Starting with this free printable family tree chart will help you get your research going in the right direction. Organizing your family trees in a logical and easy to visualize fashion is frequently the biggest problem the amateur genealogist has to overcome. Those first few interviews and research excursions into your families can be very frustrating and leave you very uncomfortable because without charts, you can't see the overall picture clearly.
To create your own free printable family tree charts, simply double click this link to view and save a sample template to your PC. Make as many copies of the template as you like. As in the sample, leave space to write extra information that you will collect during your interviews with other family members. Use one page for each of the families you want to research. Experiment with the format of the chart to see what fits your style. Keep the charts legible. You can use pen and paper or a computer to record your trees. This approach will guide you to collect the most information for your trees in the least amount of time. This method will help you focus your interview. Start by interviewing members of your immediate families to build confidence.
Using these family tree charts as a base will help you systematically collect your families' information and ensure that you don't miss anything in your search for your trees. Be sure to try to make the interview as much fun as possible. Using the chart as a guide for your discussions will leave you free to document all of the stories and still obtain the most information possible. Check out this downloadable template and other links on this website to find more helpful tools. Your family will enjoy your family's history and the heritage you discover.
Do you have a suggestion to make this template more effective? Just add a comment to this note. It may be just the ticket that someone else might need to get going.
