Family History | Genealogy Web Sites

Tracing Your Family History
A Step by Step Guide

Family Folklore

Folklore is the unwritten and unparalleled traditions of your family Stories, beliefs and practices that are handed down from one generation to the next.

While there is some truth to be found in folklore, the details tend to become distorted over the years. The facts are modified and retold and traditional knowledge will be forgotten while new musings take its place. These stories may be centuries old or perhaps were first told only a few years back. They may have been told by Great-Great Grandmother Henrietta or perhaps handwritten by Cousin Elmer. Time is not kind and creating records of your family’s folklore will preserve these ageless traditions.

Another equally important part of family folklore is the customs that are passed along; recipes, clothing, jewelry, paintings, old photos, china sets, quilts and so forth. These are every bit as important to your family history as the stories that are told. They are the priceless mementos of the people that you have descended from.

Family History Questionnaire

A family history questionnaire is used to record information based on real occurrences in your family. It is helpful for evaluating what information you know at this time, and what information you still need to obtain. The questions only cover three stages in successive descent, however. The goal here is to accurately record the three major life events i.e. birth, marriage and death of your parents, their parents and the parents of your grandparents. You will also want to identify each of their brothers and sisters if possible. Once you have filled out the questionnaire use your family group sheet to document your findings. You can find free family history questionnaires online at various genealogy web sites. This partial sample questionnaire was found at: http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/articles/oralhx.htm

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