| Obituaries offer dates and events about a | | | | Horizontal or vertical, a timeline is very difficult to |
| particular family member that can be plotted on a | | | | update with pen and paper. If a new event is |
| timeline. Create a timeline for each person or for | | | | discovered, you have to cut your timeline and |
| several people in the family in a Family Timeline. | | | | insert a new page with the new information or |
| Obituaries offer dates and events about a | | | | start all over again. If you are using a word |
| particular family member that can be plotted on a | | | | processing program on your computer to create |
| timeline. You could create a timeline for each | | | | your timeline, it’s easy to add events and |
| person starting with date of birth, or you could | | | | years. Simply insert the year, date and event |
| combine the information from several obituaries | | | | description and you’re done. |
| about the same family in a Family Timeline. | | | | Plotting out the Your Family Events on a Timeline |
| | | | | Start with one obituary. Write out all the events |
| You’ve seen timelines used for notable | | | | from that person’s obituary before moving |
| people and institutions outlining important historical | | | | onto another obituary. Start with the year, then |
| events. Usually the year and the date as well as | | | | the date (if you have it) then a brief description |
| a brief description of the event are included. | | | | of the event. See the example below: |
| A Family Timeline | | | | - Timeline for Johnson / Elliot Family 1841 |
| A Family Timeline is a valuable way to piece | | | | — 1900 |
| together important historical events in your | | | | - 1841, August 2, George Johnson was born |
| family’s history. Keeping records of | | | | - 1845, February 9, Bessy Elliot was born. |
| important dates and notes on the significance of | | | | - 1865, July 18, Bessy Elliot married George |
| those dates offer perspective so we can surmise | | | | Johnson |
| what it must have been like living in those times. | | | | - 1866, October 12, Bessy gave birth to Elizabeth |
| A Family Timeline allows you to piece together a | | | | Joan Johnson |
| living history where you get to see what was | | | | - 1868, June 11, Bessy gave birth to Frederick |
| happening in that family as events overlap. | | | | George Johnson |
| Searching for Clues in Obituaries | | | | - 1871, Summer, Bessy and George went west |
| When you are reading old obituaries and you see | | | | and settled on the homestead |
| important dates, it is always a great idea to copy | | | | - 1884, May 9, Elizabeth Joan Johnson married |
| the important points and make notes on each | | | | Jackson Lee Brown |
| point. You can find helpful obituary research | | | | - 1885, June 24, Elizabeth gave birth to Silas John |
| tools that will help you get all the information you | | | | - 1888, October 15, Elizabeth gave birth to Selma |
| need out of your old obituaries at | | | | May |
| ObituariesHelp.org. Once you have identified the | | | | - 1889, June 6, Frederick George Johnson married |
| important dates, it’s time to plot out your | | | | Wilma Thelma Robinson |
| time line. Decide which format will suit you the | | | | - 1890, September 3, Wilma gave birth to Lewis |
| best. | | | | Ray |
| Timeline Formats | | | | - 1892, January 17, Wilma gave birth to Alice |
| Horizontal timelines are common on websites and | | | | Elizabeth |
| as displays in museums and art galleries. They | | | | - 1894, April 23, George Johnson passed away |
| will usually have the years on the line and then the | | | | - 1900, September 8, Bessy Elliot Johnson passed |
| event above or below the approximate date of | | | | away |
| the event. | | | | This is just an example of how to plot out a |
| For our purposes, a vertical timeline is more | | | | family timeline. You can include any event or |
| appropriate. A vertical timeline has the year in | | | | detail you wish. Dates of enlisting in the military, |
| chronological order on the left, the exact date of | | | | joining clubs or attending school are all important in |
| the event to the right of year and then a | | | | your family history and can be included in your |
| description of the event immediately to the | | | | family timeline. Keep your timeline up to date by |
| right. | | | | adding in new events as you discover them. |