How to Build Your First Family Tree: From Oral Memory to Graph

A structured methodology for beginner genealogists to interview older relatives, gather primary certificates, and structure records without digital clutter.

Genealogical research begins with direct conversation. When interviewing grandparents or grand-aunts, avoid formal interrogations. Ask open questions about household traditions, childhood nicknames, and migrations. Always cross-examine oral assertions with parish registers, civil registries, and census records. Every individual added to your tree should ideally be anchored by an established place, approximate period, and confirmed relationships before expanding outward.