Welcome to Family History 101. We are currently working on many aspects of this site and will be adding new pages daily. Please feel free to view and use the tools we have now.

Who were your ancestors? Where did they live? What choices made by these men and women over the generations have influenced the way you live and think? In many ways, the ancestors we can never meet have affected our lives and molded our destinies. Although we are not clones of our ancestors, their blood runs in our veins, and we have inherited pieces of their genetic makeup. Their physical traits, values, and attitudes have been transmitted from generation to generation, showing up in the way we look, think, and act. Our ancestors amount to more than just a string of lifeless names on a chart. They made a difference in our world. They still do. But it is strange how little most of us know about them or the times in which they lived. Delving into your family history can be one of the most intellectually stimulating, absorbing, and satisfying ways you will ever find to spend your time.

There is no specific formula that can be used to trace any family history. Every family is unique, having a different assortment of people who lived in different places under different circumstances. While I cannot provide detailed information on all sources available to family historians, Family History 101 covers the basic tools and provides essential instructions. My intention is to suggest some of the easiest ways to find, document, and preserve your family history. This site is an introduction to the wide and rich variety of materials that you can use to build a bridge for your personal journey back in time.