| Are you related to someone famous? You could | | | | history. Many people use these terms |
| be related to a member of royalty or a powerful | | | | interchangeably, but they don't mean the same |
| political figure. Perhaps you're related to a | | | | thing. Genealogy, in the simplest terms, is the |
| successful business person or a famous celebrity. | | | | science of relationships - how one person is |
| How would it feel to discover that you're related | | | | related to another by law or by blood (or both). |
| to Bill Gates, Brad Pitt or Oprah Winfrey? What if | | | | Family history takes the concept of genealogy |
| someone in your family ancestry was a leader of | | | | and makes it more detailed. When you research |
| a rebellion or a hero in a war or the person | | | | family history, you usually aren't only interested in |
| responsible for discovering the cure for a disease? | | | | how one person is related to another, but you're |
| Can you imagine the excitement of discovering | | | | also interested in the stories of their lives. |
| someone like this in your family history? What if | | | | Genealogists may also study those things as well, |
| you have a family history of heart disease or | | | | but their intent is not to learn the stories, but to |
| diabetes, but you didn't know it? These are all | | | | learn the facts which may lead them to discover |
| reasons to study your family history. | | | | more relationships to other people. If you're going |
| Thanks to the idea of "six degrees of separation" | | | | to study your family history, you'll be interested |
| (made popular by playwright John Guare and again | | | | to learn those things too! |
| by actor, Kevin Bacon) which has taken the world | | | | Genealogy research can be difficult and time |
| by storm; it seems that we all want to find out | | | | consuming, as well as rewarding and even fun! |
| how we are connected to one another. In fact | | | | (Remember that you may uncover some |
| many people want to know just how many | | | | exciting, forgotten or unknown family history |
| "degrees of separation" separate us from | | | | facts!) You may find that you feel like a detective |
| someone famous. To find these things out, | | | | or investigative reporter on the case of a |
| genealogy is one of the tools we can turn to for | | | | mystery, determined to find the solution. |
| help. | | | | Where do you begin your genealogy and family |
| To give you an idea of how genealogy helps us | | | | history treasure hunt? Probably the best first |
| to learn how people are connected, consider this | | | | place to start is with your immediate family, |
| fact: President George W. Bush, the 43rd | | | | starting with yourself. You will need to learn how |
| President of the United States of America, is | | | | to become an expert interviewer (don't worry - |
| related to his 2004 Presidential candidate rival, | | | | you can learn how to do this - I promise!). Start |
| Senator John Kerry! How are they related? They | | | | with your aging relatives and ask a series of |
| both share a common relative, Playboy magazine | | | | questions to them (write or record their answers). |
| founder, Hugh Hefner, who is the ninth cousin of | | | | Then, make trips to the public library or to |
| both men. Do you see how interesting genealogy | | | | research court document archives. Don't forget to |
| is yet? | | | | study any pictures, illustrations, and maps that |
| In spite of what you might think of today's | | | | you may find during your research. Each of these |
| "modern" generation with their high tech gadgets | | | | can give you clues that will lead to your next big |
| and seemingly decreased desire to meet people | | | | lead to follow. |
| face-to-face and instead to meet online, there | | | | Are you ready to begin your genealogy and |
| appears to be a growing interest in genealogy and | | | | family history treasure hunt? Why not start now? |
| family history. Each person's interest in genealogy | | | | You may find yourself related to someone |
| may be very different ranging from looking for a | | | | famous in history! You may find that you have an |
| lost relative, hoping to discover an inheritance, or | | | | inheritance waiting for you from a long-lost |
| even looking for family health history. Despite our | | | | relative. Or you may discover an important piece |
| many reasons, one thing we all have in common | | | | of health information. Either way, you have a lot |
| is that a lot of us are looking for our family | | | | of history to discover. You better get started |
| history. | | | | now! |
| Let's clarify a bit about genealogy and family | | | | |