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Genealogy Research Paper

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What drew you into the world of genealogy? Was it an old family Bible? The passing of an older family member? A family legend passed down that you couldn’t quite prove? Many of us became genealogists because of our interest in the lives of our ancestors. We want to know their stories, and the more we learn, the more we want to know. And that’s the thing about genealogy—you can do it your whole life, because there’s always more to learn. There’s always more out there to discover.
But have you thought about passing your love of family history onto the next generation? Sure, you’ve climbed your family tree, but have you passed on what you’ve learned? Looking at a cross-section of a fallen tree, you can see its rings. The closer to the middle …show more content…

Once they have had the conversation, encourage your child to do some sleuthing on that place! Find out the history of the county or town. There are thousands of old county history books online (see: < www.archive.org>), but depending on your child’s age, they may need guidance navigating the books. Genweb sites are another good resource for the tech-savvy child, with supervision, of course. () What were your parents and grandparents’ names?
This question helps your child fill in their family tree, but it also opens up the table for your relative to talk about their family members if they so choose. If bringing up their parents and grandparents is a sensitive issue, then naming them for the tree can close the discussion and your child can move along to their other questions. It’s a good idea to prepare your child for the personal sensitivities genealogy can touch on, and the care family historians need to take when approaching these issues with relatives.
How did you meet your spouse?
This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to really get up close and personal with your relative, as this question is likely to bring about some sweet memories. It’s also a great way to learn about one way the family tree was …show more content…

Of course, your child may have many questions of their own. Encourage them to ask them! Hopefully these questions will spur on a lively, candid discussion and draw your child into the wonderful world of genealogy. Of course, you’ll also want to encourage your child to record the information they acquired, in order to preserve the pieces of family history that they learned. Before they have the conversation, guide them to pay attention to sensory details in order to bring the stories to life. If they feel comfortable, they can take notes while they are talking to their relative—if that seems too formal, that’s okay. The main point here is to encourage dialogue. INSERT: POTTER-SEPT2015-IMAGE11.JPG Caption: Katie with her Grandma Mary Photo Credit: Todd

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