It’s National Family History Month and what better month than to start your family history. This year the theme is ‘Secrets and Lies’ and many of us have discovered just that in our research, things we didn’t know about our family and things kept secret or told in a way that covered the truth.
On the other hand, many people have the misconception, and even a fear, that their family is ordinary and nothing interesting will be uncovered. After researching family trees for over ten years I know this is not true. Everyone has a unique experience that makes up the story of their life and once two generations have passed the stories are lost forever so it is important to start with your living relatives and ask them everything they know.
Recently I was chatting to a young man wandering a cemetery searching for his grandfather’s grave. He told me the story of his grandfather’s experience during the Vietnam war, his career and the values he passed to his grandchildren. I suggested he write down everything he knew about his grandfather and the stories he told. He wasn’t sure anyone would want to know these details but the next generations will appreciate the effort. Imagine having written stories from ancestors discovered detailing their life and outlining the person they were.
I can understand some relatives may not want to discuss aspects of their life with family. Last week I purchased a book called Fighting Bandsman’s Last Stand, about the life of Don Tweedie. I chatted to his son and author Terry about his writing. Don was a prisoner of war during World War II. Terry compiled the book and tells the story of Don’s life before and after the war. His father was happy to give those details but it was his war experience that he had difficulty telling direct to his son. Instead of doing a direct interview, Don went away and, over three months, wrote 165 pages which Terry edited and included in the book. The book has become not only a story about Don but a story that has helped others who had relatives in the same prison camp.
If you are unsure how to approach the interview or have a family member who is a bit reluctant, we can help guide, construct and write the stories for you. We can do the family interviews
Start small. You don’t need to write a book. Even small snippets that you have heard or been told are worth writing down. Genealogists can re-construct where and when life happens but they can’t include the why and how and the feelings associated with each event.
So get to it this month. Uncover your family story.
Trace Genealogy 