You have decided to dig into your family history. Your notebook
contains everything you could recall about your relations. You began
by recording your vital statistics and proceeded backwards jotting
down all the details you could think of. So where do you go now?
Have you rummaged around your home to locate any documents that can
support the information, provide clues to work with or add interest
and personality to the history you are compiling? You probably got out
a birth or baptism certificate and a few old photos then concluded
that is all you have to contribute. You are ready to make a trip to
your parent's house or some other relatives to discover what treasures
they have. STOP! Go back and look again. This time gather up
everything you can lay your hands on that may (even remotely) add some
interest or provide clues.
You are not ready to interview family until you have established every
thing you know. If you want to produce a family history ... you want
to find out more than the vital events. With genealogy you start with
yourself and with family history you do too.
Most of us do not truly start our research with ourselves. We know
what we do for a living and where we went to school. What about the
future generations? A family history is not just for you ... it is for
your descendents and other kinfolk who will come after. Do a thorough
investigation of your own life first. Not only will you establish a
good foundation for your family history, you will learn what to ask
others. When it comes time to contact other family members, you will
have specific questions in mind. You will also have a background of
material to work with that can be helpful in triggering memories.
Hunt through your files, drawers and closets. Locate that box of
childhood mementos. Pull out a copy of your resume. Take a close look
at your keepsakes or family heirlooms.The items you gather will help
to create a comprehensive documentation of your own life. You will
find that the list of possible resources is endless - these include
more then official certificates and photographs. Look for report
cards, school papers, newspaper clippings, postcards, letters,
insurance papers, licenses, property or business records, diaries, old
passports, calendars, address books, and greeting cards. Even awards
and trophies are records of events you should note.
Once you have gathered up all the bits and pieces of your life - study
each one. Use them to help recreate your story. Note down the mundane
and the exciting. As you do not live in a world by yourself, you will
probably be coming up with plenty of stuff on other family members.
This is okay. You will find as you get deeper into your family history
that while looking into the life of one member of the family you will
discover information about not just them, but other kin. Take
meticulous notes - of everything that comes to mind.
This may all seem a bit much to you. You might think it does not
matter that when you were young you won a bowling trophy in the town
league. Whether you studied piano, made model airplanes, are an
excellent cook, can rebuild a car motor from the ground up, or collect
salt and pepper shakers... it all counts. What you do, have done and
enjoy doing, should go into your family history. This information
gives insight into you as a person.
You might even want to include some interesting anecdotes. All those
documents and other mementos probably have you reminiscing. Write it
all down. These memories will bring your family history to life.
Remember start with yourself. Make note of the exciting and the
trivial. If you feel funny musing over your life by yourself, get your
spouse, sibling or child to sit down with you. Let them take the
notes. Just put it down on paper.
You have stories to share that will mean much more to others than the
date you were born on. After you have completed this groundwork,
scrutinize what you wrote to uncover the questions you will ask
others. Make a list of these questions.
Now you can move on to 'interviewing' others.
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