It's the year 2007 and ancestors are in fashion. But guess what? They were in fashion in 1899 as well. The following article, which appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on April 30, 1899 (found online at GenealogyBank), highlights just how far genealogy research has come in the past century, and just how much it has stayed the same...

SEEKING A GRANDPAPA

Ancestors Are in Fashion, and Here Are Accurate Directions for Getting Up a Genealogical Tree

It is the fashion nowadays to have ancestors. And a very good fashion it is, too, for it leads to much study and research. If you live near a library stocked with genealogical volumes you will find plenty of work for these summer days in tracing out your line of descent.

Fortify yourself first with "American Ancestry," which is found in many volumes, and alphabetically arranged so that the name you seek is easily found - if found at all....[The article continues for several paragraphs with a number of interesting books for genealogical pursuit]...

If there are any historical societies in the neighborhood, important information may often be obtained; one may even come across old family portraits or relics or copies of gravestone inscriptions tucked away in some obscure corner.

During your quest never lose sight of the fact that genealogical books are not infallible. Jefferson or some equally great man once remarked that every one should have education enough to know how to spell his name in more than one way. Mourt and Morton; Craze, Crain, Crayne; Trent, Trat, Trott and similar examples confront you at every turn.

But for all your toil and turmoil you will certainly feel quite repaid when you have a complete family chart. If you don't care to have it displayed upon the wall, keep it rolled, and if you have chosen map paper it will not crease or crack. A circular chart is not nearly as good as a half circular one, with the father's line on the left hand half of the paper and the mother's on the other. Then the whole situation can be taken in at a glance. Only dates of birth, marrages and death are written on the chart over against each name, and every space should be numbered - that is, if you have any additional memoranda.

For example, somebody is John Smith, and his number is 24. If you have interesting data relative to the gentleman - his coat-of-arms emblazoned, his autograph, a copy of his will, a photograph of him or the house in which he lived, or the memorial bridge his townsmen erected to his memory, put all these in an envelope, which bears the same name and number. It is easy then to lay hands, in the dark, or in case of fire, upon any facts connected with John Smith.

It is often possible to procure copies of wills for a small consideration, or copies of deeds of property sold, if they are desired. From $2 to $4 is the usual charge for procuring a copy of an uncertified will.

-- The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1899

The Internet definitely means a few less "obscure corners" and computer printouts are much easier than family charts drawn up on map paper, but the basic tenants of genealogy research really haven't changed all that much in 100 years, have they? We still look for wills and deeds; search for a variety of alternate name spellings; and rely on the resources of our local library and genealogical society. And we feel the same pride in our genealogical accomplishments as our ancestors once did.