The key to finding your ancestors in the records of the National Archives is to ask: How did they interact with the Federal Government during their lives? Did they enter the United States from a foreign country? Apply to become an American citizen? Enlist in a regiment during a particular war? File for a patent, homestead, or pension? Or simply answer a census taker's questions?

Throughout the book, researchers such as Ken Burns tell stories of their own personal discoveries.

Whether you're an experienced researcher or just getting started, the Genealogy Tool Kit will help you to navigate the records of the National Archives, from census and naturalization records to military and federal land grant records. With checklists to track your progress, family trees to fill in as you discover your ancestors, and room for taking notes, the Tool Kit will also serve as your own record of your family history project.