Genealogy describes a family line’s descent and is often visually represented by a complex stick figure with the patriarch and matriarch at the top as the “head” and their offspring forming appendages below. But the system of connected lines does not fully explain the descent. A complete genealogy transforms the linear depiction into a three dimensional story by incorporating many sources.
What is Integrated Genealogy?
Journalists integrate the observed, the archived background, the known facts and the
eyewitness reports to create stories. Applied to genealogy, this approach takes census
data, photos, heirlooms, newspaper clippings and personal testimonies and stitches
them together to form a more complete account of a history.
How is this done?
There are numerous methods and this Web site suggests only a few.
- Genealogical research
- Interviewing relatives
- Taking “genealogy trips” with family members to find out about the important places in their lives
Why is genealogy important?
- Learning about the circumstances, events and decisions in your family members’ lives helps you understand and appreciate them.
- It allows you to meet interesting people and make connections during your research.
- It’s entertaining. Neither amusement nor controversy is a recent phenomenon.
- History is personalized when you see your ancestors’ places in it.
The nature of genealogy
Genealogy is a road that can be directive at times, leading where you want to go. Other
times it leads nowhere. Either way, you enjoy the scenery as you wander.
