Subject Guides: Day of Common Learning 2016: Tracing Our Roots, Telling Our Stories: Genetic Genealogy

The Basics

There are an abundance of materials freely available online to help you explore genetic genealogy.

We suggest starting with a few comprehensive guides:

Beginner's Guide to Genetic Geneaology

The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood
Call Number: CS47 .G79 2000
Publication Date: 2000
Explains the principles of genealogical research; identifies various classes of records that may be used in that research, and tells where to find them; and includes information about the use of computers in compiling family histories.

DNA Testing Companies

Things to think about when selecting a DNA Testing Company

Family Tree DNA

23 and Me

African Ancestry, Inc

Ancestry

National Geographic Genome Project

Trace your Roots

Set a Research Plan

Ask yourself the following questions:

What do I know? - Begin with yourself and work backwards
What do I want to know? - Where are there gaps in your knowledge?
Where can I find what I want to know? - Birth, marriage, death certificates, census data, or DNA test
How will you record the evidence/stay organized? - Family Group Sheets, Ancestry Charts, or Software

Foundational Resources

In Person	Online
Seattle Public Library	Family Search
	US GenWeb Project
	Find a Grave
	Chronicling America
	One-page Reference Sheets for Historical Documents
	Categorized Lists of Online Tools, Resources, and Places to Begin!

Stay Organized

There are some great software tools available to help you organize all the materials you collect as your trace your roots. We suggest reading this comprehensive software review list:

Genealogy Software Reviews