Are you Jewish, but your last name is O’Dunne? Or, are you the only blonde in a family full of brunettes? Talk to your relatives (the older the better) and find out where you really come from. While you’re taking history into your own hands, tape record or video tape those interviews—you’ll regret it later on if you don’t.

Start at the very beginning

What do you know about your family? Write down as much as you know about your siblings, parents, grandparents and maybe even great-grandparents. If all of the names, dates, and places seem a bit overwhelming, start by creating a system of organizing all of the information. You could make an index card for each person in your family, with one color for everyone on your mom’s side and another color for everyone on your dad’s side.

Work your way up

Once you’ve gotten down what you know, talk to your parents. Double check your information and make sure it’s right, and then ask away! Ask your aunts, uncles, and grandparents what your parents don’t know (or don’t remember). If your relatives are super busy, you may need to arrange to interview them ahead of time. Try to collect stories and not just names and dates. Be sure to record all information- a tape recorder or camcorder may come in handy. These interviews could become something very special to you down the road!

Get a clue

Ask if any of your relatives have family documents they would be willing to share (you can always make photocopies). Photos (if you’re lucky there will be dates on the back), wills, birth and death certificates, postcards and letters, marriage certificates, land deeds, immigration records, and family heirlooms are all great places to look.

Make your tree!

Once you’ve gathered all of the information, you can decide how you want to present it. The simplest of family trees are connected by lines, starting with you on the left and branching out to the rest of your family towards the right. This is sometimes called a pedigree chart, and while this one doesn’t leave room for siblings, it gives you an idea of what yours might look like. A more traditional family tree chart is in the shape of a tree, with you at the base of the trunk and the rest of your family above you (in the branches). Personalize your family tree by decorating it and adding photos.

Getting back to your roots

Look at the birth places of your family members. Is most everyone from one region, or are you spread out all over the country? Did your parents emigrate from another country? What about your grandparents? Unless you are 100% Native American, everyone living in the United States originally came from some place else. When and why did your family members come to the United States? Although you may not be an immigrant yourself, you would not be here today if it weren't for your family members who decided to make the move to a new country.