LifeStory Briefs
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Creating a Family HistoryCreating a family history is an important part of telling and understanding our own life stories. The more we learn about the family that shaped us, the more we learn about ourselves and the more we may understand the shape of our lives and the directions we have taken. If you haven't done so already, now is the time to make a notebook containing your family's history. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Making a GenealogyYour genealogy-a list of the names and dates of birth and death-is an essential part of your family history. Begin by listing the full names of your brothers and sisters and the dates of their births and deaths (if relevant). Then list your parents (using the same information) and their siblings, followed by your grandparents and their siblings. Following this pattern, trace the family history as far as you can. If you know how to construct a family tree (some helpful how-to books are listed at the right), you can create it now. Place your lists and/or your tree at the beginning of your notebook, then use dividers to create a special section for each generation-your generation (you and your siblings), your parents' generation, your grandparents' generation, and so on.
Expanding Your GenealogyTo expand and give life to the basic family information, you can create an individual page for each member of each generation. It will probably be relatively easy to do this for yourself or your brothers and sisters, but harder with the earlier generations. Here are a few of the life facts you may want to include for each person:
Not Just the Facts, PleaseAs you're compiling this factual information, you will recall or be reminded of special bits of personal information about the individuals in your family history. You may remember that Aunt Jane traveled around the world, or that Great-Uncle Hank sold apples during the Depression, or that your great-great grandfather was said to raise the finest horses in the county. Write down whatever you can remember. Include a photo or two, if you have them-the picture itself may spark even more memories of your relationship to this person. As far as you are able, flesh out the factual account of your family members by collecting additional impressions and memories.
What Else?A family history can include lots of different kinds of information and material. For instance, you might ask each living member of your family to contribute a page or two about themselves-their own brief life history-and some photographs. If they don't want to write it down, perhaps they'd be willing to record it onto a cassette. (You can buy a plastic page for your notebook, to hold the cassettes.)You might also ask family members to contribute something they have created or done that can become a permanent part of the family record: a story or group of poems, a collection of recipes, photographs of a hobby, travel notes on a special trip. Another way to flesh out your family history is to conduct interviews with older family members, collecting information about their lives and encouraging them to share their memories of previous generations. These oral histories can be written down or recorded on cassettes. You may be surprised at the family stories that emerge when your grandmother starts remembering her life!
Using New TechnologiesIf you have access to a computer, you might want to look into some genealogy software that can help you create your family tree. In fact, you may even want to start collecting your information on the computer, and develop a web site to share the family history with others. |
SOURCES AND RESOURCES
Genealogy
Beyond Genealogy
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Last updated: 09/16/99