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When people do genealogy it is usually to find out where they came from and who their ancestors were. There are many different reasons the interest is developed, but one of the most difficult reasons is to find your birth family.
Just recently a trend has started with open adoptions. This allows the child to know his families; the ones who raised him and love him daily; and his birth family; the ones who felt it was in the best interest of a very small, vulnerable infant to place him in an environment other than the one he was born into. Unfortunately, most if not all adoptions to this point have been closed adoptions. Very little information is released to either party involved. The way to learn who you are and where you came from becomes even more difficult.
Luckily, there are some basic guidelines to follow to be able to locate the information that you seek. The first step should always be, when possible, to talk to your parents. Try to find out as much information about your adoption as is possible. Don’t forget the older members of your family, they more than likely were involved to some degree in the process of welcoming you to your home and may remember things others forgot. Create a research log and a good document checklist. This will prove irreplaceable as your search continues. You must remember to document not only the leads and information that provided a positive result, but to also document the information that provided a negative result so that you do not repeat yourself in the future. At some point you will need to develop some sort of record keeping system, which can be as simple as a loose leaf notebook or complex filing system or computer program.
After you have determined where and when you were born, you need to write to the Department of Vital Records for that area and request a certified copy of your birth certificate. Birth certificates frequently contain a wealth of information, including the full names of the mother and the father. Your order in birth and the location of residence at the time of your birth. At this point you need to evaluate what your goals and needs are. If you are planning on searching for and wanting to meet your birth family, you need to register with the national registry of adoptees, state registry of adoptees and every other organization that assists with searches for living individuals.
When searching for a living individual, the Internet can become a valuable resource. With search programs like WebFerret Pro you can query almost any type of information imaginable. Use WebFerret Pro to locate adoption pages on the web for reuniting adoptees and birth families. Register on every one that you can. Use search engines designed to locate people by telephone numbers, and call them. This is not a time to be shy although it is a time to be tactful. Plan what you want to say and determine what you expect from the conversation.
If you have decided that you want to learn more about your roots, but are not ready to meet you birth family, this is also quite acceptable. Once you know the information provided on the birth certificate, you can follow the information backwards. Always go from a known source of information to an unknown source of information.
Once you begin your search into your past you need to learn what types of written records are available and where to find them so that you can do an accurate job on your research. Records are referred to as either primary or secondary sources of information. Primary records are those records which report an event when it happened or very close to that time. These are original records of the facts. Secondary records are records that were compiled or published and are not of the original records. These also include printed family histories and even newspaper articles.
At this point you should join a genealogical society, such as the International Internet Genealogical Society, or a local society in your community. These types of organizations have experienced genealogists that are able and willing to assist you with your search. They will advise you on where to search, how to search and how to transcribe and document your information.
Some of the many places and records where you will be directed to to locate genealogical information will include libraries, state and national archives, census records, military records, passenger arrival records, federal land records, state and local records, probate records, wills, deeds, guardian bonds, courthouses, and even cemeteries. Many secondary sources of the above type can be located on the Internet by using a good search program such as WebFerret Pro. Remember to keep accurate records while on your personal journey to the past, but above all, meet people and enjoy yourself. The family of genealogists is a warm, open, kind, and loving family. They will help you if you let them.
for related information see
Review of WebFerret Pro
and
Tips on Using Search Engines