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Try going to a local library, historical society or LDS center. These are great places to make a start with researching your family history. You can meet other genealogist who are actively researching and can give you tips and advice. You may also locate ancestors in regional history books or resource files. There are thousands of detailed family history and genealogy books to help to guide you through the hobby of family history.
When interviewing family members, some advance preparation will help you obtain useful and interesting information. While an interview is just a planned conversation, some of the following hints may be useful in ensuring a successful, informative and pleasant discussion. • Prepare questions in advance. Organizing your thoughts is the best way to start, and answers will lead to more questions. Pursue specific answers if information is not clear. • If your relative speaks a different language, find someone to assist with translation or interpretation in advance. Make sure to introduce your interpreter at the start of the interview. • Do not rely on your memory. Familiarize yourself with the use of a videocam or tape recorder; bring extra batteries. If your relative is uncomfortable with a recorder, take careful and extensive notes. Transcribe right after the interview so you don't lose details you might have neglected to write down. • Start with more recent questions and work your way back in time. This will make it easier for the interviewee to recall information and help give them more confidence. • Photographs will often spark memories. Ask to see your relative's photo collection, or bring yours to show. Ask for identifications of the faces in the photos, establish their relationships. Have enlarged photocopies of your photos to record information directly on the image. • Ask about family traditions. Remember not to interrupt the interviewee. Let him or her tell the story. • Keep sessions to a reasonable length, 45 minutes is plenty. Have tea or water available. • Keep your interviewee relaxed and comfortable. It may sometimes be frustrating or difficult for them to remember, so ask if the interviewee needs a break at regular intervals. • Pursue this direct initial research as far back as possible.
In addition to census data, birth marriages and deaths, it’s worth looking for other types of family history sources, for example immigration and naturalization records, divorce papers, medical records, land titles, education registers and obituaries. All of these additional family history sources can be valuable in helping you to open up new avenues of family history research.
The Minnesota Historical Society has a database that you can search family history by name, birth year, and/or county for the state of Minnesota, this search queries birth certificates from 1900 to 1916. The database provide records, indexes and transcripts of DOB, county of birth and mother's maiden name. uncertified copies of birth certificates can be bought and delivered online or via email
