Several people have asked the Society for tips on how to do genealogy research.
This is our standard reply to persons new to genealogical research.

It is important - right from the start - to adopt habits of collecting the information on sources along with your collection of the facts. I repeat: To a historian or genealogist, if a source is not listed for a fact, the fact does not exist!

Document your sources.

It is necessary to document the sources that underpin your findings about your ancestor.  The documentation should be by a citation to the actual place you found the information.  The source for the fact can be as simple as "my grandmother, Mabel Jones, told me", or "gravestone at burial site in North Burial Grounds, Providence," but there should always be a source listed. State the title of the book or record that has the facts. If it is a family story your grandmother told you, say so.  The best way to do that is to say: "Interview by [your name] of [aunt Martha's name] on [the date you talked to aunt Martha]" .  If you

So if you saw a family Bible, at least say "Family Bible in the possession of [ who has it] on [the date you know that had the Bible.]"

Source citations serve a number of purposes:

• Source citations provide evidence that the position is true. Scholarly writing is grounded in research that can be repeated by other persons. Citations allow you to demonstrate that your position or argument is thoroughly researched and that it is not just something "made up".  It allows other persons to trace how you got the information, so they know it was not just "made up."

• Source citations give credit to the original researcher or author. Giving proper attribution to those whose words and research and memories you use is morally (and often legally) the right thing to do.

•  Source citations help future readers and historians identify and relocate the source work. Readers will want to relocate a work you have cited, either to verify the information, or to learn more about issues and topics you have worked on. It is important to increase historical preservation and research that future readers should be able to relocate your source works from the information you have included by citations. 

Take a look at our page at  How to Find Ancestors

Read the following genealogy basics about  identifying your ancestors, by Emily Croom. Emily Croom is the author of Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy, The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook, The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook, and The Sleuth Book for Genealogists. She has  this to say.

"Have you ever known someone whose life would make an intriguing novel or mystery? What about your ancestors? Their lives could read like well-crafted fiction.

Whether your forebears were farmers, craftsmen, or laborers, they deserve your attention. After all, there's something of them in you. In fact, you may be named after an ancestor. Quick -- can you name your four grandparents? "

Genealogy begins at home
Genealogy is:

• The study of lineages: links between parents and children in each generation

• Family history: experiences and details that make your ancestors' lives interesting

During the holidays, do you plan to be around or in touch with relatives? What better time to talk and tape record? Question Grandma about her experiences during the Great Depression or Dad about World War II. Ask for their memories of their parents and grandparents. Also, be sure to take time to remember and record your memories of the ancestors you have known.

As you interact with family members, inquire about photos, family Bibles, miscellaneous papers, letters, or scrapbooks. Such items often contain ancestral names, birth and death dates, and other details that help link one generation to the previous one. From relatives and their mementos, gather the names, dates, places, and relationships that link you to your parents, them to their parents, and so forth.

Tips for success
The goal of genealogy is accurate lineages. Be sure to:

• Focus on specific individuals rather than surname origins

• Study ancestors in their time and place

• Learn about siblings and cousins in each generation

• Recognize that family tradition may or may not be accurate

• Work backward one generation at a time; don't skip one

• Write down -- document -- where you get your information

• Read a comprehensive genealogy book to sharpen you investigative and documentation skills

• Remember: genealogy software is a convenience, not a requirement.

As you gather information, you will find ancestral names spelled in various ways. Records of the past may spell one person's name five different ways. Also be alert to the possibility of more than one person with the same name.

When you identify immigrant ancestors, learn everything you can about them in their adopted country before attempting to find them in their native land. Doing this increases your chance of success.