Organizing Your Family Ancestry Information

So, you’ve gathered up a bunch of documents and other family ancestry information, but what do you do now? Before embarking on performing research on your ancestry, it is important to organize the information you’ve already compiled. A convenient way to do so is by entering the information you’ve gathered into a family tree database system either online or by using a software app on your computer. Here are a few of the many resources available to consider for doing so: 

• LegacyFamilyTree.com offers a software download that is available for free online 
• FamilySearch.org offers family tree building with a free account as well as extensive research resources. It also has an integrated phone app that syncs with database. 
• Geni.com offers an online family tree with some size limitations and connects with other trees. However, others can access and make changes. 
• Family Tree Maker Software is a desktop application that also links to Ancestry and FamilySearch accounts as well as other sites for conducting research 
• MyHeritage.com is an Israeli fee-based platform that has online and mobile app access and syncing.  

Whichever system you choose, I recommend you check to ensure you are able to download the family tree database you create in the standard genealogy “Gedcom” format.  This format allows you to share your tree among the different platforms. 

Once you have your information in a database, you are ready to embark on your genealogy journey. You might start with the preeminent site to use for Jewish genealogy — JewishGen.org, an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. You can upload your family tree and conduct research on the site with a free basic account and, believe me, there is a lot there to see. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Nashville is planning on having a presentation on the site at a future meeting.  

Watch the Observer for future articles on resources, how-tos, and success stories in Jewish genealogy.