Getting Started in Genealogy? 

Begin your genealogy research with a free guide from American Ancestors. Whether you are exploring family history for the first time, starting with family tree building, or pursuing deeper ancestry tracing, this resource offers practical steps to help you begin with confidence.

Use this FREE Getting Started guide to learn how to approach genealogical research, work with ancestry records, and build a stronger foundation for discovering who your ancestors were, where they lived, and how they shaped your family story.

American Ancestors is America’s founding genealogical organization and the most respected name in family history. Established in 1845, We are the nation’s leading comprehensive resource for family history research and the largest Society of its kind in the world. We provide expert family history services through our staff, original scholarship, data-rich website, educational opportunities, and research center to help family historians of all levels explore their past and understand their families’ unique place in history.

We are a member-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing the study of family history in America and beyond, by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through our scholarship, collections, and expertise.