Family Tree - Chart Your Family History
Lionel Edward
just heard time and again from your old Aunt Gertrude that you look
just like your great-grandmother. It sparks your interest, doesn't it?
Nowadays, there's a new growing trend to discover your own story --
where you've come from, if you have any long-lost relatives, and even
to discover old family stories that have been buried along with your
ancestors. With these discoveries brings a wonderful gift to give to
your posterity. It can also give one a sense of belonging --
especially if there is little or no family still around. To delve into
something like this may seem overwhelming and not knowing where to
start can be a huge stumbling block. Building a family tree to
organize your family history is the easiest place to start, but let's
go over some key points first.
Let's define what a Family Tree even is. A family tree is a chart that
shows family connections. So basically, it's a genealogical record of
your ancestors. It will usually contain the family members' names,
birth dates, death dates (if applicable), and the countries or states
where they've lived. Each person in this chart is connected to the
other people in the chart via lines (thus the tree visual). These
lines or connections lead to anyone that is connected to them through
a familial relationship whether by blood or marriage.
How do I go about drawing a Family Tree? We've moved ahead over the
years, and no longer do you have to come up with this from scratch --
there are numerous resources. You can get a family tree template,
where you simply fill in the names and dates. Usually these templates
will give directions so you know where and what to fill in. These
templates are easy to find and not very expensive. Check out
bookstores or office supply stores. I've also seen them at
scrapbooking stores. There are also some web sites set up that sell
all kinds of genealogical supplies. Another option is to download a
family tree chart. You add names and dates all electronically and it's
usually very simple to see exactly what information is missing. This
way can also enable you to complete everything over the internet so
you can email relatives all the information you've accumulated.
What about information to put in the Family Tree? So you know your
grandma and great-grandpa's name, but you can't remember your great-
uncle's name. The internet is an incredible tool for us. You can do
genealogical searches enabling you to look through information-filled
family history databases, where many of the connections are right
there.
If this is a hobby that fascinates you, then get started -- the
resources are all out there!