Becoming a Good Ancestor

Have you taken the time to write down key details about yourself? Are your personal records and documents organized in a way that your ancestors will be able to find, understand, and use them? If not, there is no time like the present to begin this important step in your genealogy!

Many times, we only think about researching our ancestors. We may branch out beyond our direct line to find collateral relatives like aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as ancestral friends and neighbors, and we may take time to document living cousins, siblings, and others; however, we may not think to include ourselves in our research beyond our spot on the family tree. That is a common oversight, so we are not alone!

One of the first steps in genealogy is to start at home, which extends to starting with yourself. As is often said, ‘start with yourself and work backward’. Questions like, “What do I know?” and “Who am I?”, are important to answer. They can help you start your research journey, and they can help others pick up where you leave off. Even if you have been doing genealogy for a while, it never hurts to revisit some of these beginning steps. You may be surprised by what you learn and discover. Remember, genealogical research is an iterative process.

While it may seem overwhelming to record your memories and information fully, start small by capturing details like your birth date, marriage/divorce date(s), address(es), membership(s) (e.g., fraternal or religious), etc. Later, you can expand to organizing photos and documents, writing an autobiography, or keeping a journal, either by writing down memories or recording them in a video or audio format. Our Digital Studios (particularly Studio 1) can be a great place for this, as it has a sound booth. We also have an audio recorder, cameras, and computers in our Library of Things that you can check out and take home.

Earlier this month, Laura Street Chapin shared about hidden treasures in your home that you may have overlooked, like letters, postcards, photos, and miscellaneous memorabilia. She also encouraged viewers to take the time to write down their personal details and collect their personal treasures AKA records (e.g., birth and marriage) and documents (e.g., diplomas and addresses). By taking the time to locate and preserve this information, you are saving your descendants a lot of time and effort and becoming a good ancestor in the process! If you missed our September program: “Starting Your Research with Hidden Treasures,” you can still watch the recording and check out the handouts.

Don’t forget that your story is important, too! After all, you are also a part of your family tree.