Family Tree
Are you distantly related to a Revolutionary War general? When did your ancestors come to America? Are there any horse thieves or famous inventors in your family background?
Many people are fascinated by genealogy — the study of family ancestries and histories. After all, the more they know about their family backgrounds, the more they know about themselves. The goal can be to merely produce a family tree or a comprehensive historical record in the form of a book. Regardless, genealogies are gathered through the study of:
- City records - birth and death certificates
- Libraries and archives
- School records
- Federal census records
- Court documents
- Old cemeteries
- Church records
- Family Bibles and photo albums
- Social Security Administration records
- Military records
- Genealogy websites like www.genealogy.com, www.ancestry.com or www.genealogy-geneology.com.
- Membership organization records - including Modern Woodmen of America.
But the best place to start is through your own family sources. Family reunions are the perfect setting for that.
Make genealogy an activity that everyone at your family reunion can participate in. Place a large diagram of a tree on a flat surface. Ask family members to fill in the "branches" with their full names and birth dates. Also ask older attendees to fill in branches for their parents and grandparents.
With everyone participating, including senior citizens with good memories, your family tree should cover four or five generations ... or more. That's an excellent start for establishing a genealogy.
As a keepsake of the event, you can distribute copies of the family tree (reduced in size) to everyone who attends. For even greater appeal, take a close-up photo of everyone and include those photos in your family tree.
If you want to take your exploration of family history even farther, you may want to join a genealogy club or society. Those groups can share research tips and spur your enthusiasm.