A Genealogy of Gratitude

This is the season of giving thanks, and in genealogy, practicing gratitude can take on various forms. Of course, giving thanks for our ancestors and the ways that their lives have shaped and impacted ours is one way. This can be a powerful way to honor those who have come before us in our families, and it can deepen our appreciation and understanding of their lives as well. It can also be a way of acknowledging their perseverance and tenacity, which made us possible. As Jon Marie Pearson says in “Gratitude as a Genealogy Tool,” “Gratitude might not seem like a “research method,” but it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for deepening connection, sharpening perspective, and finding joy in the process of remembering.”

While genealogy may seem like a solitary hobby, it definitely does not happen without a community. Genealogists share their knowledge and time and give back to the larger community of researchers in very tangible and extremely helpful ways. This season, I want to acknowledge and give thanks for those genealogical volunteers as well as a variety of tools and resources that are made possible through the generosity and dedication of others.

Generous Strangers

If you have an online presence, you have likely benefited from someone whom you may not know. They may be a very distant cousin or a complete stranger. On social media, there are many different search angels who help people find information about themselves and even connect them with family. In addition to this, there are folks who volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, which is an amazing service for those who need to obtain records or documents but cannot access them physically or digitally. Finally, I remain amazed by those in various online genealogy groups who are willing to share their knowledge and time with those who have genealogy questions. They often go the extra mile to help someone find something or understand a confusing problem (e.g., DNA matches).

Growing Collections

Each of us has likely seen the frequent announcements from various genealogy websites and databases (e.g., from FamilySearch). These sites are constantly scanning and adding new items online, and I am always surprised by how many records they are making available. Many times, this means there are millions of new places to search for information about our ancestors. Of course, this information is made possible through the efforts of many who work for the companies or volunteer. Have you found something new this year in one of these collections? Perhaps this led to a breakthrough? If so, take a moment to give thanks for those who made it possible. 

Invisible Efforts

Speaking of the efforts of others, I am amazed by those who volunteer to index records or make them full-text searchable. This is especially helpful for those handwritten documents that are otherwise almost unreadable or unfindable. Volunteers spend hours of their time to make documents accessible for others. Perhaps you have volunteered to help index or transcribe? If not, consider becoming a Citizen Archivist for the National Archives. There are also opportunities to contribute to sites like Find a Grave and BillionGraves. You may have benefited from their online photos of ancestors’ gravestones, and you can give back in appreciation by downloading their apps and answering photo requests at any cemeteries you visit. You could even visit nearby cemeteries to answer requests.

Technological Advancements

Also, I am thankful for the ways that technology continues to enhance and improve the ways that we research in genealogy. Namely, artificial intelligence (AI) has made it so much easier to search and make connections. Through large language models like ChatGPT and Perplexity, you can now transcribe, translate, and track our ancestors in new and exciting ways. You can even share facts and information with these tools to create charts, organize information, and write stories about our families. You can become creative and create songs or poems about your relatives, too. In addition, folks are constantly developing new models and training them on specific information to perform specialized tasks (e.g., photo enhancement). AI has also made it possible to search large amounts of handwritten records that were previously unsearchable. FamilySearch unleashed this powerful tool on many of its collections recently, which has made it possible to make previously unknown connections and find ancestors in new places. Now, you can engage in full-text searching because of AI.

Finally, I am thankful for local genealogists like you who continue to explore their family roots and history, attend library programs, and use our online and print resources. Your dedication to learning and research inspire me daily!

These are just a few things that come to my mind. As a genealogist, what are you thankful for this season? If you are on social media, consider using #GratitudeAndGenerations as a way of sharing your thankfulness with the genealogy community. This can be a fun way to connect with others and see how they express their genealogies of gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving! May the practice of gratitude enrich and inspire your genealogy this season.