You are never going to be done making a genealogy or family tree...that is a fact, but you can step back and admire that view from time to time. If you have followed the suggestions in our series of blogs you will find yourself admiring the "handy work" quite often. This is particularly true if you used the tactics in the last few blogs that included:

6. Considering the End - we recommended that you investigate the materials that show up at the end of someone's life, such as the obituary, as this tells you a tremendous amount about them and can add a lot of detail to the family tree chart template. We also explained how visits to cemetery websites and to cemeteries themselves can often give a lot of material for the family tree chart too;

7. Official Details - in addition to the obituary and cemetery, we also reminded you of the need to head to the Census Bureau and the Social Security Death Index as you fill in the gaps in the family history and genealogy;

8. Library Visits - we also pointed you to the local library (or the library that is "local" for the person you are researching) as this gives a lot of opportunities unavailable elsewhere. Remember that this information is often online or available via methods apart from an visit if that is not possible;

9. Heading Online - we also recommended joining as many forums, mailing lists, and message boards as possible. This is a lot of effort on your part, BUT it will pay off when you start making connections, sharing details from the family pedigree chart, and helping others in their search of family tree data;

10. The End of Free - only at the very end did we direct you towards the many fee based databases and subscriptions. These are very valuable, but don't pay for information that can be found in other ways...unless you are trying to complete the project in a few days! (Which is not possible anyway you look at it!)

You have now gone through all of the steps that it takes to make a truly excellent family tree and genealogy. The one last suggestion that I would make is to rely on the free family tree tools at this site. Not only will this keep you organized, but the template for a family tree actually guides you up into the many branches in a very concise way. I would have gotten myself turned around and totally lost without the easy to use family tree maker and family tree templates.

Yes, you could do all of this "from scratch" and even complete the search for family tree data without the use of electronic resources, but that is not all that efficient or effective. There are millions of genealogy enthusiasts out there, and you can use the information, tools, and support that they offer to make your ancestry and family tree research as complete as possible. Then you can just stand back and enjoy that view!

So, you have been spending a lot of time answering that original question: "what is a family tree". Some of you may throw your hands in the air and proclaim that a family tree is a headache, and others may say that it is an adventure. This large variation between opinions is actually common because some families just have a lot more "documentation" than others.

To keep things as easy as possible, however, remember the steps we've followed up until this point:

1. Getting Organized - start with a single surname and follow that all of the way back. Use the format of the family tree chart template to guide you. Identify if there are local or geographic connections to the different surnames you will research as this can allow you the chance to "kill two birds with one stone" in your research;
2. Start Pruning - remember that we asked you to "pick sides" a bit and use the portion of the family with the largest amount of leaves available in order to get a good start on the search for family tree data? Give yourself a bit of a break and conduct a search for history and family tree information from the most convenient sources because this will allow you to begin honing your research skills;
3. Shake the Branches - we noted that some families are not as easy to gather details about ancestry for family tree work. We suggested that some good techniques included a reunion (of course!),  a visit to the Census data, a road trip, and sending messages to forums and blogs. This also meant that we were aware of your growing collection of family chart data, and that you needed to get organized;
4. Managing the Leaves - family history and genealogy data can be bulky and instantly overwhelming. Though we said that "step one" for a search for family tree data was to get yourself organized, we re-emphasized this essential behavior in the fourth step of the process too because we pointed out that anyone who gets themselves organized also begins to notice all kinds of gaps and flaws with the family tree chart too;
5. Covering Those Gaps - cleaning up and organizing things means exposing any weaknesses. When you are really wondering how to answer "what is a family tree" you have to recall that it is people that fill in those lines and not just "data". This means that you have to fill the free genealogy and family tree tables and charts with at least one personal fact about each person (if possible).

In the last blog in this series we'll finish reviewing the steps you need to follow and give you some last good "pointers" for total success!

All along in this series of blogs I have been making reference to the family tree and genealogy tools I have used at this site. I rely on the template for family tree information and the free genealogy and family tree tools, but there are times when any search for family tree information means stepping out of the comfort zone and stepping up to the proverbial plate.

For instance, I have found a lot of "pay per download" sources that don't demand I pay a monthly subscription. Other sites that I rely on have monthly or trial subscription offers for those who aren't sure that an ongoing relationship is going to work for them as well.

What's the best answer? I say if you have come this far using free family tree materials then stick with it as much as you can! I only give up the search when I am absolutely sure that I cannot possibly find the answers myself due to distance, a language issue or some other problem.

For instance, my great grandparents emigrated from Poland, and many of their relatives remained behind. During World War II there was so much chaos in Poland that it was impossible for me to actually find out any information about them. So, I did use the resources from one of the subscription sites to find a genealogical expert who did the research overseas for me!

Now, that is an extreme example, but it is to demonstrate that free family tree maker tools and family tree templates can really help to lighten the proverbial load and lead you towards some great results, but there may be times when additional resources have to be used.

I do tend to go towards the non-fee based options first and only as a last resort pay for access to a database of some kind or another. For instance, the United States Federal Land and Patent Records have given me hours of fun and have even provided me with a lot of details. So, I recommend that you use the free family tree maker here, but also do a general search for free family tree resources in general.

I have discovered free cemetery lists, access to thousands of other family tree templates, foreign listings such as Debt of Honour Records in the UK, and Canadian archives of all kinds.

Fee based help is fine, but why not try to use the online tools for your family tree and history for free first, and then send out a call for help?

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? That's okay, our next blog is a quick review of the top ten steps...

Are you familiar with the term "old school"? It implies doing something in an outdated or old-fashioned way, and it is suddenly quite the "chic" thing to do. So, I suggest that you follow my lead and go the "old school" route in your search for family tree information.

What do I mean? I use forums, mailing lists, and message boards to leave questions and requests for details. Remember my suggestion about "messages in a bottle"? This is what I meant...sending out the question in the hopes that the right people find it. I look through online groups (Yahoo!, Facebook, and Google are all sites with "groups" such as this) to see if there are any with the surnames I need to find, etc.

Is this a bit "scattered"? Yes, absolutely! The thing about it is that it tends to deliver some good results if you are persistent. As I work on the family tree chart template and see some blanks, I just head out into the sites that I have identified as the most useful in making my genealogy and family tree. If I have already posted to some of them, I just go to the forum or board to see if I missed responses, and I also run a new search sometimes too.

Yes, it is a lot of loose threads, but anyone working on a family tree pedigree will soon understand that there are a lot of times when things just seem to blow around in the breeze before some fact or facet springs to life.

Of course, one of the best tools or steps to take when using a family tree maker is to search the "public" trees when they are available. For instance, I use the family tree templates at this site, but I also do some basic searches for family tree and genealogy materials on the Internet too. There are actually "pedigree databases" that allow me to access free family tree templates and makers, to build the tree, share all of the information I find, and even help others who search for family tree data too. The very best allow me to easily "merge" the data with my own!

I discovered that the very best of these databases and free family tree templates feature forums and message boards too, and this means a "one two punch" to the issues that are giving you some challenges or difficulties.

In the next blog we will discuss the value of "subscription" sites if you have yet to get a lot of details or are totally "stumped" by a part of the family tree and genealogy.

I love the library and will take any reason to make a visit to the local spots. Imagine my surprise when I told the librarian that I was using a free family tree tool to make my own genealogy and family tree, and he pointed to what looked like a closet and said "have you checked out the state room?"

State room? What I learned from him was that a lot of libraries, historical societies, and genealogy groups develop local resources with TONS of information, i.e. the room of state history at my local library. The downside is that you usually have to physically visit them to peruse the records. On the "plus" side, however, is that a lot of these places are attempting to at least make their catalogs electronic or make phone consults available.

So, do I have any specific suggestions for those who are seeking details about relatives who have passed away in order to add a few glimmers to the history or family tree? Yes, I will repeatedly advocate a "location visit", a day or two at the local libraries, and a family reunion.

Okay, the family reunion was just wishful thinking, but if you are "in town" why not arrange at least a meal with family - even if it is very extended or distant?

Anyway, back to the location visit and library resources...I found that the best steps for researching the family chart is to start with a USGenWeb search (it is a free genealogy and family tree site). This can help you find any local links to your family. This is also often the place where the search for family tree data can yield obituaries, newspaper articles and more. This is a way to get a good idea of "where" the family lived and was located. You will also find notes and forums (which we get to shortly) from others who are also on the search for family tree data too.

This sort of search will give you cemetery and library information too, and sometimes this is entirely electronic data. You might find a genealogy or family tree website with free search tools right in the town in which your family once lived! If you know that a trip is out of the question, you can often request some texts via interlibrary loan or make arrangements for copy services by calling the library in question.

Okay, we mentioned "message boards" a few moments ago, and we need to spotlight these as a primary tool for any making a family tree pedigree. This is the subject of the next blog.

In the last blog we talked about the details that emerge at the end of someone's life. No, not the deep dark secrets that they kept (though THAT does make for some interesting research) but the nice details that give you a good idea of WHO that relative was. Just consider discovering that a great uncle was left handed like you and that he too was excellent at crosswords! This is the life blood of any search for family tree information, but there are a lot of ways that you can come across such data apart from hearing from your relatives.

In Part 6 we mentioned the use of obituaries and cemeteries for information and now we need to expand on this idea. How? I have already mentioned that cemeteries tend to keep lists of surnames, and that is one way to do a sweeping search for information. For example, I asked about my mother's maiden name at one site, but I also inquired about a few other surnames that I felt MIGHT show up on the list. This paid off for me tremendously. Thus, I strongly suggest that all of your history and family tree work include a comprehensive list of surnames and places of origin for them.

Another great way to get facts about ancestry for a family tree is through the records of the U.S. Census Bureau. All of the way back in the 1700s they were counting heads, taking names, and making notes about people. Today, you can see the names of your great grandparents scribbled out on a ledger and also see the names and ages of their children too! You can often find out such things as their "trade", and where they came from.

I found this to be a jackpot for my history and family tree work because I had no idea that my family had come from Poland!

The one "glitch" here is that you must have a good idea of where they came from. For instance, you cannot just seek them out by surname unless you are using a subscription based search engine. You CAN, however, search the Social Security Death Index for free. This lets anyone access a very hefty bit of information about the person in question, and it also lets them order copies of things like original applications for the Social Security number. In this way, I was able to get documents that showed my grandparents and great grandparents handwriting! Now I know where I get my ghastly penmanship!

Obituaries, cemeteries, and official documents....that leaves us with one last suggestion for times when you are looking at the "end" of someone's life in order to learn a bit about them for your family tree pedigree. We'll leave that for the next blog...

Here's something to think about as you develop your family tree and genealogy expertise - the work you do is very linear, but it also has very clear distinctions marked by two things - life and death. You have a birth certificate for someone and you also find a death certificate or a listing for them in the Social Security Death Index too. A beginning and end, and in between these two very distinctive points is an entire life. This is where all of the "leaves" of the family chart are found.

In the last blog I encouraged you to find out some personal details about each person you list on the family tree maker, and one of the simplest ways to locate this sort of endearing and relevant data is in the obituary. For instance, stop and think about the "typical" obituary. The family tries to find a way to "sum up" their beloved and in doing so they often leave behind some wonderful information for their descendants.

This is the sort of information you will want to use as you track your ancestry and family tree information. Did a distant relative play a professional sport? Write a novel? Did they always "clean up" when they played board games? Did someone have a thing for cats? Maybe another person was known for their philanthropy? Obituaries are full of details that may not be found anywhere else and you need to make a point of finding as many as possible.

Sometimes a family tree or genealogy project comes to a definitive end when someone in the family never marries or has any children. This is the sort of person who may leave behind that seemingly empty branch without history for the family tree. Quite often, however, their obituary is a wonderful resource if it was written by someone who loved them.

If the obituary seems devoid of details you can also plan a bit of a road trip. Why? I discovered that cemeteries are also full of all kinds of information too. For example, I had an uncle who died in an accident at an early age, but I never knew the family nickname for him until I saw it engraved on his headstone! I also didn't know details about an entire branch of the family until I searched the cemetery database seeking my young uncle and found that my great grandmother's sisters and brothers happened to be buried there too!

Life and death...these are the underlying themes of all ancestry and family tree searches. There are few more top notch resources relating to these times, and they are the subject for the next blog.

So far, I had been really successful with the use of the family tree maker, but one afternoon I noticed some glaring "gaps" in the "leaves". Remember that I had started referring to all of the documents and details as the leaves that fill out a tree, and which can be very untidy if you don't keep things pruned and raked up accordingly? Well, I had been raking and  pruning nicely, thank you very much, but then I realized that things were too nice and that I had been overlooking some pretty important details for the family chart.

"What is a family tree?" I once again asked myself as a sort of mental slap. "It isn't all sunshine and happiness!" Why did such a grim thought pop into my head? I had been somewhat intentionally avoiding one of the best sources for information possible - obituaries.

Here's what happened...I was looking at the information in my free family tree program, and realized that it wasn't as rich and full as it could be. I knew I had been doing quite a job filling up the data and getting most of the facts, but nothing was really popping out...it was looking like a nicely organized list.

That's when the somewhat ridiculous thought popped into my head..."what sort of fruits and nuts are growing on this tree?" What I actually meant was that the tree was lifeless and that I hadn't gone to any length to KNOW the people...I had only named them. This meant that it was time to turn around and really roll up my sleeves for true genealogy and family tree labor.

Remember a few blogs back when we talked about some clever tactics for finding the missing people on the seemingly empty branches? Well, now I realized that I had to look at every person on the family tree pedigree in the same manner. They had to each be a mystery that I assigned myself the task of solving.

What was the mystery? I had to learn at least one personal fact about each person. For instance, I quickly learned from perusing an old letter that Aunt Emma loved the smell of lilacs and that is the reason for all of the lilac shrubs in my grandparents back yard! I learned that a distant relative from the Revolutionary era held a patent on a buggy seat!

What is a family tree? It is data and facts for sure, but to make the genealogy a family tree it has to come to life...interestingly enough, that made me start thinking about the end of life too, and THAT is the subject of the next blog!

I had been using the family tree maker as a primary tool, and that was a good thing because all of the notes and documents (or "leaves" as I had started to call them) were beginning to overwhelm me. After all, in my genealogy and family tree work I was digging up all kinds of records available online and from my family members.

Photographs, enlistment records, social security death index documents, birth certificates, census printouts...oh, the list goes on and on. The thing was that I was beginning to have stacks of folders and papers and no sense behind it. That's when the family tree chart template really came to the rescue.

How? It made me begin to think about "raking up the leaves" from a big tree. You know how you don't just sweep everything to one stack but instead work in smaller clumps, that's how you keep things under control? Well, the family tree pedigree tables I was using made it essential for me to work in these sorts of manageable chunks of data.

So, this is what I suggest that YOU do as well. For instance, use the free genealogy and family tree program to establish a basic group. Let's say you start with your mother...now you enter the information into the free family tree program and then follow up by making notes for yourself about the documents that belong to that group.

For example, I noted that I had my mom's year book photograph, birth certificate, and a few other "odds and ends". When I got up to her father, I was able to take a ton of loose clippings and notes and get them altogether. I used this family chart as a basis for organizing the loose "leaves" that were so valuable to my personal history and family tree.

Consider too that I wasn't just digging around in my family's records but also using the Internet to retrieve as much information as possible too. There were computer files, paper folders, clippings, and documents everywhere. It was more like an explosion than the piles autumn of leaves, but I still began thinking of myself as raking them all up and handling them as they needed to be.

Now, I can open the family tree chart and know which folders and documents I have, where they are and can even share them with others in the family or even strangers who might contact me because they did a search of the family tree and found a connection!

This was a moment, however, when I realized that there were some missing pieces, and that's what I will go over with you in the next blog!

Towards the end of the last blog it suddenly dawned on me that I was COMPLAINING about an embarrassment of riches in terms of information, facts, and the need to get things in order where your family tree and genealogy research was concerned, but what about the families that didn't have all of these details readily available?

That got me thinking, and I decided to take a bit of time to explore tactics for those moments when I came up with nothing myself! What would I do if I was shaking the branches of the family tree and it seemed like nothing was there? Technically, I knew that it was impossible for there to be no one in a family tree...it just cannot work that way. There are times, however, when there are family feuds, a few individuals who wander off into the world, and so on. Sometimes these folks are not mentioned for delicate reasons, and so it can be tricky for the people a few generations later to track them down, or at least find out what happened to them.

After all we keep asking "what is a family tree" and if we are honest about it, it is full of all kinds of people. This is why genealogy and family tree making is such a popular pursuit!

So, here's what I discovered really "worked" for me when I began to develop some solutions to the dilemma of seemingly empty branches:

• Use the Reunion - you know I advocate family reunions (after all there I have another blog dedicated to the fine art of the reunion), but these are the ideal times for "think tank" activities too. You can even make a group project out of a particular mystery - i.e. "where in the world is Uncle Joe's son Bob?". Bring notepads and folders for everyone who works on the project and even make recordings for those genealogy and family tree buffs a few generations from now.
• Start with the Census data - these are records that list everyone in the household. So, if Uncle Ezra (the family "cad" who you know wandered off into Europe in the 1920s) was not listed in 1920 or 1930, you can go all of the way back to the 1870s to see if there is any mention of him over the decades in the Census data and begin filling in the family tree chart! Then check the Social Security Death Index to see if there are any listings as well.
• Hit the road - if your family relocated decades ago, and you face some gaps in the family tree or genealogy, by all means return to the point of origin! County records, cemeteries, churches, old newspapers...these are treasure troves for you!
• Message in a bottle - I don't mean a real message in a bottle, but the modern equivalent - using the Internet to ask questions, post on forums, and join genealogy and family tree groups to find answers!

Doing this is going to give you a ton of information, and that means our next blog is about organizing all of it!