Free Information Forms and Charts
We have many resources that will help the budding genealogist or family historian get started on the right track.
Genealogy and Family History
Genealogy is the charting of a family's descent through a chronological record of births, marriages and deaths; in short it is the bones of your research. It consists of a record of names, dates, places and relationships through which one can compile a Pedigree Chart or a Family Tree.
In the process of your research you will amass a lot of other information. this is the stuff of Family History, which will fill out the lives of the people you are researching, and the conditions under which they lived. This is what puts the flesh on the bones of your research. It changes your ancestors from a set of facts into a real, live, interesting individual.
You should file away any information you discover, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. Later it may prove to be the piece of information you need to fill in part of your jigsaw.
Ground Rules
1. To start with write everything in pencil. Not only does this make it easier to correct mistakes but in libraries and record offices you will only be allowed to use a pencil.
2. Always work from the known to the unknown. Start with yourself and work back to your parents, grandparents and so on. A systematic approach brings best results and saves time in the long run.
3. Prove each step as you go. Unless you do this you may finish up following a line of descent that is not yours and waste a lot of time.
4. Be methodical. Keep a record of all sources of information. When you make a duplicate of a permanent record make sure you include a reference to the source.
5. Set up a filing system that makes it easy to store your data and to retrieve it. There is no "right way" for this, only one that is "best" for you. It will depend on your needs and the facilities you have at your disposal. It is a good idea to have a separate working, and storage file.
6. Store your original documents, photographs, etc, in a safe place where they will not deteriorate. Acid free albums, acid free glue and copy safe plastic envelopes should be used. Never use sticky tape! If you want copies for working or display purposes, the best course of action is to make one photocopy and then use that as your "master" copy.
Starter Pack
To help you get started we have provided a number of information sheets, forms and charts in PDF format which you can download.
These sheets will assist you on your journey.
 Starting Your Family History Research (34.01 Kb)
STEPPS - Hints for researching your Family History (22.04 Kb)
BDM Information
Tables in the information sheet below outline the information that you can expect to find on birth, marriage and death certificates in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. An associated table shows the current prices of those certificates.
Australian, New Zealand & United Kingdom BDM Certificate Information
Australian, New Zealand & United Kingdom BDM Certificate Prices
During your research, especially in Western Australia, you may come across an ancestor who was interred in an outback grave. This information page (you can also download a PDF) will give you some tips on what to you can do to look after an outback or lonely grave.
Outback Graves
Forms and Charts
There are two internationally recognized forms for recording research data.
Pedigree Chart - This charts the direct line of descent of a family. You should start by entering all of the data you know alongside the headings on the chart. Remember to write everything in pencil to start with. Ink it in after confirming the accuracy of your data. Also record all dates as, e.g., 11 Jan 1885 (i.e., day in figures, months in letters, years in figures, in full). This avoids ambiguity with Americans or Europeans whom you may contact, as they tend to write the same date as 1/11/1885 (i.e. month, day, year). Blank Pedigree Charts are available to purchase at the WAGS Library.
Pedigree Chart (63.83 Kb)
Family Group Chart - This records all the basic data on a family group (father, mother and children). There is also room on the form to record the source/s of your information. When filling in this form the same rules apply as with the Pedigree Chart. Blank Family Group Sheets are also available at the WAGS Library.
Family Group Sheet (13.34 Kb)
Genealogy Relationship - Working out your genealogy relationships can be a bit of a task at times, so we have compiled a chart for you to use.
Relationship Chart
Go to the following page for further tips: Information Sources
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Research Guides 
