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In some families, your heritage is a big part of who you are. Your family may take great pride in your ancestry.
But in other families, little may ever be said. Both cases are pretty normal.
If you have absolutely no idea, then start with what you do know. Consider how deeply you want to go in your quest.
Maybe you are Black or Caucasian--both have a great number of possible ancestries. Different groups faced different amounts of discrimination. For example, a Caucasian person may be descendant from Irish ancestors. This group faced significant discrimination in the 19th Century. But if you do not know if you are German or Irish or Polish, it will be hard to complete this assignment. If you stop at Caucasian, you might miss out on important parts of your heritage. If you are Black, your ancestry could be from a variety of places and have followed a different path than you expect. It may also be difficult to find information. This can be true for all backgrounds, especially if you were adopted or your family is dispersed. And many people have multiple heritages. Some of your answers may have faced severe discrimination, while others were members of the dominant groups.
Ancestry Sites
Ancestry sites are located on the Genealogy page of this Guide. You should try searching for a relative's full name. It might be your dad or your grandpa or someone further back. These sites may link to Census data, burial or birth records, or something else.
Census Records
The United States Census is conducted every 10 years and is mandatory for all residents of the United States. (Records are released from the National Archive after 72 years to the general public.) The Census contains information on residents--including their race.
Family Interviews
Ask your family. Often, members of the family do know your ancestry, even if they do not speak about it. Older people in your family are often the best source of this information. That great aunt in the nursing home may have the best information--so do not wait, they will not be around forever.
You may also have a family member that has been researching your heritage.
Public Library, Historical Society, and Court House
The local public library near where you are grew up is probably a great source of information.They probably have books and historical information that includes information on your family. The Court House also keeps detailed records. And the local historical society may have information (it is sometimes located in the public library or other public facilities). The people that frequent or operate these public services are also a wealth of information. So ask! They may even know your family.
Historical Databases, Books, eBooks, and Online Resources
Knowing the basic historical events and issues that affected your ancestors is key to understanding the obstacles, discrimination, and related issues they faced. Search our books, eBooks, and Databases to find resources that the library owns or subscribes to for your usage. Also search through online resources in this guide, the Iowa History Guide, and History Guide to discover more.