My interest in my own family history began with a book that I poured over as a young girl full of pictures and stories of my ancestors. I've always loved to read and remember going to the library with my mom as a young girl and coming home with stacks of books to read. But the book that hooked me on family history was a book about my mother's family, her mother's to be specific.
Stories come alive
I loved reading the old letters that were copied in the pages of that book. For some reason, the stories of these people who I had never met were so captivating to my youthful self. The pictures of my ancestors made the stories come alive. One picture of a lady with a long flowing mane of hair was especially etched in my memory. Stories about an ancestor who helped build the Erie Canal and one who had traveled on horseback as a young woman to the west were also memorable.
Personal history for my grandmother
I loved reading the old letters that were copied in the pages of that book. For some reason, the stories of these people who I had never met were so captivating to my youthful self. The pictures of my ancestors made the stories come alive. One picture of a lady with a long flowing mane of hair was especially etched in my memory. Stories about an ancestor who helped build the Erie Canal and one who had traveled on horseback as a young woman to the west were also memorable.
The page from the Petefish family book I found at the
Family History Library in Salt Lake City (April 2014)
Personal history for my grandmother
A little over ten years ago, I had the idea to start a personal history about my maternal grandmother. It took a few months to gather stories from my aunts and my mother, as well as those we could write down when talking with my grandmother. Although she was limited due to a stroke many years before, her excitement over the project was obvious. She loved talking with her family about her past. Only a short time after I finished printing up her copy of the history, she became ill and soon passed away.
After her death, I was so grateful that I had acted on my idea of compiling her personal history! It had brought her together with family members as well as given her something interesting to do during her last few months. We had always been close, thanks to my own mother's desire to have weekly visits with her mother, as well as the special occasions that we shared with her.
Making family bonds stronger
After her death, I was so grateful that I had acted on my idea of compiling her personal history! It had brought her together with family members as well as given her something interesting to do during her last few months. We had always been close, thanks to my own mother's desire to have weekly visits with her mother, as well as the special occasions that we shared with her.
Making family bonds stronger
Visits with my grandparents helped to create a bond between us while giving me an interest in my own identity. I may not have been as interested in the visits we made to the local cemeteries, but they also gave us an opportunity to learn more about our family.
