Getting Started

Genealogy: Learn the Basics

    On-line Help

    FamilySearch

    A step-by-step guide, called Begin Your Genealogy Quest, can be found on the FamilySearch website. Another good resource is their article on the Principles of Family History Research.

    Ancestry

    Ancestry Library Edition contains all of the records that are available in the World Deluxe version of Ancestry. You can search and download these records free of charge (in-library use only.) You can also email search results and records to yourself at home.

    The Library Edition does not allow you to build your family tree online or to connect with other Ancestry members. However, you can view public family trees created by other Ancestry users. While user-created trees may contain errors, and should be used with caution, they can also provide valuable clues or pointers for your own research.

    You can access Ancestry Library Edition from any KFPL branch, either from a library computer or with your own laptop.

    How to Access Ancestry Library Edition

    1. If you are using your own laptop, connect to the wireless network KFPLibrary. This is the only network that will allow access to Ancestry Library Edition.
    2. Visit www.kfpl.ca
    3. Hover over Online Resources and Recommendations.
    4. Choose Local History and Genealogy.
    5. Choose Ancestry Library Edition.
    6. Click Begin Searching.
    7. Find a record that you want to save.
    8. Click the Send Document button.
    9. Enter your email address and click Send email.
    10. Check your email for a message from Ancestry.
    11. Click View your discoveries. (You can do this part from home; not just in-library!)
    12. Click to view and/or download the record.

    Other Websites

    The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Genealogy, on the Smarter Hobby website, is another good place to start learning.

    Meetings and Conferences

    Ontario Genealogical Society: Kingston Branch

    The Kingston Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society meets on the third Saturday of each month, from September-November and January-May. All are welcome to attend the meetings. If you don’t live in Kingston, try a Google search on the word “genealogy” with the name of your town–for example, genealogy winnipeg–to find a genealogy group in your area. Meetings, workshops and classes are almost sure to be listed on their website.

    Other Organizations

    In Ontario, many resources, including an annual conference, monthly magazine and wide variety of publications, workshops and online tools, are available at the provincial level. Check out the Historical & Genealogical Societies page, linked in the Related Content section below, for more information about these organizations in the Kingston and Frontenac County Areas.

    Books & Other Forms and Links

    Use the resources below for a list of books on genealogical research that are available at KFPL. There are also a few helpful files that you can download to help get you started on the right foot.

    Related Articles

    Resources

    Books

    Files

    Websites