Articles RSS FeedWe all want to know where we came from, and filling in a family tree is a fun way to learn about our unique history. Creating and maintaining a family tree can be a fun family activity that is shared with all living generations and those to come.
Some find themselves studying genealogy at University, and others are asked to create family trees in school when they are just children. Still others find themselves searching for answers in life, and turn to genealogy as a way of answering questions.
A family tree is a way of depicting the various relationships which lead to you and your siblings being in existence, and can then continue on to form branches for your children and other relatives to follow. Usually you will fill in what you can from personal knowledge, and then begin asking your parents and other relatives for information on their own parents and siblings.
Filling out a family tree can involve some intense research, interviewing family members as mentioned and even friends of the family, and digging through archives both family and public. You’ll find that friends of your grandparents, for instance, may have memories of certain family members which can fill in blanks, especially if your grandparents or parents have passed away.
Many cities and towns have family history information, especially towns which were founded by immigrants (which is almost every town and city in north America). European residents with traditional families may have even more luck digging into family history, as lineages will likely be recorded in church or synagogue archives. Churches with cemeteries can be especially useful for finding records of family whose ancestors are buried there.
Overall, working on a family tree can a be very rewarding and worthwhile pursuit. Happy searching!
