Your decision to start a family tree will take you on an interesting journey back through time. As a time traveler, your journey will begin with your life. Go back to your birth record and start to note the details of where you were born, the date, your parents full names, and be sure to include your mother’s maiden name.

The National Genealogical Society recognizes excellence in the genealogy field by presenting awards in numerous categories and several competitions. Why not nominate someone you know or enter your own work in one of the NGS competitions?

Only NGS offers the depth of choices to build your skills and for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. We give clear, straightforward, step-by-step guidance in genealogical research. You choose the best way for you to learn: reading, audio recordings, video recordings, in-person lectures, conferences, online courses, and more.