Genealogy vs. family history
There is a distinct difference between genealogy and family history. If genealogy is the skeleton, family history is the flesh, muscle and defining features.
Genealogy is the investigation and recording of family lineage, usually realised in the form of a “family tree”, or comprehensive listing of names and dates.
Family history is the unique information about the individuals in the family tree: where they lived, went to school and worked, their achievements, quirks and so on. It may be sourced from family stories and anecdotes, letters, newspapers and memorabilia.
- Start with yourself: Note down everything you know about your immediate and extended family: names, dates, places, relationships, professions.
- Contact your relatives: Ask them where and when they were born, where they lived, went to school, names of their parents and other relatives. Ask them if they have birth, marriage and death certificates as these provide valuable details. Take notes as you go and don’t be nosy – some people will have things they don’t want to talk about.
- Check your facts: Memories can be unreliable – check dates, names, places and other details on official records.
- Work backwards from yourself: Check the birth, death and marriage dates of your parents. Get certificates if necessary; these will give details of their parents. Follow the same steps for each generation until you can go back no further.
- Build a tree: Plot your findings using a family tree. Ancestry and FamilySearch both offer free online charts.