Getting better organised: building a family tree

Building the family tree is the best way of organising the data you have uncovered from the first stage of your work, and is essentially a map of your roots. You can see at a glance how people in your family are related to one another, and even more importantly it will indicate uncertain or unknown areas that you’ll have to investigate further.

It is a good idea to regularly update your tree, especially after you have made a trip to the archives or obtained some information online – make sure you date the new version, and keep the old ones handy just in case you’ve made an error in your research. It is also advisable to take sections of your tree into the archives with you, as it can help you focus on the task in hand.