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Q. I don’t have access to a computer. Can I still find my ancestors?
Once you’ve recorded what you know, call or write to relatives to learn more about your family’s past. Interview them for more details to fill out your charts. With the help of the local librarian, find the addresses of where to write for birth, marriage and death records. Family Tree Magazine’s State Research Guides series is another helpful resource. You can buy a book of the entire series by calling (800) 258-0929 or visiting Family Tree Shop.
In the BC era (Before Computers), genealogists looked for censuses, land records, wills and other records on microfilm. And we still do—not every record has been put online yet. Many genealogical treasures are still hidden away in county courthouses. You can borrow microfilm at a Family History Center or visit local record repositories. You might burn more shoe leather tracing your family the old-fashioned way, but you’re at no disadvantage.
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From the March 2009 Family Tree Magazine
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