YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

Below are twelve friendly tips to start your journey with confidence and enjoyment.

1.  Have a plan
Think about what you want to achieve. Are you tracing one branch of your family? Building a tree? Writing a story for your grandchildren? Start small, one person or one line, and expand as you go. Having a clear goal helps you stay focused and enjoy the progress you make.

Top Tip: Set a realistic goal for your first project, such as finding your grandparents' marriage record or discovering when your family arrived in Australia. Small successes build momentum!

2.  Work from the known to the unknown
Begin with yourself and move backward through the generations, including your parents, grandparents, and beyond. Use birth, marriage, and death certificates to confirm facts before moving on.

Remember: Family legends are fun but not always accurate. Check the evidence before claiming that royal ancestor or convict connection!

3.  Use what you already have
You may already hold clues to your family story, in boxes, albums, or cupboards. Look for old photos, letters, diaries, school reports, or family bibles. Talk to older relatives and record their memories before they're lost.
Did you know? A simple conversation with an elderly family member can unlock details that don't appear in any document, names, places, or family stories that lead to new discoveries.

4.  Keep good records and stay organised
Family history grows quickly! Create a simple system, such as a notebook, folders, or family history software. Avoid scraps of paper. Record everything neatly on pedigree charts and family group sheets.

Top Tip: Update your records each time you research. It saves time later and makes sharing your work much easier.

5.  Record your searches and sources
Keep a research log of what you looked for, where you searched, and what you found, even if you saw nothing! It helps you avoid repeating searches and keeps your research transparent for others (and yourself in the future).

Helpful hint: Include details like the website or archive name, date searched, and any reference numbers. You'll thank yourself later!

6.  Learn about where your family lived
Understanding your ancestors' surroundings brings their stories to life. Find old maps, look at historic photos, and read local histories about towns, schools, or industries.

Did you know? Local libraries, councils, and historical societies often hold old rate books, maps, and newspapers that can reveal where your ancestors lived.

7.  Don't make assumptions
Always verify, don't rely on guesswork or other people's trees. It's easy to attach the wrong person when names and dates are similar. If you're unsure, make a note rather than assuming it's a fact.

Top Tip: Genealogy is like detective work; look for solid clues and supporting evidence before jumping to conclusions.

8.  Use the internet wisely
The internet is an incredible resource, but also full of errors. Use trusted sites, double-check facts, and be cautious with 'instant ancestry' websites. Not everything you need will be online, and no site holds your complete family story.

Helpful hint: GSQ provides access to numerous reputable subscription sites and can guide you in evaluating online information carefully.

9.  Explore all kinds of records
Certificates are only the beginning! You can find clues in various records, including school, employment, immigration, church, and military records, as well as newspapers, archives, museums, and cemeteries.

Did you know? Trove (the National Library of Australia's free website) lets you search millions of digitised newspapers, perfect for uncovering family stories, notices, and even scandals!

10.  Share your discoveries
Family history is better when shared. Tell relatives what you've found, swap photos, or create a family group chat. You may meet cousins you never knew, and they might have information you're missing.

Top Tip: Create a digital folder or cloud album so relatives can add their own stories and pictures. Collaboration makes research fun!

11. J oin a family history society
Joining a society like GSQ provides you with access to experienced researchers, workshops, and unique archival records. You'll meet friendly people who understand the excitement (and frustrations!) of family research.

Did you know? GSQ's volunteers can assist you with brick walls, DNA questions, and help you find the correct records for your family's region.

12.  Write your story
Don't wait until you're 'finished', start writing now! Tell your family's story in your own words, using photos, timelines, and anecdotes. It doesn't have to be formal; it just has to be yours.

Top Tip: Turn your notes into short stories, one ancestor at a time. You'll soon have a family history book without even realising it.

Understanding Copyright for Family Historians

This information serves as a general guide and should not be considered legal advice. Copyright law is subject to change over time, and it is essential to check current regulations or seek professional advice for specific cases.

What is Copyright?
Copyright is a set of rights automatically granted to creators of original works, such as writers, artists, photographers, and researchers. It protects the expression of ideas (the words, layout, or presentation) but not the information or facts themselves.

For example: The layout of a birth certificate is protected, but the names and dates are not.
Your family history report is copyright-protected in the format you create, but the underlying genealogical facts (names, places, dates) are not.

You do not need to apply for copyright or display the © symbol; protection is automatic once the work is created. You may only use someone else’s work if: you have permission or a licence, the copyright has expired, or a specific legal exception applies.

Most websites include a copyright statement, usually found at the bottom of the page. GSQ’s copyright statement is included in its Terms of Use.

Duration of Copyright
The copyright duration varies depending on the type of work and the country in which it was created. Once the copyright period expires, the work enters the public domain and may be used freely.
More information about the public domain is available from the copyright, part of the National Library of Australia.

Research vs Publishing
For family historians, a key exception allows copying a fair portion of an original work for private research or study. In such cases, you must always acknowledge the source and author.

However, if you plan to publish your research, whether in a book, website, or blog, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder and provide proper attribution.

Types of Copyright Licences
Since the 1886 Berne Convention, various types of copyright licenses have developed. The two most common encountered by family historians are Creative Commons and Crown Copyright.

Creative Commons (CC)
A Creative Commons Licence (CCL) allows creators to share their work under defined conditions. All CCLs require attribution, and some may also restrict commercial use and modification of the work (e.g., cropping images).
Always check the specific licence terms. If a website or image lists a Creative Commons licence, you can usually click it to view details.

When citing such sources, follow GSQ’s “Citing Your Sources” guidelines for consistency. Visit the Creative Commons website for more information.

Crown Copyright
Crown Copyright applies to materials created by government departments or agencies in many Commonwealth countries. Each country’s rules differ, but generally, Crown materials can be used without permission if you attribute the creator or government body and acknowledge the source.
Birth, Marriage and Death (BDM) certificates are typical examples of Crown Copyright materials.

Right of Attribution
If you use a work under a licence or exception, you must acknowledge the creator. This is called attribution. Creative Commons provides examples and tools, such as the Attribution Builder, on its Best Practices for Attribution page.

Use of Photographs
Owning a photo doesn’t necessarily mean you own its copyright. If you didn’t take the photo, copyright may still belong to the photographer. Old photographs may be in the public domain, but each case should be checked individually.
When in doubt, seek permission from the copyright holder, and always provide attribution. If someone has shared a photo with you, it’s courteous to ask before reusing it.

Copies and Scans
Making a digital or paper copy (e.g. scanning an old photo) doesn’t create a new copyright. The copied image carries the same copyright as the original. If the original is still protected, you must obtain permission before use. If it’s in the public domain, the copy is also free to use.

Copyright and Family History Sites
Many genealogy websites, such as Ancestry or FindMyPast, act as licence holders, not content owners. They provide access to material under licence and may not be able to correct or alter the original data.

Each site usually displays copyright details for the record set. Remember: citing a source acknowledges where you found information, while attributing a work gives credit to the creator or copyright holder.

Common genealogy sites include: Ancestry, FamilySearch, FindMyPast, MyHeritage, TheGenealogist, and Scotland’s People.

Further Reading and Resources
Australia: An Introduction to Copyright in Australia, IP Australia
New Zealand: Copyright Protection in New Zealand
United Kingdom: How Copyright Protects Your Work; Reproduction of BDM Certificates (PDF); Crown Copyright (UK)
Ireland: General Information Concerning Copyright and Related Rights (PDF)
United States: U.S. Copyright Office

Prepared by the Genealogical Society of Queensland Inc. (GSQ) to help members understand and respect copyright in family history research.