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Thanksgiving is for Family

General Genealogy

Tim Firkowski

Monday, 21 November 2011

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This Thanksgiving while visiting with your family, take the time to discuss your ancestors. What better time to talk about the history of your family than this time of year when everyone is gathered together.

Take the time to listen to the stories of your elders. Gather the family together and let the stories flow. The youngest in the family may become fascinated with hearing these stories. you may want to document the stories somehow to keep as a part of your family legacy. These stories can then be passed down for generations to come.

thanksgiving 2a Some options for documenting the stories of your family:

1) Make notes while the story is being told.

2) Use a recording device to record the audio (make sure the person telling the story is aware you are recording)

3) Set up a video camera for that added effect for the story telling, so later on people will be able to see the person telling the story.

Many years ago, my father did this exact thing with my grandmother. She has since passed on, but the stories she told will live on forever. When I began the research into my family, this recording was one of the first things I used to help build the family tree.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Some family members may not be with you next year at Thanksgiving.

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About the author

Tim Firkowski

I have been doing genealogy research since 2002 & have worked full time as a Professional Genealogist since 2008. I specialize in Polish and American-Canadian Genealogy. As a member of APG, I was the 2010/2011 President of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (NEAPG). I have Certificates of Completion for studies in "Foundations of Forensic Genealogy" and "Advanced Forensic Genealogy Techniques". I have been a volunteer librarian at the local Family History Center, and a genealogy research consultant at “Ask the Expert” Ancestry Road Shows. I have traveled to Poland numerous times & researched in churches and archives. At conferences and special events, you may find me dressed up in my Sherlock Holmes outfit, or my Kujawy (the folk costume from the region in Poland where my ancestors came from).