I started doing family history research when I was a teenager. I think it is a mix of my OCD and my father's logic which I inherited that has helped me become a great researcher. (I take very little in the form of complimenting myself on anything serious, but i do think I'm a good genealogist!)
I think that family history makes sense. There's logic to it. And it his solving a mystery.
I started after finding a stack of old photographs in a rummage sale. They were mostly labeled and were from the 1930's and 1940's to the 1990's. (Some were older.) I wondered "Who are these people? Why would someone throw them away?"
I told my mom who told me to ask the ward Family History Consultant, Anita, how I should begin. I think Anita thought I was a little insane at the time but she humored me, likely thinking I would give it up after a few weeks. However, I took hold of it and kept going at it.
Years later I graduated with a degree in Family History from Brigham Young University emphasizing in British Isles and Scandinavia. (Yes, people, I DO British! Even though everyone knows me as the Swedish research guy!)
Later on, and I will explain more of this later, I found out why the photographs likely showed up at the rummage sale. The pictures are of a married couple, Raymond and Elaine. It turns out that Elaine's family was abusive towards her and she ended up being sent to live in a hospital due to the abuse and neglect her children put towards her. I would imagine that her children got rid of her belongings when she left, including the photographs.
I love doing family history and I love teaching how to research. I am working on a how-to manual on research methodology and how to teach yourself to be a successful genealogist. More to come!
I think that family history makes sense. There's logic to it. And it his solving a mystery.
I started after finding a stack of old photographs in a rummage sale. They were mostly labeled and were from the 1930's and 1940's to the 1990's. (Some were older.) I wondered "Who are these people? Why would someone throw them away?"
I told my mom who told me to ask the ward Family History Consultant, Anita, how I should begin. I think Anita thought I was a little insane at the time but she humored me, likely thinking I would give it up after a few weeks. However, I took hold of it and kept going at it.
Years later I graduated with a degree in Family History from Brigham Young University emphasizing in British Isles and Scandinavia. (Yes, people, I DO British! Even though everyone knows me as the Swedish research guy!)
Later on, and I will explain more of this later, I found out why the photographs likely showed up at the rummage sale. The pictures are of a married couple, Raymond and Elaine. It turns out that Elaine's family was abusive towards her and she ended up being sent to live in a hospital due to the abuse and neglect her children put towards her. I would imagine that her children got rid of her belongings when she left, including the photographs.
I love doing family history and I love teaching how to research. I am working on a how-to manual on research methodology and how to teach yourself to be a successful genealogist. More to come!