Insights Into Our Future And Our Past

Folks who hear about the new family history research advice wiki at wiki.familysearch.org want to know two things. First, What is a wiki? And second, How will the wiki deliver more of the research advice I need?

What is a wiki?

Wiki. A short, sweet, strange word whose form matches its meaning — a Web site you can edit without being a programmer. A site where average people like you and me can write things to help other people. A place where we can share information and even collaborate on articles that make us each look smarter than we are alone. A paradise for people who seek information. A wiki community can deliver and revise more research advice information for more users in more languages. (more…)

Somewhere in the family photo collection is a mysterious face that nobody can identify. Perhaps it is a photograph of one man or woman, standing alone, or perhaps it is a photograph of a group of individuals, with some identifiable individual, but some nameless faces besides.

One online family tree, www.myheritage.com, offers a helpful solution to this lack of identity: Facial Recognition software built right in to the family tree!  (more…)

During a recorded telephone interview with my grandmother, I learned that her Christmas favorite gift was a tiny cupboard that her carpenter father made for her to store her tiny dishes. During the depression, her family lived on foods grown in their own garden, including corn, blanched, and spread on sheets in the attic to dry. As a child living in Arizona, she played “Run Sheepy Run,” where one child chased the others like a flock of sheep, scattering here and there. She recalled the smell of cut wood, and standing next to the wood stove to stay warm during cold winters.

Dusty books and papers are not the best place to begin gathering family history. Take advantage of family gatherings this holiday season (more…)

Family History isn’t just about the past. It is very much about the present, and planning for the future! As a child, my parents took the time to make our hunt for a Christmas tree a memorable experience. Mom planned ahead so that the day before we left to hunt for our Christmas tree, we baked and decorated Christmas cookies.

The next day, bundled in warm clothes, three little children wandered waist-deep through the snow, close behind my father. (more…)

My grandfather told me that for Christmas each year, he and his siblings each received a fragrant, sweet orange, and a bright shiny penny. It certainly added some perspective at a time when the Atari 2600 was the hottest item on the market, along with Cabbage Patch dolls and later, pricey Transformer toys. Simple gifts of the past like an extra bit of sugar on one’s breakfast oatmeal can bring a greater appreciation for the original purpose of the holiday season.

In addition to attending events held at the Family History Library to learn more about ancestral holiday traditions, there are many other ways to learn about ancestral holiday traditions.

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Deciding which ancestor to search for can be as easy as looking at a family tree. First, look at the names, and birthplaces. Sometimes we feel a connection with a particular culture, like Scotland, Brazil, or Russia, and have a curiosity to learn more. Second, ask a family members stories about an ancestor, or for family legends. Sometimes playing detective to prove a family legend true or false can be just as exciting as discovering a new ancestor! Finally, examine your family tree for empty spaces. You may want to explore uncharted territory to find an unknown ancestor.

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