| Introduction to Genealogy | |
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In lesson 1 of the Introduction to Genealogy class you will learn about the basic objectives of genealogical research, methods of charting your family tree, terms for the variety of relationships you will encounter in your tree and the proper methods for recording names, dates and places.
By the end of this lesson you will understand:
- a variety of motivations for studying your family history
- the building blocks of a family tree
- how to identify the relationships in your family tree
- how to record your family tree in a variety of formats
- the proper methods for recording names, dates and places
This class is geared to genealogy researchers in all countries, not just the U.S.
Why Genealogy?
Genealogy is one of the world’s most popular
hobbies. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are actively engaged in
some form of family research. It seems as if everyone, in some part of their
lives, wonders where they came from. Maybe it's the red hair that your mom says
has been passed down from your Irish great-grandfather. Or perhaps a curiosity
as to why Grandma never spoke about her family. Some people have become
intrigued after visiting a battlefield and wondering if one of their ancestors
fought or even died there. For others its the box of old photos or clothing which has been
left to them by a relative.
What
starts as a simple curiosity, however, quickly grows into a obsession. Forget
shopping or gambling - climbing your family tree is much more addictive, so
never say I didn't warn you!
Reasons to
Research Your Family's History
People get involved
in researching their family's history for any number of reasons, all of which
are right for them. Here
are a few of the most popular:
- To satisfy your curiosity
about yourself and your roots.
- To provide your children
with a sense of who their ancestors were, where they came from and how they
lived their lives.
- To preserve family
cultural and ethnic traditions for future generations.
- To compile a medical
family history to give family members an advantage in the battle against
inherited diseases or defects.
- To qualify for a lineage
or heritage society.
- To assemble and publish a
family history book, whether for family members or for profit.
- To discover facts that others have overlooked and solve the puzzle of a lifetime.
Next page > What is Genealogy Anyway? - The Basics
Genealogy Lane graphic courtesy of Glenda B ©1998 Glee Graphics.
All Rights Reserved.
