Discovering Your Ancestors One Generation at a Time
Presented by: House of Wettin-Dernbach Foundation
Start Date: September 14, 2026
Course Length: 10 Lessons (10–15 Hours)
Level: Beginner
Format: Classroom • Online • Self-Paced
Course Description
Everyone has a story, and every family has a history waiting to be discovered. Whether your ancestors were farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, immigrants, or royalty, family history research can uncover fascinating stories that connect you to the past.
This beginner’s course teaches the fundamentals of genealogical research, historical records, and modern DNA testing. Students will learn how to build a family tree, evaluate historical documents, avoid common mistakes, and preserve their family’s legacy for future generations.
No previous experience is required.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the principles of genealogy.
- Interview family members effectively.
- Build a documented family tree.
- Locate historical records.
- Interpret census records.
- Understand birth, marriage, and death records.
- Research military service.
- Trace immigrant ancestors.
- Evaluate DNA evidence.
- Preserve family photographs and documents.
- Write a basic family history.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Family History
Topics
- What is genealogy?
- Why family history matters
- Types of genealogical research
- Creating research goals
- Organizing information
Assignment
Write everything you know about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
Lesson 2
Interviewing Family Members
Topics
- Preparing interview questions
- Recording oral histories
- Identifying family traditions
- Collecting photographs
- Recording names correctly
Sample Questions
Where were you born?
Who were your parents?
Did your family immigrate?
What stories did your grandparents tell?
Lesson 3
Building Your First Family Tree
Topics
- Pedigree charts
- Family group sheets
- Direct ancestors
- Collateral relatives
- Numbering systems
Exercise
Complete a four-generation pedigree chart.
Lesson 4
Birth, Marriage, and Death Records
Learn How to Find
- Birth certificates
- Marriage licenses
- Death certificates
- Cemetery records
- Funeral home records
Why These Matter
Vital records establish identity, parentage, dates, and locations.
Lesson 5
Census Records
Topics
Federal Census
State Census
Agricultural Census
Slave Schedules
Population Schedules
Students Learn
How to:
- Read census forms
- Estimate birth years
- Track family migration
- Identify occupations
- Discover neighbors and relatives
Lesson 6
Land, Probate, and Court Records
Learn About
Property deeds
Wills
Estate files
Guardianships
Tax records
Why They Matter
Many relationships appear only in probate and land records.
Lesson 7
Immigration and Military Records
Immigration
Passenger lists
Naturalization records
Border crossings
Passports
Military
Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Civil War
World Wars
Military pensions
Draft registrations
Lesson 8
DNA and Genealogy
Topics
Autosomal DNA
Y-DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Big Y-700
Matching relatives
Understanding haplogroups
Students Learn
What DNA can prove
What DNA cannot prove
Using DNA with documentary evidence
Privacy and ethics
Lesson 9
Evaluating Historical Evidence
Learn
Primary sources
Secondary sources
Original records
Derivative records
Evidence analysis
Conflicting information
Source citations
Golden Rule
Never rely on a single source.
Lesson 10
Writing Your Family History
Students Learn
Organizing research
Writing biographies
Creating timelines
Using photographs
Preparing citations
Publishing your research
Preserving documents
Research Resources
United States
National Archives (NARA)
Library of Congress
FamilySearch
State Archives
County Courthouses
Historical Societies
Church Archives
Military Archives
International
National Archives (United Kingdom)
National Archives Records (NARA America)
National Library of Congress (America)
German State Archives
Ancestry
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Believing every family story
Ignoring original documents
Copying online trees without verification
Assuming people with the same surname are related
Skipping source citations
Not organizing research
Giving up too soon
Research Checklist
- Interview relatives
- Collect family photographs
- Obtain birth certificates
- Obtain marriage records
- Obtain death certificates
- Search census records
- Search military records
- Search land records
- Search probate records
- Document every source
- Organize digital files
- Back up your research
Final Project
Each student will prepare:
- A four-generation family tree
- A family timeline
- Three ancestor biographies
- A documented research report
- Complete source citations
- A digital archive of photographs and records
Certificate of Completion
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate in Beginning Genealogical Research issued by the House of Wettin-Dernbach Foundation.
Recommended Reading
- The Möbius Back to Now Paradox: A Royal Noble House in America (House of Wettin-Dernbach Foundation)
- The Enduring Thread: A Legacy Across Time (House of Wettin-Dernbach Foundation)
- Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills
- The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger
- Professional Genealogy edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Course Motto
“Every family has a story. Every generation leaves a legacy. Through careful research, we preserve the past for the future.”
Registration soon!
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