Unlocking Your Family History: The Power of Genealogy Charts and Forms
Beginning your journey as a family historian or genealogist can be both exciting and overwhelming. It is a journey that requires a lot of time and patience, as well as organization and documentation. Fortunately, there are a variety of forms and charts available to help you keep track of your findings and make sense of the information you uncover. In this blog post, we will explore the types of forms and charts that beginner genealogists or family historians should use when they start their family trees, why they should use them, and where to get them.
1. Pedigree Charts
Pedigree charts are the most commonly used forms for family historians or genealogists. They provide a visual representation of an individual’s ancestors, going back several generations. A pedigree chart starts with the individual at the bottom of the chart, and their parents are listed above them, followed by their grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. Pedigree charts can be used to identify missing information or to track down elusive ancestors. You can find free pedigree charts online, or genealogy software programs often include them.
2. Family Group Sheets
Family group sheets are used to document an individual and their family, including their spouse and children. This form includes space to document birth, marriage, and death dates, as well as locations. Family group sheets help organize information about a family, and they can be used to identify gaps in your research. Like pedigree charts, family group sheets can be found for free online, or they may be included in genealogy software programs.
3. Research Logs
Research logs are essential for keeping track of the information you have found and the sources you have used. A research log allows you to document where you found information, what information you found, and when you found it. This form is helpful in avoiding duplication of effort and helps you keep track of where you are in your research process. You can create your own research log or find free templates online.
4. Timelines
Timelines are useful for placing your ancestors’ lives in context. A timeline can be used to document significant events in your ancestor’s life, such as their birth, marriage, and death dates, as well as other significant events, such as immigration or military service. A timeline helps you understand how your ancestors’ lives intersected with historical events. You can find free timeline templates online or create your own.
5. Correspondence Logs
Correspondence logs are helpful for keeping track of the correspondence you have had with other researchers, archives, or libraries. This form includes space to document who you corresponded with, what information was exchanged, and when the correspondence occurred. A correspondence log is helpful for keeping track of the contacts you have made and the information you have gathered. You can find free correspondence log templates online or create your own.
10 Reasons You Need To Use Charts and Forms
- Organization: Using genealogy charts and forms can help you keep your research organized and prevent information from getting lost or forgotten.
- Documentation: These charts and forms allow you to document important information about your ancestors, including their birth, marriage, and death dates, and other vital events in their lives.
- Clarity: Charts and forms make it easier to understand complex family relationships, such as multiple marriages or stepchildren.
- Efficiency: By having all the important details in one place, you can work more efficiently and avoid duplication of efforts.
- Collaboration: Genealogy charts and forms can be shared with family members, enabling you to collaborate and work together to build a more complete family tree.
- Planning: Using research logs can help you plan your next steps in your research and track your progress.
- Communication: Correspondence logs can help you keep track of your communication with other researchers or family members, making it easier to stay in touch and share information.
- Analysis: By recording information on research extracts, you can analyze data and draw important conclusions about your ancestors and their lives.
- Visualization: Pedigree charts and timelines allow you to visualize your family history and see how different family members are connected over time.
- Preserving your research: By using genealogy charts and forms, you can create a written record of your family history research that can be passed down to future generations.
Where Can I Get The Charts and Forms
There are many online resources where you can access genealogy charts and forms to help organize your research. Here are some examples:
- Ancestry.ca: Ancestry.ca offers a wide range of free charts and forms, including pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs. These can be downloaded in PDF format and printed at home.
- MyHeritage: MyHeritage offers free downloadable family tree charts and forms, including pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs. These are available in PDF format.
- FamilySearch: FamilySearch offers a variety of free genealogy forms, including pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs. These can be downloaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
- GenealogyForms.com: GenealogyForms.com offers a large selection of free genealogy forms, including family group sheets, research logs, and census extraction sheets. These can be downloaded in PDF format.
- Legacy Family Tree: Legacy Family Tree offers a variety of free genealogy forms, including family group sheets, research logs, and source citation forms. These can be downloaded in PDF format.
- Genealogy Bank: Genealogy Bank offers a variety of free genealogy forms, including pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs. These can be downloaded in PDF format.
- Printable Genealogy Forms: Printable Genealogy Forms offers a wide variety of free genealogy forms, including census extraction sheets, family group sheets, and research logs. These can be downloaded in PDF format.
- RootsWeb: RootsWeb offers a variety of free genealogy forms, including pedigree charts, family group sheets, and research logs. These can be downloaded in PDF format.
- National Genealogy Society is www.ngsgenealogy.org. You can find their Family Group Sheet and other genealogy forms under the “Free Genealogy Resources” section of their website.
What to Include on the Charts and Forms
Pedigree Charts
These charts are essential tools as they provide a visual representation of an individual’s ancestors, going back several generations. A pedigree chart starts with the individual at the bottom of the chart, and their parents are listed above them, followed by their grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. Here are some important pieces of information to include on your pedigree charts:
1. Full Name: Include the full name of each ancestor, including their middle name or initial, if available.
2. Birth Date and Place: Record the date and place of birth for each ancestor.
3. Marriage Date and Place: Include the date and place of marriage for each couple on the chart.
4. Death Date and Place: Record the date and place of death for each ancestor.
5. Parents’ Names: Include the names of each ancestor’s parents, including the maiden name of the mother.
6. Siblings’ Names: Record the names of each ancestor’s siblings, including their birth and death dates if available.
7. Spouse’s Name: Include the name of each ancestor’s spouse, including their birth, marriage, and death dates if available.
8. Children’s Names: Record the names of each ancestor’s children, including their birth and death dates if available.
9. Additional Information: You may also want to include other information such as occupations, military service, or other notable accomplishments.
It’s essential to keep your pedigree chart organized and easy to read. Make sure to use consistent formatting and symbols to represent the information. It’s also helpful to include a key that explains the symbols you are using. By including all of the above information, you can create a comprehensive record of your family’s lineage and make your research more manageable.
Family Record Sheets
Maintaining these sheets are important, this tool is essential to document the details of an individual and their family, including their spouse and children. Here are some essential pieces of information to include on your family record sheets:
1. Full Name: Include the full name of each individual, including their middle name or initial, if available.
2. Birth Date and Place: Record the date and place of birth for each individual.
3. Marriage Date and Place: Include the date and place of marriage for the couple on the record sheet.
4. Death Date and Place: Record the date and place of death for each individual.
5. Parents’ Names: Include the names of each individual’s parents, including the maiden name of the mother.
6. Siblings’ Names: Record the names of each individual’s siblings, including their birth and death dates if available.
7. Spouse’s Name: Include the name of the individual’s spouse, including their birth, marriage, and death dates if available.
8. Children’s Names: Record the names of each couple’s children, including their birth and death dates if available.
9. Additional Information: You may also want to include other information such as occupations, military service, or other notable accomplishments.
It’s essential to keep your family record sheet organized and easy to read. Make sure to use consistent formatting and symbols to represent the information. It’s also helpful to include a key that explains the symbols you are using. By including all of the above information, you can create a comprehensive record of an individual and their family, making it easier to understand and track their family relationships over time.
Family record sheets are also helpful for identifying gaps in your research, and they serve as a valuable tool for documenting your research progress. You can use them to keep track of your findings and sources, which is essential for future research and for sharing your family history with others.
Research Logs
Another essential tool to keep track of their research progress, document their findings, and track their sources. Here are some important pieces of information to include on your research logs:
1. Research Subject: Include the name and any identifying information about the individual or family you are researching.
2. Research Goal: Write down the specific goal or question you are trying to answer with your research.
3. Sources Consulted: Record the sources you have consulted, including the title, author, publication date, and repository or website where you found the source.
4. Results and Findings: Document your findings, including any relevant information you have uncovered about your research subject or their family members.
5. Analysis and Interpretation: Record your analysis and interpretation of the information you have found, including any hypotheses or conclusions you have drawn.
6. Future Research Questions: Note any additional research questions that have arisen as a result of your findings.
7. Date and Time: Document the date and time of your research session, as well as the amount of time you spent researching.
It’s important to keep your research logs organized and easy to read. Make sure to use consistent formatting and symbols to represent the information. It’s also helpful to include a key that explains the symbols you are using. By including all of the above information, you can create a comprehensive record of your research progress, making it easier to track your findings and identify areas where you need to do further research.
Research logs are also helpful for staying organized and avoiding duplicating research efforts. By keeping track of the sources you have consulted and the information you have found, you can quickly refer back to your research to avoid repeating the same searches or overlook potential sources.
Timelines
A valuable tool for family historians and genealogists to visually represent the significant events and milestones in an individual’s life. Here are some essential pieces of information to include on your timelines sheet:
1. Name: Include the name of the individual or family you are creating the timeline for.
2. Birth: Record the birth date and place of the individual.
3. Childhood: Document any significant events that occurred during the individual’s childhood, such as education, family moves, or notable accomplishments.
4. Marriage: Include the date and place of marriage for the individual, including the name of their spouse.
5. Children: Record the birth dates and names of any children the individual had.
6. Occupation: Document the individual’s occupation or professions throughout their life, including any significant job changes.
7. Military Service: Record any military service the individual had, including the branch of service, dates of service, and any significant achievements or honors.
8. Residence: Document the various places the individual lived throughout their life, including the dates they lived there.
9. Death: Include the date and place of death for the individual, as well as any significant details about their passing.
It’s essential to keep your timeline organized and easy to read. Make sure to use consistent formatting and symbols to represent the information. It’s also helpful to include a key that explains the symbols you are using. By including all of the above information, you can create a comprehensive record of an individual’s life, making it easier to understand and track their life events and accomplishments over time.
Timelines are also helpful for putting an individual’s life into context and for identifying gaps in your research. By visualizing an individual’s life events in a chronological order, you can gain a better understanding of their life story and make connections between different events in their life. Timelines can also serve as a valuable tool for sharing your family history with others, helping to make your research more accessible and understandable to non-genealogists.
Correspondence Sheets
An essential tool to keep track of your correspondence with other researchers, organizations, and individuals. Here are some important pieces of information to include on your correspondence sheets:
1. Date: Document the date you sent or received the correspondence.
2. Sender/Recipient: Note the name and contact information of the sender or recipient of the correspondence, including their full name, address, phone number, and email address.
3. Subject: Record the subject of the correspondence, including any relevant details about the research question or request.
4. Method: Note the method of correspondence used, such as email, letter, phone call, or in-person conversation.
5. Follow-up: Document any follow-up action that needs to be taken, including any additional research, responses, or next steps.
6. Repository: Record the repository or organization that holds the records or resources requested in the correspondence.
7. Notes: Include any additional notes or comments about the correspondence or research question.
It’s important to keep your correspondence sheets organized and easy to read. Make sure to use consistent formatting and symbols to represent the information. It’s also helpful to include a key that explains the symbols you are using. By including all of the above information, you can create a comprehensive record of your correspondence, making it easier to track your communication and identify areas where you need to follow up or do further research.
Correspondence sheets are also helpful for staying organized and managing your research workflow. By keeping track of the correspondence you have sent and received, you can quickly refer back to your research to avoid duplicating efforts, keep track of outstanding requests, and ensure you are taking the necessary steps to move your research forward. Correspondence sheets are an important part of any genealogist’s research toolkit and can help make your research more efficient and effective.
Genealogy Websites
Many online genealogy websites have the capability to generate and print out pedigree charts, family record sheets, research logs, and timelines automatically. These websites often provide templates or forms that can be filled out online and then downloaded or printed as a PDF. Some websites also allow you to customize the forms to meet your specific needs, such as adding additional fields or changing the formatting.
In addition to online genealogy websites, there are also genealogy software programs available that provide similar capabilities. These programs often have more advanced features and customization options than online websites but may require a one-time purchase or subscription fee.
It’s important to note that while these websites and software programs can make it easy to generate and print out genealogy charts and sheets, it’s still important to verify the accuracy of the information you are including on these forms. Genealogy research often requires careful analysis and validation of sources, and it’s important to ensure that the information you are including on your charts and sheets is accurate and backed up by reliable evidence.
Using Ancestry to Print Charts and Sheets
Ancestry.ca offers a variety of genealogy charts and forms that you can download for free from their website. These charts and forms can be helpful for organizing and documenting your family history research. Here are some of the charts and forms that are available on Ancestry.ca:
1. Pedigree Chart – This chart is used to record your direct ancestors in a descending format, showing your lineage back through generations.
2. Family Group Sheet – This form is used to record information about a specific family unit, including parents and children, as well as important events such as births, marriages, and deaths.
3. Research Calendar – This form is used to keep track of your genealogy research activities, including what you’ve searched, where you’ve searched, and what you’ve found.
4. Research Extract – This form is used to extract important information from a genealogy record or document, such as a census record or marriage certificate.
5. Correspondence Record – This form is used to record your genealogy correspondence, including who you contacted, when you contacted them, and what information you requested.
To access these charts and forms on Ancestry.ca, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your Ancestry.ca account and navigate to the “Extras” section of the website.
2. Click on “Charts and Forms” to browse the available options.
3. Select the chart or form you want to download, and click on the “Download” button.
4. Save the file to your computer or print it out to use as needed.
Ancestry.ca also offers other resources and tools to help with your genealogy research, including access to historical records, DNA testing services, and community forums where you can connect with other genealogy enthusiasts.
Example
To print off a family record sheet for a great-great grandfather on Ancestry.ca, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your Ancestry.ca account and navigate to your family tree.
2. Locate your great-great grandfather in your family tree, and click on his name to bring up his profile page.
3. On the profile page, click on the “Tools” button located in the top-right corner of the screen, and select “Print”.
4. In the “Print” menu, select “Family Group Sheet” from the list of options.
5. Review the information that will be included on the family group sheet and select the options you want to include, such as notes, sources, or images.
6. Click “Preview” to see what the family group sheet will look like when printed.
7. If you’re happy with the preview, click “Print” to print the family group sheet.
Alternatively, you can also download the family group sheet as a PDF and save it to your computer for future reference.
Note that the options and steps to print a family record sheet may differ slightly depending on the version of Ancestry you are using and the settings you have selected. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, Ancestry.ca’s customer support team can provide additional guidance and support.
Using MyHeritage
To print off a family record sheet for a great-great grandfather on MyHeritage, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your MyHeritage account and navigate to your family tree.
2. Locate your great-great grandfather in your family tree, and click on his name to bring up his profile page.
3. On the profile page, click on the “More” button located in the top-right corner of the screen, and select “Print” from the drop-down menu.
4. In the “Print” menu, select “Family Group Sheet” from the list of options.
5. Review the information that will be included on the family group sheet and select the options you want to include, such as notes, sources, or images.
6. Click “Preview” to see what the family group sheet will look like when printed.
7. If you’re happy with the preview, click “Print” to print the family group sheet.
Alternatively, you can also download the family group sheet as a PDF and save it to your computer for future reference.
Note that the options and steps to print a family record sheet may differ slightly depending on the version of MyHeritage you are using and the settings you have selected. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, MyHeritage’s customer support team can provide additional guidance and support.
Overall, using charts and forms is an important aspect of genealogy research as it helps to organize and document your family history. By using these tools, you can easily track your research progress, record important information about your ancestors, and easily share your findings with others. Ancestry.ca and other genealogy websites offer a variety of free charts and forms that you can download and use to make your research easier and more effective. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced genealogist, using these charts and forms can be a valuable tool to help you uncover and preserve your family’s history for future generations.
Discovering Your Past 