Your question involves a U.S. federal activity, such as military service, a federal land entry or immigration.
Put the protocol to work.
Name the federal connection.
Write a question tied to a government activity: military service, a pension, a federal land transaction or another documented federal interaction. This gives your search a record type.
Read the matching research guide.
Start at the National Archives genealogy portal. Follow the guide for that record type to learn what survives, where it is held and which identifiers help locate it.
Use the catalog as a collection map.
Search surnames when appropriate, but also try units, agencies, places and record descriptions. Read catalog scope and access information; many descriptions cover groups of records rather than individual people.
Locate the custodian and access route.
Follow the guide’s current instructions for digital access, a reference request or ordering copies. Confirm the responsible facility instead of assuming all records are in Washington, DC.
Read beyond the headline document.
If a file contains multiple pages, examine the full set. Preserve file numbers and citations. Compare testimony, ages and relationships with evidence from other sources.
Don’t mistake a clue for a conclusion.
The National Archives does not hold every American family record. Start with the record creator; most local civil records belong to other jurisdictions.
Your research checklist
Check items during this visit, or print a copy for your research file. Checks reset when you reload.