Family History is something that we are (obviously!!) super passionate about at Planted Media Co. There are so many valuable life lessons from our ancestors’ experiences that can change the way that we see the world. I wholeheartedly believe that we are connected to the people who came before us — even way, WAY before us — for a reason. But there’s often the lingering question of how do I even find these stories? And an even more pressing question: with what time?
Life is busy. Trust me, I totally understand. With summer coming to a close and school back in session, it’s likely that your to-do list, like mine, keeps getting longer and longer, even when you cross things off. The last thing we want to do is recommend something that is totally unrealistic, so…
Here are my five suggestions for things you can do today to learn more about your Family History:
Call a living ancestor & ask them to tell you a story from their life.
Your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or other relatives would love to hear from you anyway, so why not ask them to tell you a story? If you’re not sure what story to ask them about, here are some ideas:
A favorite childhood memory.
How they met their spouse.
Their favorite job.
Their wedding day.
Life advice for their posterity.
Their proudest moment.
Their earliest memory.
A memory that still makes them laugh.
Their best friend (current or from their youth) and what they love about them.
Make sure to ask follow up questions. You never know what kind of stories they’ll have for you!
Pro tip: Write down the key parts of their story so you and your family can hold onto your loved one’s memories.
2. Create a family tree.
Grab a piece of paper or your favorite computer drawing program and start by writing your name. Your name will be the base. Draw two lines upward so it creates a “Y” shape. Write your mother’s name above the right line and your father’s name above the left line. Repeat these steps for each name that you know. Once you reach the end of what you know, ask a family member for help!
If you have children or grandchildren, it could be fun to have each of them create their own family tree, or add themselves to yours.
3. Label old family photos.
Whatever your definition of old is, labeling old photos with the date, people’s names, and the event can help you and future generations get a glimpse into who these relatives really were. I love going through the photos that my family has already labeled, since it can sometimes be tricky to know who is who, especially in group photos from a person’s childhood. Labeling is a way that we can watch our ancestors grow up. It is also fun to look for common traits or facial features in our ancestors!
4. Sign up for a free account with FamilySearch or Ancestry.com.
We are by no means sponsored by FamilySearch or Ancestry.com, but we are big fans of the services that they offer to help us connect with our predecessors. Both sites allow you to access and edit your digital family tree, upload memories, and read stories about your ancestors.
A key feature of FamilySearch is that it allows you to move family history documentation forward through indexing. Never heard of indexing? Check out the FamilySearch website to learn more!
5. Find a festival or event related to your ancestors’ country of origin.
America truly is a melting pot of many different backgrounds and countries of origin. As such, communities often put on festivals or celebrations of international cultures to call back to their ancestors. First, determine what your countries of origin are (FamilySearch and Ancestry.com can both help you find these for your ancestors). Then, start researching events and pick one (or two) to attend!
In Utah, upcoming cultural festivals and events include:
Swiss Days in Midway: August 30th-31st, 2024
Oktoberfest in Snowbird: August 10th-October 13th, 2024
Nitya Nritya Festival in Salt Lake City: September 7th-8th, 2024
Festa Italiana in Salt Lake City: September 14th-15th, 2024
Afro Utah Festival in Salt Lake City: September 21st, 2024
Christkindlmarkt in Salt Lake City: December 4th-7th, 2024
We hope these five suggestions help to make your family history feel within reach. If you need any help documenting your stories, let us know! We are always happy to help.
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