People need to research their Ukrainian roots, and to keep the stories alive with our younger generation. They need to know where we came from, the journey, the suffering, and the freedom that we now enjoy due to the important efforts and decisions of our ancestors.
With genealogy and family research, you get to play being a
detective and find out about real people and their stories. Doing so will also
help you better understand yourself (what you have inherited), your family and
your own experiences. This gives you a better historical background and context
for your own existence.
A family tree project can provide a wealth of information and fun. By preserving information about yourself and your family, you ensure others won’t have to dig for it later. And, especially with older relatives, the sooner you start this the better. This hobby can provide an increased sense of family and self.
1. Gather your personal information and the information you know about your family. Start with yourself and your siblings then your parents and your grandparents etc. It is best to start with focusing on a single surname or a family group. With this approach, you will be less likely to get confused or overloaded with facts, especially if you are just starting out. And make sure all information is accurate by verifying it to the official sources.
2. Try to gather as much documentation as possible. Good sources of information to start with include:
https://www.ancestry.com/cs/charts-and-forms
https://www.canva.com/graphs/family-trees/
4. You’d be surprised how much information is available in the memories of your relatives and immediate family. Interview your relatives, showing them your pedigree chart. Especially with elder relatives, ask if you can tape record or videotape them. Also, by looking at old photographs and documents, you can ask for clarification and more information. Consider approaching extended family and family friends, especially if you can find a local historian or family researcher.
5. Keep copies of everything you find and make sure you record the source, date, and location etc. Using templates like a “Research Log” is a good way to start recording your activities. The thought that you will remember later, is rarely true. Also make a copy of originals and work with the copy.
6. Stay organized. It is best to set up a matching paper and electronic filing system in the beginning.
A family tree search can take a long time and involve a lot of information. Also, some people start this family research then take a break and go back to it, even years later. You can enter your genealogy information on an online program like Ancestry.ca or FamilySearch.org. You can also save your information in a software program on your own computer. Some great options are Family Tree Builder, Ancestral Quest, Legacy Family Tree, and RootsMagic. The basic versions are usually free.
Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher, Drew Smith, 2016
Genealogy for Dummies, Matthew L. Helm and April Leigh Helm, 8th Edition, 2017
Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide, Sherry Irvine and Dave Obee, 2007
Alberta Genealogical Society and the Edmonton Branch
E.g., Tracing Your Family Tree Courses and Being Organized with Your Family History Research.
#162, 14315 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, 780-423-8902
https://www.abgenealogy.ca/ and https://www.edmontongenealogy.ca/
Provincial Archives of Alberta
8555 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB, 780-427-1750
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/
Researching at the Provincial Archives of Alberta
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2020-9/Researching%20at%20the%20PAA_0.pdf
Genealogical Research at the Provincial Archives of Alberta
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2020-09/Intro%20to%20Genealogy.pdf
Ukrainian Archival Records at the Provincial Archives of Alberta: An Annotated Guide, Second Edition
https://www.provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-08/UkrainianGuide-English.pdf
1. Gather your personal information and the information you know about your family. Start with yourself and your siblings then your parents and your grandparents etc. It is best to start with focusing on a single surname or a family group. With this approach, you will be less likely to get confused or overloaded with facts, especially if you are just starting out. And make sure all information is accurate by verifying it to the official sources.
2. Try to gather as much documentation as possible. Good sources of information to start with include:
- Family photos
- Family documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Old letters and postcards that can show where a person lived or worked and what they were doing at a particular point in time.
- Family bibles
- Family scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos, showing the key events of family members
https://www.ancestry.com/cs/charts-and-forms
https://www.canva.com/graphs/family-trees/
4. You’d be surprised how much information is available in the memories of your relatives and immediate family. Interview your relatives, showing them your pedigree chart. Especially with elder relatives, ask if you can tape record or videotape them. Also, by looking at old photographs and documents, you can ask for clarification and more information. Consider approaching extended family and family friends, especially if you can find a local historian or family researcher.
5. Keep copies of everything you find and make sure you record the source, date, and location etc. Using templates like a “Research Log” is a good way to start recording your activities. The thought that you will remember later, is rarely true. Also make a copy of originals and work with the copy.
6. Stay organized. It is best to set up a matching paper and electronic filing system in the beginning.
A family tree search can take a long time and involve a lot of information. Also, some people start this family research then take a break and go back to it, even years later. You can enter your genealogy information on an online program like Ancestry.ca or FamilySearch.org. You can also save your information in a software program on your own computer. Some great options are Family Tree Builder, Ancestral Quest, Legacy Family Tree, and RootsMagic. The basic versions are usually free.
Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher, Drew Smith, 2016
Genealogy for Dummies, Matthew L. Helm and April Leigh Helm, 8th Edition, 2017
Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide, Sherry Irvine and Dave Obee, 2007
Alberta Genealogical Society and the Edmonton Branch
E.g., Tracing Your Family Tree Courses and Being Organized with Your Family History Research.
#162, 14315 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, 780-423-8902
https://www.abgenealogy.ca/ and https://www.edmontongenealogy.ca/
Provincial Archives of Alberta
8555 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB, 780-427-1750
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/
Researching at the Provincial Archives of Alberta
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2020-9/Researching%20at%20the%20PAA_0.pdf
Genealogical Research at the Provincial Archives of Alberta
https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2020-09/Intro%20to%20Genealogy.pdf
Ukrainian Archival Records at the Provincial Archives of Alberta: An Annotated Guide, Second Edition
https://www.provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-08/UkrainianGuide-English.pdf
Edmonton Public Library (EPL)
- Genealogy in Edmonton https://www.epl.ca/genealogy/
- Genealogy & History – Online Resources https://www.epl.ca/resources/genealogy/
- Tracing Your Family Tree https://www2.epl.ca/public-files/pamphlets/Tracing_Your_Family_Tree.pdf
- Genealogy 101: How to Research Your Family Tree, blog post by Sam Hamilton, July 22, 2020 https://www.epl.ca/blogs/post/genealogy-101-how-to-research-your-family-tree-2/
- Genealogy Reference Sources at EPL - A Guide to the Stanley A. Milner Library Collection. 2001 book https://epl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S5C408610
Ancestry Academy videos
https://www.ancestryacademy.com/browse
Brigham Young University Family History Library
https://fh.lib.byu.edu/
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
https://familytreewebinars.com/
RootsTech webinars
https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/
Family History for Beginners by Margaret Kirby
A series of 7 videos designed for Family History beginners.
http://margaretkirby.com.au/familyhistory/index.php
Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast from Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems
This step-by-step podcast series for beginning genealogists also helps more experienced researchers brush up or learn something new.
http://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-podcast/
Beginning Genealogy Playlist – Just Genealogy by Craig R. Scott on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUfNNfhGu_YcwIPVDiwYZ1SNFlQIEYZY
Getting Started with Family History (By Starting at the Beginning), FamilySearch Blog
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/getting-started-with-family-history-by-starting-at-the-beginning
Cyndi’s List – Beginners https://www.cyndislist.com/beginners/
Beginners course on Genealogy - Edmonton Lifelong Learners
Instructor is Colleen Conroy Murray, https://www.cmgenealogy.com/
There’s nothing up right now but here is where it will be next semester https://my-ella.com
Brigham Young University Family History Library
https://fh.lib.byu.edu/
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
https://familytreewebinars.com/
RootsTech webinars
https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/
Family History for Beginners by Margaret Kirby
A series of 7 videos designed for Family History beginners.
http://margaretkirby.com.au/familyhistory/index.php
Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast from Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems
This step-by-step podcast series for beginning genealogists also helps more experienced researchers brush up or learn something new.
http://lisalouisecooke.com/family-history-podcast/
Beginning Genealogy Playlist – Just Genealogy by Craig R. Scott on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUfNNfhGu_YcwIPVDiwYZ1SNFlQIEYZY
Getting Started with Family History (By Starting at the Beginning), FamilySearch Blog
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/getting-started-with-family-history-by-starting-at-the-beginning
Cyndi’s List – Beginners https://www.cyndislist.com/beginners/
Beginners course on Genealogy - Edmonton Lifelong Learners
Instructor is Colleen Conroy Murray, https://www.cmgenealogy.com/
There’s nothing up right now but here is where it will be next semester https://my-ella.com
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