How to Write a Family History Report
If you've joined the ranks of genealogical researchers, involve your family in the project by writing a comprehensive family history report. Researching family lineage is a growing field of study as evidenced by the increasing number of genealogical societies, Internet sites and forums devoted to the subject. Write a summary of all known information and send all family members a copy. As you succeed in getting additional relatives excited about the project, you will find that their participation, research, memories and contributions will allow you to expand the family tree for the benefit of the entire family.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Register for a genealogy course. Genealogy.com and FamilySearch.com offer free online classes that give an overview of genealogical research techniques and available genealogical resources. The National Archives offers workshops in genealogical research which cover subjects such as research techniques and strategies for obtaining records including census surveys, military records, passport applications and naturalization records. Other genealogical societies and organizations operate courses for genealogists, either in person or online. A course can give you needed tools for collecting information and organizing the information into a readable format.
-
2
Divide up your family report into sub-reports for your paternal and maternal side. Your relatives will want to see information that affects them personally and to which they feel connected. If you want to continue to divide up your report, you can create sub-reports for as many branches of the family as you want or you can combine branches if you don't have time and resources to sub-divide the information.
-
-
3
Present a family tree. Your report should show a visual display of the family relationships and the way that the different branches interconnect. This display serves to excite the family members, who can appreciate how it can grow with their involvement and participation.
-
4
Collect oral histories and include them in the family history report. The History Detectives website of the Public Broadcasting Service notes "One of the most important aspects of genealogy is recording oral or spoken history before it is too late." As you compile oral family histories, you can include them in your family history report to provide other family members with a sense of their family's history and a personal connection with their heritage. Include the memories of older family members and the stories that your relatives have heard. Ask participating relatives to share their traditions, historical memories, family members' names and any other information that they wish to offer.
-
5
Include copies of old records that your family will find exciting. Copies of primary documents such as census records, birth and marriage certificates and immigration documents can help the report's readers feel tangibly connected to their ancestors. Contact the archive office in your state to find out how you can view the state's old census records. Request copies of vital records (birth, marriage and divorce) through your state's Division of Vital Statistics. Obtain immigration documents through the National Archives. You can also find these records online by joining Ancestry.com.
-
6
Attach photos of family members and family events to your report. You can also attach photos of tombstones which demonstrate family lineage through their inclusion of the deceased individual's parents' names, spouse's name, birth date and sometimes other data about the individual.
-
7
Personalize your report by adding copies of messages from genealogy forums and message boards that directed you to the data that you have presented in your report. Present the contacts that you have made with researchers who investigate parallel family trees.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit family image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
