Genealogy, Part One

My paternal grandmother turns 100 years old tomorrow. I won't be able to see her in person,  but my dad will be there taking lots of photos and video. I hope to also record a short telephone conversation with her for our family history, and to then upload an MP3 file to Grandma's page on InRepose.  It is my goal to populate  our family's online memorials with memories and milestones like these long before the sad day when we can record the day of death.

Roy and Laura Craw, Stratton or McCook Nebraska, circa 1911.

Our "family plot" will be accessible to future generations online, and it won't just be a static collection of names and dates. There will be voices, video, photographs, scans of documents and genealogical charts and written stories for my grandma's great great great grandchildren and beyond to read someday.

Don't you wish you could reach into the past for stories of your ancestors?

In Repose begins adding useful information to the Genealogical portion of its Resource Forum with this introduction by Jamie Sue Austin.

The past is never dead. It's not even past." - William Faulkner

Genealogy is widely considered the hobby of historians, but the average person could gain just as much from the study of their ancestors as any historiographer. Learning about family history does more than flesh out the family tree; it helps people forge a sense of identity and belonging.  Most of all it helps the future create a more tangible link to the past.

At first glance developing a family history seems like a daunting task. Luckily there are plenty of resources available to help those interested in their ancestry. The easiest place to begin the search for family lineage is to ask those still living.  By interviewing living relatives a great deal of information about past family members, family migrations and occupations, and historical events can be gained.   This information is critical for expanding the search for other relatives. When speaking with living family members take notes, pictures, or tape record conversations for later.  Always ask for the names and contact information of any family members they might have and keep this information safe for the future.

Stay tuned for Part 2!