Ruth D. Hunt
Family Historian • Genealogist • Talk Show Host
Getting Started: Finding Your Roots
The first step to Finding Your Roots is to write down everything you know about your family: dates and places of births, marriages and deaths of all the members of your family, starting with yourself and your siblings. Then work backwards, going back, generation by generation. Document the stories that have been passed down by word of mouth.
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Watch the video presentation below, where Ruth explains the steps you can take to get started with your family history.
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If you would like further help, Ruth is available for consultations to help you dig deeper.
Tracing your Genealogy with Ruth D. Hunt
For the 2024 Black History Month, Ruth D. Hunt presented a three-part engaging genealogy workshop for the New York City Health + Hospitals African-American & Caribbean-American Inclusion Group. You can view this presentation below, to help you get started on your own journey to Finding Your Roots.
1) How to Get Started: An Introduction to Genealogy
2) Digging Deeper: Tracing Your Family History
3) Uncovering Hidden Treasures: Your Findings—Knowledge is Power.
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Start Your Ancestral Chart
Get started by filling out your Ancestral Chart and Family Group Record.
Click the buttons to below to download printable PDFs.
CLICK HERE for a Quick Guide to African American Records
Begin with yourself and fill in the blanks
# 1. YOU - fill in your name and work backwards
# 2. Your Father's Name
# 4. Your Father's Father= Grandfather's name
#.5. Your Father's Mother - Use Maiden name
# 8. Your Father's Grandfather's Father
# 9. Your Father's Grandmother's Mother
# 10. Your Father's Mother's Father
# 3. Your Mother - Use Her Maiden name
# 6. Your Mother's Father = Your Grandfather
# 7. Your Mother's Mother= Your Grandmother
# 12. Your Mother's Father 's GrandFather
# 13. Your Mother's Father's Mother
# 14. Your Mother's Father's Grandfather
# 15. Your Mother's Mother's Grandmother
You can also download and start filling out a Family Group Record.
