Know your family tree. It might well intrigue you

Everyone has a past, everyone has a history. You are part of your own or someone else's family history.

old photo collage

I had been an interested outsider (I would look at others' works and find them good) until I met my wife. She is best described as a family history nut. CL challenged me to find four generations back of my family. Little did I know that this was the thin edge of the wedge into a very big project. I realized that I had parts of the information, in notes, photos and oral histories. Old Aunts (good clue for anyone here) are a mine of information.

My project came alive when I started comparing names to public record (Census, shipping documents, Government returns, voter registrations,Births, Deaths, Marriages etc., newspaper reports, and it goes on. Names filled out to be people who interacted with other people, even into other places and other languages. Here I am in Salt Lake City easily examining Australian records of my family.

When you explore Salt Lake City, set aside some time to visit the Family History Library. Quickly dig out enough information for you to catch the bug. The Library is already an immense repository of world information, additions to holdings are being made at  mind boggling rates.

Have a family member mentioned anywhere, and the Family History Library will help you verify and dig further. Computers make it easier to view photos of original documents, perhaps with your relatives own handwriting being evident. Family history exploration is a very low cost, high personal involvement exercise for anyone.

Oh, did I mention my wife's consuming interest in Family History ~ she now has me working with her on an historical study of Ukrainian and Russian villages, including mapping and land use as well a local histories, covering 2,000 years.  I have a knowledge of both languages but she is learning as she goes, and is getting very proficient in Cyrillic alphabets very quickly.

Visit Salt Lake City. Be prepared to catch the Family History bug.

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6 Comments on Know your family tree. It might well intrigue you

JUN
14
632,817 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hello Larry,

Lovely, wonderful blog...sad to think that so many don't know their past, and family history.  Of course, sometimes I think I may know too much of mine(LOL).
3:50pm • #1
307,035 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lisa - thanks. Black sheep and skeletons in closets are everywhere. Given enough time these can be the color in your life. Also great for recognition of quiet achievers.
4:08pm • #2
448,150 Points 72 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Larry, You can learn surprises good and bad, but that goes for any family if you dig deep enough.
5:24pm • #3
468,135 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I love looking up the information on family history. It can be called a hobby but it is such a high to find out stuff.
8:01pm • #4
JUN
15
564,602 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Good Luck Larry! Have a cousin who has been sucked in so I am leaving the heavy lifting to him!  Funny how many false stories have survived over the years! Enjoy your day!
4:02am • #5
307,035 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Debbie - I tend to give relatives the benefit of the doubt, and tend to verify from records rather than hear-say.

Sussie - Keep digging and enjoy the trip

Wayne - Way to go. I had a section of my history done by other relatives, but this still needed checking against other sources.
5:18am • #6

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Larry O'Sullivan

Sandy, UT

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Rocky Mountain Realty, Sandy, UT

Address: 8966 Brentmar Cir, Sandy, UT, 84070

Office Phone: (760) 576-9000

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