Sound advice, Schultz, especially about visiting the local public library. Beside subscriptions to Ancestry and HeritageQuest, the local library's genealogy section should have access to a plethora of other resources, both online and in print. A local genealogical/historical society might also have a good research library, although these are usually restricted to members only.

Libraries generally offer training sessions on a wide variety of genealogical topics, from military records to tracing your Native American ancestor. They are generally free and one would be wise to take advantage of such help!

Document, Document, Document! Genealogists do not suffer fools, especially ones with nothing to back up their claims.

Good luck!

Todd

**former local history/genealogy librarian, Springfield-Greene Co. (Mo) Library