I have a dozen or so articles that I wrote for a newspaper column a couple years ago to explain genealogy to the general public and to act as a basic course to get people started.  Much of the material is what we use when we teach the basic course at the Genealogical Society.  I have skipped article one as it merely talks about the Society and I have done slight editing to make them compatible with this list.  Much will serve as a reminder to those of us who sometimes forget to do the basic items when we start a new line (myself included).  I was sent a tip from a reader regarding article 2 to remind you and ask again questions of those elderly relatives when you revisit them.  They just might remember more the second time around -- you no doubt got them thinking about things after your first visit.

Article 2 - A Basic Course in Genealogy

Article 3 - Visiting genealogical and historical libraries

Article 4 - The next step after visiting genealogical and historical libraries.

Article 5 - The use of Alternative Vital Records

Article 6 - The use of Census Records

Article 7 - The use of Compiled Sources

Article 8 - General info and Disease List

Article 9 - Orange County Research Offices

Article 10 - Land Records

Article 11 - Civil War Draft

Article 12 - Military Records

Article 13 - Newspapers

Article 14 - Occupations