Monday, January 17, 2011

February: Black History Month

There's a lot of history in a family. Each person has their story to share. Each person's life counts. The question is... Are we willing to share what we know? And will we record it?

I didn't learn about black history while I was in school. There were some famous blacks that were mentioned. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one that stands out in my thinking... during my early years. I can remember the famous photo when he was assassinated in Tennessee.

As I look at the people on my family lineage, there's a lot of history. Some stories will never be told. Then there are some that are passed down through generations.

How Can You Get Started On Searching For Your Family History? Start with what you know. Start with yourself.... Your parents, siblings, Your parents' parent's and so forth, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, In laws, Out laws, and so forth.

Get full names, nicknames, mother's maiden name, spouse (s) name info. places, dates, photos, dairies, journals, news clips, old letters, emails, publications or whatever resources you have.

Once you got all the vital information, you can explore more. How much you have, may determine your search. Even with the little that you know can lead to something.

There are many places to search. Cemeteries, Courthouses, Historical Societies, your attic, basement, places where things are stored. If you have a desire to search deeper, you can. But, you need information.

If you are hooked, you can take the 14 day free trial at  ancestry.com . There are a lot of resources to search from. It's important that you have names, dates, places when you search. You need to need some facts.

For the most... here's a free site:  https://www.familysearch.org/  You can find some things on this site. Happy Searching!

It takes a lot time to explore and discover things about your family history. It's an adventure that takes a lifetime in the doing. There will be times when things will be frustrating.

Be patient. Along the journey, there will be some dry times. Than there are times when a wellspring of information will come up. What great joy that is. In the long run, it's worth it.

Hope that you have started the journey in recording your family history. What we know can be passed down to future generation. All you need to do is to get started.

I have a friend who can trace her lineage back to about 1095. Someone in the family had to start and than the next generation continued on with the search. Treasure what you know about your family history. Future generations will appreciate it.

May we take note of the history of our family. May we see that each of us have a story to share. May we record what we know. May  we write down our own history so others can know something about each and every one of us. Amen.

Staying On The Family Journey,
Susan

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