This guide is by no means an exhaustive list of resources for genealogical research. The goal here is to make researchers aware of many free online websites and to highlight the genealogy-related resources available in the Divinity School Library, Duke Libraries, and The State Library of North Carolina.
Identify what you know about your family.
- Gather information about family members by using family Bibles, journals, letters, newspapers, obituaries and ask relatives.
- Write what you know about your ancestors on a pedigree chart. Start with yourself as # 1.
- Write "surname" in all caps.
- List the dates: i.e. (08 Mar 1895) instead of 3/8/1895.
- Write places in order: City/Township/County/State
- Think about any ways your family might have interacted with the federal government (military service, property and property ownership, naturalization, immigration, etc.)