Welcome to the Family History Adventure. Hang On Tight!
December 23, 2024
So, you’ve decided to dive into your genealogy! Maybe you’ve reached a certain stage in your life and you’re eager to look back to your ancestors. Maybe your children have begun asking questions that you can’t answer. Maybe you just have some free time. Whatever the reason, you are joining a club boasting tens of millions of members.
There is something compelling about our ancestors, isn’t there? After all, our families are the first stories we ever know. We’re all born into a web of relationships; the stories that encompass that web fill our lives from the beginning. And, as Psychology Today points out, human beings are natural-born storytellers. There is no better, more immediate material than our own family histories.
But if you’re at the beginning of the process, you have doubtlessly run into some obstacles. With the surge in genealogy-related technologies and resources comes the concomitant surge in options and standards of excellence. How do you decide what method to use? Do you need to hire a professional? Is a professional genealogist even a thing? (At least that’s an easy question—professional genealogists are definitely a thing, and you’ll meet one here in this post.)
Map out your family tree.
Perhaps the best way to start is by constructing your own family tree. The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is a terrific source for this step. It recommends beginning with the records that are relatively easy to obtain—any certificates, mementos, awards, etc.
Next, interview your family members to gain more insight into their lives and previous generations. (Note: the NGS advises to begin this step with your oldest living relatives, as “most of us later regret not doing that in time to learn from them.”)
Jennifer Rizzo, a writer and genealogist with The Writers for Hire who has almost a decade of experience, urges genealogy neophytes to “start with what you know and can prove.”
“Genealogical research is like putting together pieces of a very large and complicated puzzle,” she says. “If you can start with a solid base, it will be much easier to find clues to build each additional layer.”
Grab the cotton swabs.
Rizzo also highlights the new resources available for anyone fleshing out their own family histories. One of those resources, of course, is DNA testing, which has “revolutionized the field of genealogy” in recent years.
The ease and convenience of these tests has turned them into invaluable tools.
Just a swipe of the cheek, and you can learn just about everything about your history and where your family came from!
Just imagine how fascinating it would be to learn about your family’s migration patterns over time—or to discover a long-lost relative!
Rizzo discovered the utility of DNA tests when working with a client who’d been told his whole life that his family came to the United States from England. While technically true, a DNA test, combined with some old-fashioned research, revealed a much more interesting story. This man’s family were most likely Vikings who sailed to Scotland in the 8th century. From there, they headed to England and then, finally, to the United States. “With the right resources and plenty of determination,” Rizzo concluded, “you can learn things beyond what family lore has taught you.”
Context is key.
Regardless of the avenue you choose for your own project, it’s also important to place your ancestors within their own historical contexts.
According to the Public Library Association, “Situating your ancestors in history, both local and national, can help clue you in to their daily lives and some of the decisions they may have faced.” Even if their historical contexts don’t add specific details to your story, they will help you understand who your people were.
As the Public Library Association states, historical context can be understood as “the elements that permeate the lives of every living person,” and it’s a key component of taking your research to the next level.
For example, I have two ancestors who grew up around the turn of the 20th century.
One was raised in affluence, in a small Minnesota town.
The other was raised in rural poverty in the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.
Even though they had some similarities, their contexts helped shape them very differently.
Understanding that lets me see them as dynamic individuals, rather than static names and dates on a page. It honors who they were and how they lived.
If you can, see it for yourself!
Understanding your ancestors’ contexts is a good first step—but if you can travel to those places, you’re likely to come away with a much greater appreciation for them. In fact, as a multilingual Certified Genealogist and International Tour Manager, Rizzo has the unique (and enviable!) position of taking clients on heritage tours.
“It’s so fun to help people learn about their family’s past and to actually see where they lived, where they went to church, etc.,” she says. “Heritage tours take genealogical research to a whole new level.”
Imagine seeing your ancestors’ names on street signs in small-town Germany. Or touring your grandfather’s elementary school in the Rockies. Or walking through the front door of your great-great-grandfather’s house in Russia. Or eating at the restaurant that your great-grandmother opened in a coal-mining town in North Carolina.
What could be a better capper for your project?
(For more information on heritage tours, click here.)
Go pro?
Maybe you’re not looking for an experience that is quite so extensive. Or maybe you’re a bit overwhelmed at all the possibilities. Should you try to go it alone, or will a professional genealogist prove to be a good investment?
The answer, according to Rizzo, comes down to “how important it is to you to develop your family history and how quickly you want it done.” Genealogy is a time-consuming, research-heavy task. If you don’t have the time or skills necessary to do it on your own, a professional can be a great resource.
Even if you start out on your own, Rizzo recommends having a professional in mind for those moments when you hit a snag or decide to travel.
Professional genealogists have the experience, certifications, memberships, and expertise necessary to break through those barriers—be they online, at your local library, or across the world.
Whatever you decide and however you begin, genealogical research is a worthy use of your time.
How many activities incorporate research and facts while engaging the imagination and the spirit of your family so fully? And who knows? You might come away with some pretty fascinating surprises.
