Family stories are the key. You have been collecting dry bits of information and facts for some time. Your search for your ancestors has given you a glimpse into the past. But the research can be frustrating. How do I document these facts? The search for facts takes time, but a story can pop up unexpectedly anytime and is the key to making your tree come alive for your family.
Your family history, your heritage is more than just dates and places. Our challenge as amateur genealogists is to not only search for your ancestors' names and dates, but to research and find the stories that each one of them left behind. The stories may be in scrapbooks and Family Bibles in our Grandmother's front room or in decades old newspaper articles. A story may be recorded in history books and county heritage association publications. Some stories may be passed down from one generation to another at family reunions, parties and dinners. When they appear, be sure to document every last detail. Even tape the conversation or photocopy the text. Check out the links on this website to find family tree related sites that might have a record of these stories or other family forums that you can use to improve your family tree results.
Your research into your family tree can provide valuable insights into the lives and times of your ancestors. The search for your family's past will help you understand your heritage. Being able to document the story behind your heritage for the rest of your family can be a rewarding hobby. This hobby may bring your family closer together and more importantly bring the past alive for your children and your children's children.
Don't you agree?
