Creating timelines can help you find clues about your ancestors that could help your research.

1. 1
Family History Toolkit: Creating
Timelines
Created by Juliana Smith

2. Timelines
Timelines are
the workhorses
of your charts
and forms
arsenal.
Use them to
analyze the
records you’ve
found.

3. Timelines

4. Timelines

5. Start a Timeline with the Census: 1930 Example

6. Start a Timeline with the Census
c. 1880 - John Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
c. 1882 - Theresa Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
c. 1908 - Stephen Szucs is born in Ohio.
c. 1914 - Irene Szucs is born in Ohio.
1 April 1930 - Szucs Residence is 4623 Dennison Ave.,
9th Ward, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

7. Start a Timeline with the Census
c. 1880 - John Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
c. 1882 - Theresa Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
c. 1904 - John and Theresa are married.
c. 1908 - Stephen Szucs is born in Ohio.
c. 1914 - Irene Szucs is born in Ohio.
1 April 1930 - Szucs Residence is 4623 Dennison Ave., 9th Ward,
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

8. Start a Timeline with the Census
 c. 1880 - John Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
 c. 1882 - Theresa Szucs is born in Czechoslovakia.
 1902 - John Szucs immigrates to the U.S.
 1903 - Theresa Szucs immigrates to the U.S.
 c. 1904 - John and Theresa are married in the U.S.
 c. 1908 - Stephen Szucs is born in Ohio.
 c. 1914 - Irene Szucs is born in Ohio.
 1 April 1930 - Szucs Residence is 4623 Dennison Ave., 9th Ward, Cleveland,
Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

9. Timeline Tips
Add other censuses
Layer on historical events
e.g., The U.S. entered World War I in 1917.
Create a to-do list based on what you
find
Cite sources on your list so you’re
prepared for any conflicts.
Create a template for censuses to make it
easy.