PRINTDig up the dirt; find your roots
Grow your own family tree with these seeds of inspiration
Courtesy of Ara Kaye
Ara Kaye’s great-grandmother Mary Josephine Harvey is pictured with her two granddaughters Violet and Pansy Khyler.
November 16, 2006 | 12:00 a.m. CST
"I remember hearing about my great-grandmother, who had a corset and a pistol and was told she’d better be wearing both when she left the house,” says Remy Wagner, member of the State Historical Society of Missouri. And you thought history was boring.
You might uncover exciting stories like this when you start digging into your own family’s past. Developing a family history is important not only because it shows where we came from but also because it teaches us about
The old James Neff Homestead was Ara Kaye’s great-great-grandfather’s house. “Everyone wants to know where ...
the present.
“You appreciate your life today and how easy it is,” says Ara Kaye, senior reference specialist for the Historical Society. “We need to know the hardships these people had.”
Researching might seem overwhelming at first, but with guidance from Historical Society members and certified genealogist Ann Carter Fleming’s recent workshop, Recipe for Writing Your Family History, even the most scatterbrained aspiring historians can discover their family histories.
Talk it up
The first step in creating a family history is speaking with relatives. Ask them for as many names and important dates as they can remember. “Genealogy is the bones of the story; once you know the dates, it gives you a firsthand connection with history,” Wagner says. After assembling names and dates, write a biographical paragraph for each family member. It should include important information such as birthdates and birthplaces.
Sometimes relatives will have various spellings of their names or nicknames, incorrect documentation or name changes. Indicate all spellings in the paragraph.
For adopted people wanting to trace their history, the process is complicated but not impossible. First, find out where the adoption took place and the actual date of birth, as some recorded birthdates are actually adoption dates. Usually a birth certificate will show the birth parents’ names. Often the documents are sealed, but the importance of family medical history is one possible way to trump this. Once open, the files should point people in the right direction.
Gather documents
Next, research the eras in which each relative lived. Historical Society member Uel Blank gained appreciation for the Depression era (he grew up during it) after talking with family members. “I grew up with a lot of freedom,” Blank says. “As I look back at my father’s background and my son’s background and my childhood, I realize I had the better of all three. Instead of TV, there was a lot of visiting.”
Make the history personal by gathering photographs, diaries and letters, recipes and genealogical records. These personal documents will give hints to relatives’ education and interests. Diaries and letters might also include medical history and indicate technological advancements. Genealogical records include census records, certificates, court documents, immigration documents and military service cards.
Graphics can enhance data gathered. Photos should have a caption identifying the people, date and location when possible. Newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, postcards, brochures and souvenirs can show what families believed was important.
Put it together, and what do you get?
After everything is gathered, organize either by attaching the documents to acid-free archive paper with double-sided acid-free preservation tape, placing documents in a folder or scanning the actual documents into a Word document. Make one section for each person, and include his or her place in the family in the biographical paragraph. Add the photos and clippings to the appropriate section. If the photo fits better with a specific person, place it in that section.
Now ask people who do not know your family history to proofread the information. A new perspective can catch overlooked mistakes. Be consistent with the formats you choose for font, footnotes, endnotes, abbreviations and dates. Include an appendix and index for easier reference.
Don’t be afraid to publish your research and to donate a copy to a local library. Not only will you be providing a service for generations to come, but you might just find yourself in the process.
