Don’t Know Much About (Family) History? Read On!

Genealogy is defined as research focused on the particulars of a family tree: who married whom, children’s names, and birth/death dates and places. It emphasizes factual documentation rather than storytelling or genetic testing.

Genealogy builds the structure (names, dates, places), while family history adds depth by exploring motivations, experiences and context. It’s discovering “the dash between the dates.”

People often begin genealogy hoping to discover famous ancestors. While this hope can spark interest, most people descend from ordinary individuals whose stories are still meaningful and historically important.

Starting with yourself ensures accuracy and provides a solid foundation. You can gather verified documents (birth, school, marriage records) and then move step-by-step from the known to the unknown.

While written records provide names and dates, interviews add meaning by capturing lived experiences, memories and personal narratives, all especially valuable when interviewing older relatives.