions and begin. They also offer free printable forms, which you can use to make a paper copy of the info you already have and record future findings.
4. suggestion from hard experience... "updating" family trees (coming down to new members) is very difficult, since there is NEVER any point at which you can "end" it. If you put your cousin and her new children.. if she is of age to still have children, you can bet next week, she will be expecting. Just when you find out her brother's wife's name.. they will separate. You will beg cousin Joe for months for his info, you'll give up and make a wonderful chart. 4 days later, he'll send the info.. and be angry if you don't include it. One of our family branches tried to do this, with a family book, years ago. To this day.. it has not been done, and those who did contribute, are ANGRY. You can maintain an ongoing database, and do printouts. Just know some of the pitfalls. Most of the links you have been given, have to do with WORKING BACK (dead ancestors).