Unearthing your family tree

Have you ever wondered if you were related to someone famous? Did you grow up hearing stories about a distant relative and wonder if they were true? Or are you curious about what part of the world your family really came from?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people are asking the same questions and trying to find the answers.

A Success Story

Amanda Bloom, of Huntington Beach, Calif., heard a family mystery story from her mother that she just had to solve. Amanda’s grandfather served in World War II. While he was gone, his first wife placed their son and two daughters in an orphanage. Amanda’s mother, born from a second marriage, didn’t find out about these siblings until she was a teenager and had always wondered what had become of them. As a present for her mother’s 60th birthday, Amanda began the search to find them.

She started by joining Ancestry.com, where she learned research techniques and started searching records in the 26,000 databases of information. “I obtained copies of my grandfather’s naval records, confirming his children’s birth names and birth dates,” she said. She then found birth and death records on the site and used census records to learn more about the family. This information led her to a long-lost living relative.

“I made my mother’s lifelong dream of knowing her siblings come true,” said Amanda. “I found her brother living in the Midwest. I was a little apprehensive to contact him, but when I did, it was one big cry fest!” He told Amanda that she had filled a void that had been with him his entire life. He was only 6 years old when the family was split up, and had spent his life wondering what had happened to his sisters. Together, they later found his sisters and have all since met and grown very close.

What’s Your Story?

So what secrets are waiting to be discovered about the people who made you who you are today? “Our roots influence us in ways we can’t even imagine,” said Loretto Szucs, a genealogist at Ancestry.com. “Studying your family history actually lets you discover more about yourself.”

With online databases and research tools, it’s easier than ever to start putting the pages of your family story together, preserving your heritage and passing it on to future generations.

Create a Family Tree

You can easily create a family tree online with what you already know. Begin with yourself and add your parents and grandparents. Record each person’s name, birthplace, birth date, death place and death date. If you don’t know the exact information, take your best guess — vague clues can lead to amazing finds. Family members may be able to help as well.

Search Historical Records

Online historical records are full of clues that connect individuals and events in your family history. From military records to census records to old newspaper archives, there’s an entire host of resources available when researching your family tree.

Preserve Your Own Family Treasures

Besides online content, what family treasures are hidden in your shoebox, your attic, even your garage? Look for family Bibles, photographs, diaries, letters and — most importantly — birth, marriage and death certificates. Scan these items and add them to your family tree — helping to preserve them for future generations. Older relatives, in particular, can often provide a wealth of information, stories, pictures and other family heirlooms.

Collaborate with a Community

Search other peoples’ family trees and communicate with them through online message boards or other social networks. You can share information, ask questions, receive help and add new and surprising details to your family story.

Share Your Discoveries

Share the excitement by inviting family members and friends to view your tree. Then encourage them to add old photos, stories or historical records to help your tree grow even more.

We’re all reflections of the ancestors who came before us — from our natural talents to the places we live and traditions we honor. Understanding our ancestors truly helps us understand ourselves.

Branching Out: Getting the Kids Involved

Involving children in your genealogy research is a great family project. Some activities include:

•Let them play detective by helping you find old photographs or mementos in the attic or basement.

•Challenge computer-savvy kids to use their skills to help research online resources for more family clues.

•Ask children to interview a grandparent with questions such as what they did for a living, memories of favorite relatives or what they did for fun when they were their age.

Digging Up Information

There’s a wealth of data available online, but you need to know where to look. According to Szucs, records such as these are constantly updated with new information.

•Census records can tell you where your ancestors lived, where they were born, what their occupation was, names of family members and other clues to the family puzzle.

•Newspaper collections carry birth, marriage and death notices, all of which provide valuable family information. You may also find your ancestor’s name mentioned in legal or social notices, articles or advertisements.

•Military records also hold important clues. You can search for your family military heroes in records from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War. Draft registration cards hold personal statistics such as height, weight, and eye color. Service records tell you what unit your relative served in, and whether they were injured or received commendations.

A Growing Trend

Family history research is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in America. In fact, nearly 80 percent of Americans are interested in or are actively researching their family history. And getting started is easy. With the help of the Internet, you can be on your way in just minutes:

•By using a family history research site, in just five to 10 minutes you can begin your family tree, upload photos and start uncovering hints that can link you to valuable clues in resources such as census and military records.

•In one to two hours, you can complete a three-generation family tree, create a book using your online family tree, and print and frame a set of family photos and records from the site.

•In just one weekend, you can create a full memorial page for a loved one.

All materials courtesy of: Ancestry.com