Discover Your Roots

Whether your family story takes you to the library or the lab and your relatives turn out to be princes or paupers (or both), one thing is certain: Genealogy is your chance to claim your part of history.

Where to Find

Out More

African Ancestry uses DNA samples to attempt to help African Americans trace their family lineage to different regions in Africa. Test kits cost $299. 5505 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-723-0900. http://www.africanancestry.com .

Family Tree DNA 's test kits are priced from $109-$995, and can be used to determine whether two people thought to be unrelated actually share a common ancestor. 1919 North Loop West, Suite 100, Houston, Tex. 713-868-1438. http://www.familytreedna.com .

The International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists is the group to join if your ancestors prove to be sinners rather than saints. It's an electronic mailing list dedicated to breaking down the "wall of silence" that cloaks black sheep. Only the kin of truly bad seeds are designated as "members" of the society; if your relatives aren't murderers, traitors or gangsters, you'll have to join as an "associate." http://blacksheep.rootsweb.com .

The Library of Congress's Local History & Genealogy Reading Room , located in the Thomas Jefferson building, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 am-9:30 pm, and Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Researchers must obtain a reader registration card from the Library's James Madison building in order to use the reading room. 101 Independence Ave. SE. 202-707-5537. http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/ .

The Mormon Church (also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) is famous for its genealogical records, which members have been collecting for the past 100 years. Holdings include U.S. Census records from 1790-1930, as well as original records from countries in Europe, South America and Asia. Visit the Web site, http://www.familysearch.org .

The National Archives's collection includes census, military service and land-transfer records. Records are held in the Archives's buildings in downtown Washington and College Park. Research hours are the same for both facilities: Monday and Wednesday, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:45 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturday, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Call first to determine where the records you want are located. 700 Pennsylania Ave. NW and 8601 Adelphia Rd., College Park. 866-272-6272. http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/ .

The National Genealogical Society has been assisting in the search for lost relatives since it was founded in 1903. The society offers an online "Introduction to Genealogy" course, as well as other online classes designed to assist in archival research. Classes are $35 for NGS members, $50 for nonmembers. 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington. 703-525-0050. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org .

-- B.B.S.