Exploring Family Genealogy

Are you distantly related to a Revolutionary War general? When did your ancestors come to America? Are there any horse thieves or famous inventors in your family background?

People are fascinated by genealogy—the study of family ancestories and histories. After all, the more they know about their family backgrounds, the more they know about themselves.

Genealogy is especially valuable for children because it gives them a sense of your family's past. Plus, it can sharpen their fact-finding and organizing skills.

Would you like to explore your own family's past? The goal can be to merely produce a family tree...or a comprehensive historical record in the form of a book. Regardless, genealogies are gathered through the study of:

• City records - birth and death certificates

• Libraries and archives

• School records

• Federal census records

• Court documents

• Old cemeteries

• Church records

• Family bibles and photo albums

• Social Security Administration records

• Military records

• Genealogy Internet sites

• Membership organization records - including Modern Woodmen of America.

But, the best place to start is through your own family sources. Family reunions are the perfect setting for that.

Genealogy can become a rewarding hobby. If you'd like to write a history of your family, you may want to join a genealogy club or society. Those groups can share research tips and spur your enthusiasm. Chances are, there is an active group in your area.

Here are a few sources to get you going on your genealogy search.

• www.genealogy.com

• http://www.ancestry.com/

• http://www.genealogy-geneology.com/

Click here to go to the History Section of the Modern Woodmen Web site.

Create a Family Tree

Make genealogy a participative activity at your family reunion. Place a large diagram of a tree on a flat surface. Ask family members to fill in the "branches" with their full names and birth dates. Also ask older attendees to fill in branches for their parents and grandparents.

With everyone participating, including senior citizens with good memories, your family tree should cover four or five generations...or more. That's an excellent start for establishing a genealogy.

As a keepsake of the event, you can distribute copies of the family tree (reduced in size) to everyone who attends. For even greater appeal, take a close-up photo of everyone and include those photos in your family tree.

Also, interview older attendees and save family stories for posterity on audiocassette or videotape. See Video Heirloom for details.

Other helpful links

Tapisinc.com creates Capture the Memories interview books, scrapbook pages, family reunion ideas, workshops, research and publishing tools.